Queen’s in Grahamstown
Queen’s College took on hosts, Graeme College, in Grahamstown this past weekend. The match was played in near perfect conditions, which was conducive to running rugby. Queen's won 36-0.
Queen’s won the toss and played with the gentle breeze at their backs.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of the early possession and territory and kept the hosts under pressure in their own half for the opening stanzas.
The first points of the match came after a kickable penalty was turned down and the Queen’s line-out backed themselves. That resulted in Johan van Heerden scoring an unconverted try. The rest of the first half was characterized by solid defence from both sides. Both teams handling at times let them down and allowed the opposition to relieve the pressure.
The second try of what was a low-scoring half came after the Queen’s forwards set up a great attacking platform and flyhalf Bulela Sotyelelwa dived over under the posts for the visitors' second try. The conversion was wide and Queen’s enjoyed a narrow 10-0 lead at the break.
The hosts, who staged a second half come back the week before, started off the half well and did all the early playing but once again handling errors resulted in the pressure being released and Queen’s capitalised on the Graeme errors.
The third try for the men from Queenstown was scored by Aviwe Mancotywa after a great set piece move saw the centre score from his own ten-metre line. Johan van Heerden added the extra two points for a 17-0 lead.
Graeme then dug deep and enjoyed a period of sustained attack in the Queen’s half. The hosts with some enterprising play were able to create opportunities but were unable to breach the resolute Queen’s defence. A poor kick ahead from the hosts saw Queen’s fullback, Yaw Penxe, collect the ball on the 10m line and mange to evade the cross cover to score the fourth try for the visitors, which was converted by Van Heerden.
Queen’s then enjoyed a period of dominance and managed to charge down a clearance kick. Frank Van Heerden regathered the ball after a foot race and played Aviwe Mancotywa who found his captain, Raegan Oranje, in space to score the fifth Queen’s try. Albre Wagener added the extra two points for a 31-0 lead.
Graeme College, never a team to lie down, fought back and managed to enjoy a period of attack in the visitors' 22m area. The hosts once again created opportunities but were unable to capitalise on the pressure they exerted. The best attacking opportunity for the hosts came to naught after a player lost the ball over the try-line.
The final points of the game came from some good interplay between the forwards and backs which saw Penxe make a line break only to chip the ball infield to Frank van Heerden who scored the sixth and final try for the visitors. The conversion was wide and Queen’s won the match 36-0.
Queen’s College will now shift their focus as they take on Grey High School in Port Elizabeth this coming weekend.
By John Duncan
Photo: Alroy Kriedemann
