Queens RUFC
Official Website of Queens Rugby Union Football Club
1XV Match Reports
Queens 20 Swifts 15 (Beds Cup Final)
In a wind affected local derby cup final, Queens came out on top dominating the second half.
Both sides started well, the hosts opening the scoring with Alun Evans' 40-yard penalty on five minutes.
The visitors hit back almost immediately through two David Morrish penalties within five minutes, but two home tries from Jamie Goss, one of which was converted by Evans, gave them a 15-6 lead at the interval.
Queens made their wind advantage count after the break with tries from Dave Simpson and winger Nick Carter in the space of five minutes, both converted by Ian McLaren.
Queens chairman Tim Ayles said: "I was very impressed with the performance and the spirit in which the game was played by both sides."
29/03/08 Queens 24 Stamford 3
An easy afternoon for Bedford Queens, fast out of the blocks Queens went ahead through Dave Simpson's try on 12 minutes, but Queens' ill discipline gifted Stamford their only points of the afternoon with a penalty on 19 minutes.
Simpson scored a second with a low drive, Dave Morrish converting to put Queens 12-3 ahead at the interval. After the break Mick Norman and Simon Fleming got one apiece, Morrish converting the second.
08/03/08 Queens 10 Deepings 10
A sloppy start from Queens gifted Deepings an early lead - defenders standing back to allow the Deepings prop forward to crash over from a quick tap penalty. This was as good as it got for Deepings who seemed to base all their moves around set-pieces - a lamentable line-out and wheeling scrum meant their threat was nullified. However they defended agressively forcing penalties against Queens and numerous turnovers.
Queens finally put some phases together and straight away forced a penalty which replacement Dave Morrish drilled over from 25m. Morrish was on for the rocked Macca - a calf injury the latest stroke of bad luck for the veteran.
In the second half Queens thought they just had to stay on the pitch as they had the elements behind them - typically conceding points straight away due to a soft penalty for a body check. With 20 minutes to go the threat of losing led to Queens increasing the agression, passion and speed of their game. Numerous chances were spurned before a training ground back row put Ryan Lennon in for a well taken try. Dave Morrish then slotted the conversion from the touchline to earn Queens a point.
Deepings are all but promoted mainly due to their ability to thrash the mid table sides - a habit Queens will have to get into next season from day 1.
01/03/08 Queens 38 Biggleswade 3
It was looking like it was to be a hard afternoon for Biggleswade as they conceded 2 tries in the opening 10 minutes against Bedford Queens. The Biggleswade pack were caught napping by a Queens back row move, which left Ben Robinson a straight run in from 25 metres, Ian McLaren added the extras.
Stright from the restart Queens were attacking a curiously sleepy Biggleswade, putting phases together before in form winger Dan Toes beat his man to score wide out. Conversion missed. Biggleswade rallied and their fly half slotted a chipped drop goal to make the score 12-3. Despite a wealth of possession Queens were unable to add to this tally before half time due to increased resistance from the opposition and also unforced errors.
The second half began slowly with both sides struggling to string play together, the stalemate was broken when Seb Birch skipped past his opposite number and rounded the full back with ease, McLaren converting.
The return of David Brown from paternity leave and Dave Simpson from work impacted late in the second half as Queens started to find their higher gears leading to a further try a piece from Birch and Toes. A nice try from Steve Davison - timing his entry into the line impeccably to round off proceedings.
05/01/08 Queens 3 Market Harborough 8
A disappointing day for Queens as they missed the chance to close in on the leaders.
The forwards started this match in impressive fashion against the current league leaders - dominating the lineout and forcing them to concede penalties. In fact the penalties would be an ongoing theme throughout the match, how the referee managed not to give a yellow card will remain a mystery.
After an early miss, Macca slotted home a penalty from 30 yards, however due to handling mistakes Queens were unable to capitalise fully on their good start. Indeed Harborough pulled level after an unnecessary penalty was conceded by Queens.
The second half saw Harborough dominate proceeding with the exception of a few break outs by Queens. This can largely be put down to lack of fitness, but also down to a lack of confidence playing phases out of the defence to enable a more favourable position for the clearance kick.
