Queen’s College holds off upset-minded Marlow
Queen’s College withstood a massive onslaught from the home team, Marlow Agricultural, to shade their opponents 30-27 in Nxuba in another typically robust duel between the Eastern Cape rivals.
The visitors rocked the Marlow outfit in the first 15 minutes, dominating territory and pouring on the pressure to run up a 15-3 lead with tries by centre Splash Mgwebu and hooker Bulumko Manqina, plus a conversion and a penalty from fullback Mveli Mqolo.
But then came a Marlow fightback of such intensity that it sent out a reminder to all why they can never be taken lightly by any team.
In the 32nd minute, livewire scrumhalf Logan van Vuuren took a quick tap from a penalty close to the Queen’s line and eluded the defenders to spark the Marlow fightback.
Three minutes later, with halftime showing on the clock, an electrifying break in midfield saw Marlow recycle the ball swiftly for flank Adrian Joubert to storm over. David-Malan de Ridder, who had earlier kicked a penalty, slotted the conversion and suddenly it was all square.
After the break, Queen’s judged ahead again when Mqolo went over (20-15) and then it became an arm-wrestle, with both sides finding a way to add points to the board.
De Ridder sliced through for a try, which he converted in the 46th minute, but Queen’s was back in front seven minutes later when Mqolo slotted a second penalty (23-22).
It appeared, though, that Marlow was gaining the upper hand and they turned their territorial domination into a fourth try from a driving maul, scored by flank CJ Botha.
But Queen’s are never anything less than dangerous when they have their backs to the wall and with six minutes remaining, centre Thina Fenako went over for the match-winning try, which Mqolo converted, to seal the victory in an epic encounter.
In East London, Stirling High produced one of their best performances of the season to edge out Dale College by a single point, 18-17.
In a terrific team effort, their tries came from Keagan Warburton and Khwezi Mnyande, while Lomelelo Fotoyi slotted two penalties and a conversion.
In another classic encounter, Ooskus Gymnasium also rose to the occasion to record a solid 25-12 win over Port Rex, who had convincingly beaten them 43-10 earlier in the season.
After leading 15-7 at the break, following tries by Cole van der Merwe and Sabian Rieck, Ooskus scored a further two tries in the second half, with Van der Merwe crossing again and Zander Brink adding their fourth.
Scrumhalf Juan Nel kicked a penalty and a conversion.
Selborne College and Hudson Park engaged in a ding-dong battle for supremacy, with the former eventually getting home 30-26.
In Kariega, Die Brandwag powered to a lopsided 62-3 victory over Muir College to secure the Tinara Cup, which features a three-way competition with HTS Daniel Pienaar.
With one match to play against Daniel Pienaar, Brandwag has already done enough – two wins over Muir and one over Daniel Pienaar – to be crowned the 2025 champions.
Conditions in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro and surrounding areas were less than ideal for rugby, with rainy and cold conditions persisting throughout the afternoon.
Those resulted in a low-scoring 10-10 draw between Pearson and Graeme College, while, in a freezing Humansdorp, Nico Malan had too many guns for the visiting DF Malherbe team, winning 50-5.
Scorers
Queen’s College 30 (15) – Tries: Splash Mgwebu, Bulumko Manqina, Mveli Mqolo, Thina Fenako. Penalties: Mqolo (2). Conversions: Mqolo (2). Marlow Agricultural 27 (15) – Tries: Logan van Vuuren, Adrian Joubert, Dawid-Malan de Ridder, CJ Botha. Penalties: De Ridder. Conversions: De Ridder (2).
Stirling High 18 – Tries: Keagan Warburton, Khwezi Mnyande. Penalties: Lomelelo Fotoyi (2). Conversion: Fotoyi. Dale College 17 – Tries: Ebenezer Sarpong, Azole Sodlaka, Milani Madide. Conversion: Soso Dyani.
Cambridge High 71 – Tries: Mange Mlonyeni, Lithemba Mpikwa, Lwandle Rasi, Imange Roto, Aaron Ray, Sivuyise Salman, Somila Pityi, Libango Mkonwana, Hlonipa Zweni, Joshua Adjei-Frimpong. Mdantsane Hurricanes 0.
Selborne College 30 (22) – Tries: Robert John-Osunkwo, Oliver Schmidt (2), Matthew Bean. Penalties: Bunqgina Nuku (2). Conversions: Nuku (2). Hudson Park 26 (7) – scorers not supplied.
Ooskus Gym 25 (15) – Tries: Cole van der Merwe (2), Sabian Rieck, Zander Brink. Penalty: Jaun Nel. Conversion: Nel. Port Rex 12 (7): not supplied.
Pearson 10 (10) – Tries: Matthew Els. Penalty: Kadin Kretzmann. Conversion: Kretzmann. Graeme College 10 (3) – Tries: Elgin Fanton. Penalty: Ethan Bokbaard. Conversion Bokbaard.
Brandwag 62 – Tries: Damian le Roux (2), Dwayne Louw (2), Enzo Martin, Keeran Kayster, Leewin Kammies, Zanick Carolus, Jadin Erasmus, Zandre van der Mescht. Conversions: Leewin Kammies (2), Kayster, Rezanio Petrus, Francu Fouche, Van der Mescht. Muir College 3.
