It was a bizarre Friday night in the ARC as both games on the conference slate ended up tied.
Queens and Wheeling played to a 36-36 tie. Flyhalf and Iowa Central transfer Taku Misingqini slotted a long-range penalty with no time left to secure the deadlock fo the Cardinals.
Queens opened the scoring by punishing a Wheeling penalty and mauling it close before hooker Joshua Schwartz put it down. Scrumhalf Hilton Olivier converted. Wheeling answered with a long penalty from Musingwini, whose kicking on the night was astonishing.
Queens then caught a break. They got a penalty from a scrum and took the lineout. At the lineout Wheeling did not contest the maul and referee Diego Villalobos allowed the drive to continue. His reasoning, as we understand it from some observers, was that the ball had not been passed back to another player, and so there was no obstruction. That may be true, but a flying wedge, which is driving forward in open play with more than two players, is illegal and should have been penalized. Instead, Queens drive a group of five players over the line untouched and got a try for it. Olivier's conversion attempt hit the post, and it was 12-3.
Another Musingwini penalty inched Wheeling closer, but it was a bit of a back-and-forth match in which Queens made ground with hard carries and their kicking game, and Wheeling broke off some impressive runs. Queens ended the first half with a strong run from center Wihelmus Wessels, who worked his way thrugh several tacklers to take it into the corner. That made it 17-6.
However, as the game progressed that started to change. Queens flyhalf Zach Colson started to slice through gaps and set up his runners, while Wheeling struggled a bit to match Queens in set piece.
The Cardinals, however, scored next with another Musingwini penalty, and then center Alex Nyamunda broke through the middle, chipped over, and almost scored. Wheeling moved in to support and quick ball saw Nyamunda on the wing for a try. Musingwini had no trouble with the kick and it was 17-16 for Queens.
Queens answered with an excellent link-up between Colson and wing Jack Rice, who was ankle-tapped but managed to get back up to score under the sticks. Olivier's kick made it 24-16.
Wheeling's speed started to tell, and when Colson had to leave with an injury Queens struggled to really open up the game.
Wheeling scored off a quick tap that put Nyamunda down the tramline. Musingwini again converted from the sideline, and then added a penalty for a 26-24 Wheeling lead. Nyamunda then ran a nifty give-and-go with fullback Shdreck Manadaza, and it was Mandaza speeding to the corner. Try Wheeling, and, of course, Musingwini again smacked over a kick. Now it was a two-score lead for Wheeling at 33-24.
But Queens retained their composure. They ran another maul (a real one this time) and lock Tertius Dietrichsen was over. Moments later the big man scored off a pick-and-go, and, with Olivier's conversion, it was now 36-33 for Queens. Time was almost up, and when Wheeling got a penalty at midfield they had to ask Musingwini for one more miracle. He delivered, and the teams tied 36-36.
Queens 36
Tries: Schwartz, van Dyk, Wessels, Rice, Deitrichsen 2
Convs: Olivier 3
Wheeling 36
Tries: Nyamunda 2, Mandaza
Convs: Musingwini 3
Pens: Musingwini 5