Eventually the defence was broken, as the ball squirmed out of the scrum, the eight popped to the scrum half who in turn easily drew the queens winger for the Harborough winger to score in the corner.
Queens will strive to play a more dynamic game as they look to keep their season on the tracks.
In summary, Queens produced their best performance for 3 months but still have plenty to work on!
15/12/07 Stamford 12 Queens 15
Queens were made to work hard against a Stamford whose quality belied their lowly league position.
Queens looked like they could run away with this one as they seemed to have an upper hand in the first half. The Queens ball carriers making good yardage - this was only capitalised on twice with Bret Simpson scoring with ease and Dave Morrish finishing tidly sidestepping the full back.
Too often good position was lost by indecisive play. A missed touch and a non existant chase enabled Stamfords talented left winger to score.
Queens main problems from previous weeks ie. poor referreeing, weak scrummaging and inept line outs, could be ruled out as the cause for recent poor performances as all the aforementioned went well (ignoring the first half scrummaging, and the fact that the Stamford lineout was the poorest Queens have faced this season). What is the reason - who knows..but the good thing about sport is that a bit more fitness and a lot more effort can turn close fought wins into comfortable ones!
08/12/07 Queens 3 Holt 6 (EDF Junior Vase Round 5)
A dissappointing performance against an average but fully committed Holt side. Terrible conditions and a Queens performance to match.
1/12/07 Queens 25 Stoneygate 13
A solid second half comeback with the wind at their backs gave Queens a comfotable victory.
24/11/07 Market Harborough 17 Bedford Queens 3
Queens worst performance of the season allows Market Harborough to steal a march in the promotion race.
When the score was at 8-3 with the opposition down to 14 halfway through the second half, it looked like Queens would prevail over their title opponents - however a return of the handling mistakes, ill discipline and poor decision making of the first half together, with the crumbling of the set pieces led to an all too straight forward victory for Market Harborough.
Despite the above, they still rated Queens as the best side they had faced in the league this season - scant consolation.
17/11/07 Market Deepings 7 Vs Queens 15
Queens progress to Round 5 of the EDF Junior Vase with a determined win against league rivals Deepings.
After conceding a soft early try, Queens gradually got their act together - strangling the life out of Deepings' one dimensional attack. With Brownie playing heroically (ignoring his half time strop) and the magnificent back row turning over Deepings at will.
Queens first try came about after Brian turned over the opposition 8, Mickey Norman fed Martin Owen who danced down the blind side beating several defenders to score. The next also came from the back row boys - Martin fed no. 8 Bret Simpson from a penalty move, who in turn drew the full back to feed Brian whilst the Deepings defence stood and watched.
The only points came from the boot of Dave Morrish slotting home a sweet long range penalty. Queens should have finished off Deepings in the second half but ill discipline and loss of concentration prevented this from happening. There will be room for nothing but their best for the top of the table crunch game against Market Harborough.
10/11/07 Queens 32 Vs Aylestone Athletic 12
Queens cling on to 2nd place in the league following this comprehensive victory.
Despite an early try being conceded, Queens turned in their best performance of the season. Up front, the forwards were just too dynamic for a shell shocked Aylestone side. The Queens try scorers were Ryan (2), Seb, Spluts and John Filsell, with David Morrish adding the extras.
However, Aylestone came back strongly in the 2nd half due to over complication and ill discipline from Queens. But Queens finished on a high note as Ryan ran in his second try beating his man to score in the corner.
13/10/07 Queens 30 Vs Dronfield 3
Queens progress to the Fourth Round of the EDF Junior Vase with a comfortable, if unspectacular victory against Dronfield.
A few cold buckets of water ensured Queens got off to a good start against Dronfield, choosing to play down the sloping pitch. With the target of being out of site by half time Queens dominated possession.
This quickly led to Queens racing into a 3 try lead - with the tries coming from Bret Simpson, Spluts and Geoff Parrish, with Macca adding a conversion. Dronfield hit back with a penalty to make the half time score 3-17.
Dronfield improved in the second half as they started to use the slope well, but their kicking game went awry, in combination with continuous mistakes due to pressure from the Queens defence meant they rarely threatened the Queens line.
