Big Border Derby

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:05

One or two soft tries in the latter stages of the game allowed Selborne to deservedly beat Queen’s by 27 points to 19, after leading 12-5 at half-time.

With both sides coming off narrow victories against Dale College recently, it was  “game on” as the two Border schools  battled for supremacy.  The game was played at a terrific pace from the outset, with good exchanges from both teams.  The set phases were fiercely contested with both sets of forwards having to give their all in order to maintain possession.  While the scrums were evenly contested, Queen’s struggled in the lineouts losing plenty of good ball at crucial times.  The Selborne loose trio featured prominently at the breakdown, with flank  L Cloete, in particular, having a good day.

Queen’s gained the early initiative and put together a number of good, penetrative phases in the first 15 minutes with Linton Terblanche and Samuel Borsah running well with ball in hand. Solid, first time tackling  by the Selborne cover defence, prevented points being scored.  Despite this good start by Queen’s, it was Selborne who scored first when the Queen’s scrumhalf was robbed of his own ball to allow Cloete in for a try, converted by flyhalf Sabbagh.

Queen’s responded well and opened their account in the 24th minute when Aziyena Mandaba jinxed his way past a number of Selborne defenders to score from good second phase ball.

A strong run from the Selborne left wing in the dying moments of the first half , and some poor defence from Queen’s., resulted in the second try for the visitors, whose lead was extended to 12-5 at half-time.

It was during the second half that Selborne gained the upperhand, running in two tries in quick succession, in the 17th and 19th minutes, from good passages of sustained momentum.  Queen’s found themselves on the backfoot and had to make the best of the little ball that they had.

With time running out, some respectability was given to the scoreline, through two individualistic tries scored by right wing Leon Makiwane, and fullback Linton Terblanche, both of whom ran 40 or 50 metres to score, but it was too little too late, and a deserving win for Selborne.

Queen’s have a bye this weekend, as a result of the Meyer Sauerman matches,  and will have time to re-group in preparation for the Hudson Park game in East London next weekend.

By Mike Boy.