Queen’s ends strong season with a win over Dale
Queen’s College survived a two-try burst by a gutsy Dale College outfit midway through the second half to finish off a memorable year with a 31-17 win in their King Price Derby Series encounter in Komani on Saturday.
Leading 17-3 at halftime, the home team looked comfortable when they crossed for their fourth try early in the second half after Acwenga Saul broke away from a scrum and offloaded to quicksilver wing Ncutu Kepe to score under the poles.
Mveli Mqulo added the conversion, and it looked as if the match was had got away from the visitors, who trailed 3-24.
But you write off Dale at your peril and in the space of three minutes the match took on a different complexion with tries from centre Phikolomzi Mtyalela and lanky lock Ebenezer Sarpong lifting the visitors back into the contest.
On both occasions the Queen’s defence was not as sharp as usual, and the Dale players were able to break through the middle for two five-pointers, both of which were converted by Soso Dyani.
Suddenly they were within one score of drawing level with 15 minutes remaining, but the Queenians have shown enormous resolve this season on more than one occasion.
It was time to dig deep again to preserve their proud record against Border schools in 2025 and they held onto it when, with five minutes to go, they finally broke through Dale’s defence, with centre Sbabalwe Magwebu taking the final pass after several phases to crash over for the last try of the game.
Flyhalf Inga Mnunu added the conversion and a few minutes later Queen’s was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the final whistle went on a season in which they lost only to Pearson and Graeme College in the Eastern Cape.
In the first half, Queen’s was quickly off the mark, with tries from Magwebu and Kepe putting them 14-0 in front after 10 minutes.
Dale stayed in the match when Dyani kicked a penalty, but that was immediately cancelled by Mqulo’s three-pointer, which made it 17-3 at the halftime whistle.
The visitors kept pushing hard in the second half and threatened an upset, but Queen’s was able to exert enough control to keep them at bay.
In East London, Hudson Park High celebrated their Reunion Weekend on a memorable note when they proved too strong for Cambridge High, running out 45-10 winners.
Scorers:
Queen’s College 31 (17) – Tries: Sbabalwe Magwebu (2), Ncutu Kepe (2). Penalties: Mveli Mquolo. Conversions: Mqulo (3), Inganathi Mnunu. Dale College 17 (3) – Tries: Phikolomzi Mtyalela, Ebenezer Sarpong. Penalty: Soso Dyani. Conversions: Dyani (2).