Queens started to find continuity as the half wore on and Macca slotted home a penalty from in front of the posts. Tries followed from Nick Carter and Seb Birch to secure the game.
A good day was had by all as the club laid on a bus, which arrived back at the club house at 7.55pm ready for you know what! Roll on next week, where Queens look to keep improving verses Oundle!
06/10/07 Queens 44 Rushden and Higham 17
Queens secure a convincing 44-17 home win verses Rushden and Higham.
From the outset, Queens looked as if they would dominate this match as they created chances (including one where Macca strangely failed to ground the ball). Dave Norman showed him how it should be done, driving over from 3 yards.
The match was interrupted when a serious injury was suffered by Paul Houghton the Rushden skipper, a braver rugby player I have never met; despite a double break to his lower leg he still managed to off load the ball, on self inspection he then calmly asked for an ambulance. Queens wish him all the best for a fast recovery.
The injury meant the match was switched to a different pitch and then Queens again looked like they were going to cut lose with a brilliantly worked try from Justin Line. But Rushden came sweeping back with the best ¾ movement of the match, the full back hit the line slicing open the Queens defence, drawing our full back to allow his centre to score easily.
Again Queens moved away with a try from Spluts, but then a telegraphed pass led to a breakaway Rushden try, again converted.
The Queens coach then gambled replacing all of his inside backs, the Queens forwards finally started to go through the phases before feeding the backs Damian profiting in the far corner, James Simpson powerering through for his maiden first team try. A try from the just back from retirement player coach sealed the win. Just to compound Rushden misery the referee some how managed to award the final Queens try, Nick Carter touching down controversially when the ball was thought to be dead, the Ref was fully 35 yards away. The try had little effect on the result but cheered the South African winger up no end.
Queens visit Dronfield in the EDF Junior Vase on Saturday looking to progress with a positive result and also to edge nearer the intensity that will be required week in and week out to succeed this season.
29/09/07 Biggleswade 3 Queens 32
Queens will be mightly pleased with their first win of the season against local rivals, Biggleswade.
Queens survived an early onslaught from the motivated and sizeable Biggleswade forwards, restricting the home side to a single converted penalty early doors. Due to the physicality and early season rustiness the Queens forwards were unable to get on the front foot, leading to turnovers and a high penalty count.
Unlike teams of the recent past the Queens outside backs proved the most likely source for a try, with Ryan Lennon going close twice early on and Birch and Carter combining dangerously. Lennon broke the deadlock as a well executed backs move, following on from good work by the forwards gave a difficult chance, but Lennon skipped past several defenders to touch down. Queens forwards at this point started to dominate their opponents with Brett Simpson taking advantage to score from a lineout drive, Dave Morrish converting.
In the second half Queens turned the screw as Biggleswade lost confidence and discipline leading to two players receiving yellow cards. In the mean time Carter turned his marker inside out to score from halfway. John Silsell then appeared on the left wing to finish from 30 yards. Coach Mick Norman's one match retirement came to an end with ten minutes to go; he appeared from the bench with enough time to score his trademark try beating a prop forward for pace around the fringes!
Overall a fantastic early season win, but Queens know that this win must be the first of many if they are to challenge for honours this season - in what is likely to be a close fought league this season.
This Saturday Queens welcome Rushden to Wentworth on what is also the first VP's get together of the season. Kick off 3pm.
15/09/07 Queens 17 Market Deeping 29
A disappointing result for Queens in a match where a win was there for the taking.
Hampered by playing into the sun, Queens made many errors which prevented continuity and hence halted momentum. Queens turned round having conceded 3 tries at 19-0 down. Queens were also rocked by the early loss of their no. 6 with a fractured eye socket after a cheap shot from Deepings at the first maul of the match.
The second half saw a huge improvement in Queens' performance. A lovely 3 quarter move saw league debutant Macca score his first try for Queens, Morrish converted. The in form Seb Birch scored the second try off first phase possession , Morrish again converted.
Pressure from Queens led to a penalty - Morrish again converted to bring the score to 19 - 17.
That was as good as it got for Queens as Deepings scored two late tries.
Overall a disappointing start for Queens but enough potential to be optimistic. With some hard work at training and with players to come back, Queens can get their league campaign back on track on the 29th.