Thrilling Finish in Bonnies vs Queens

09.20.2025College Men

St. Bonaventure pulled out a tough win over Queens in Charlotte, NC Saturday, scoring on the final play of the game to come back to win in this ARC conference match in NCR's D1.

Queens got an early try when captain and tighthead prop Roan Shawver ran hard onto a tips pass and was through for a long gallop.

The Royals added to that lead in the 12th minute after they drove on a lineout. St. Bonaventure held firm but Queens kept working. After one surge from the forwards the ball kind of squirted out of the ruck on the Bonnies side. They weren’t expecting it and didn’t see the ball. Queens No. 8 Emile Van Dyk did, however, and was over.

Scrumhalf Hilton Olivier added the extras and it was 12-0.

St. Bonaventure looked to work their way into Queens territory but it was slow going. As a result, when captain and hooker Reynard Boshoff forced a holding-on penalty, he immediately pointed to the posts, despite it being a 40-meter shot at goal.

Wing Noah Edwards smashed it over and it was 12-3.

A penalty led to points for Bonnies a second time. They took a lineout and when the maul was stymied scrumhalf Scott Wilson had the referee in his way and wisely passed the ball directly into the official. Scrum St. Bonaventure and they attacked from there, ran through some tight phases, before they worked a quick passing move from Manu Taula to Harry Healy to the onrushing Troy Herholdt, and the fullback powered through to score. Edwards converted and now it was 12-10.

Edwards added another penalty to nudge Bonnies ahead before halftime, but it was all to play for in the second period.

Once again Queens had first say in the half. Olivier added a penalty for the Royals to retake the lead. Then, six minutes in, lock Tertius Dietrichsen was put in space down the sideline, He thundered on, was caught, but Olivier was there on a smart scrumhalf’s support line, got the pass, and stepped out of a tackler’s grasp to go 40 meters.

Olivier converted the score, also and Queens was now ahead two scored at 22-13.

Both sides had chances after that but the defenses were pretty tenacious. Bonnies did get another penalty attempt when Queens was once again guilty of holding on, but Edwards push his kick wide.

Still on the front foot, St. Bonaventure pressured the line. Queens held them out.

In the 68th minute St. Bonaventure was again in Queens territory. Queens was working through their pattern when Bonnies prop Tanyaradzwa Takaendisa intercepted a pass and charged onward. He was never going to outrun the cover defense but he got his side close. A hard charge from Taula got them closer and the forwards did the work before Bonnies sent it wide to the left where Dara Falope angled to the corner. He was tackled, but got back up to dive over.

Was he held in the tackle? It was certainly a tight call but the referee was there to allow the try. The conversion attempt by Edwards, from the touchline, hit the post, and it was 22-18, Queens holding on.

Time was ticking down. Queens was pushing to get that lead once again to two scores, but Falope read a wide, looping pass and raced in from midfield.

That was a big play for St. Bonaventure. Edwards was good on the kick and St. Bonaventure had the lead back for the first time in about 35 minutes, 25-22.

Queens answered immediately, and they needed to. Two Bonnies players bumped into each other trying to catch the restart. The ball hit the deck and Everette Boyd swooped in to get it for Queens. St. Bonaventure did well to get back and prevent a soft try, but the Royals were on the front foot, surged through, and reserve hooker Josh Schwartz picked up and was over. Olivier converted and it was a four-point lead for Queens 29-25 with time winding down.

But there was time.

St. Bonaventure worked their pattern nicely—fewer loopy passes—and Queens were caught offside. Soon the Bonnies forwards were bashing the line. Queens made tackle after tackle, but finally St. Bonaventure went wide to Edwards, who cut back inside his opposite and was over. He converted, too, but that was a moot point, St. Bonaventure had won a thriller on the road 32-29.

St. Bonaventure 32
Tries: Falope 2, Herholdt, Edwards
Convs: Edwards 3
Pens: Edwards 2

Queens U. Charlotte 29
Tries: Shawver, Van Dyk, Olivier, Schwartz
Convs: Olivier 3
Pens: Olivie