Who would have believed that Thanda ZRA Empangeni would lead the way after round two of the Frank Norris Under 20 ‘A’ club rugby competition? The Zululanders have clearly signalled their intentions after two convincing wins in the league and look destined to upset some of the more favoured sides as the season progresses.

Whilst they might have disposed of what might be perceived as two of the weaker combinations in the competition one can't take anything away from them. They are a well-drilled and disciplined outfit and their convincing 58-7 victory over Goss and Balfe Crusaders on KP 10 at the weekend was enough to tell us that they will be a tough nut to crack this year especially when playing them on their home turf at Mick Kelly Park in Empangeni.

The boys from Zululand scored 11 tries to one on their victory march over the side from Durban North and once again it was great to see the wonderful spectator support for the club game.

Perhaps the home side entertaining Empangeni on neutral turf also helped the visitors because who knows? Wing Chris Ebersohn and reserve hooker Danie Mienie crossed for two tries each with the others going to centre Elandre Basson, hooker George Spitz, fullback Jacques Lombard, their hugely talented scrumhalf Leslie-Dean Luiters, No 8 Uwe Schmal, centre Dwayne Jenner and Rayno Olivier who also shared the kicks with Louis Kruger.

Empangeni will travel to Duban again to meet Jonsson College Rovers on Friday evening. Rovers put in a remarkbly improved performance last Friday in beating their hosts Pietermaritzburg in the capital 51-7 with Hendrik Hogenbozem scoring four of their eight tries. The others went to skipper Brynard Stander, Kelvin Adam, Siseko Jafta and Junior Cornelissen. Carl Meyer added three conversions.

Acer Durban Collegians had a tough night of it at Durban’s very own House of Pain at Capel Road in Sydenham against ChemSpec Jaguars and although emerging victors with a convincing enough margin of 52-14 the tigerish cats didn’t exactly make their visitors lives that easy. It was in fact a bruising affair giving every indication that the Jaguars junior squad will only improve as time goes on.

Bruce Curtis, Jacobus Reinach, Marcel Coetzee, Willie du Plessis, Kieran Goss, Pieter Prinloo and Gous Prinsloo(2) all crossed for the Collegians tries with Gous Prinsloo slotting seven converions.

Out on the Bluff Airtron Harlequins surprised Envirosan Old Boys with a 35-17 win thus perhaps telling us that trying to make predictions at this early stage of the competition is not a good idea. Indeed these last weekend results really do give us an early indication of just how competitive the 2010 season is going to be, which is great news for the club game at this level. It certainly should attract a lot of attention and spectator support all round.

For Harlequins Zorbo Williams is name to watch-his name once again appeared on the score sheet with Johan de Bruyn and we can expect more from the Mighty Quins that is for certain.

Pietermaritzburg had sweet revenge against Rovers when their second stringers beat the 2009 champions 26-8 in a Kings Park Challenge Cup encounter, which was their second defeat in as many weeks. Certainly there will be worrying times in the Rovers camp at the moment. ‘Oldies’ and Collegians on the other hand do look a little more buoyant in their ranks with a lot more depth on offer. Their ‘B’ sides beat ‘Quins’ and South Coast Warriors 17- 5 and 45-36 respectively.

In an Under 20 ‘D’ Pete Booysen Cup match Ushaka Warriors beat Kwantu 22-13 in a closely contested game