Acer Durban Collegians beat Envirosan Old Boys 24-13 in their Frank Norris Cup Under 20 ‘A’ Division league game at Riverside last weekend to take over the top spot on the log table after three rounds. Their second stringers are also on top of the log after beating ‘Oldies’ 32-24 in their Kings Park Challenge Cup game and so remaining unbeaten after the completion of their three rounds.

Collegians picked up full points scoring four tries in the process and showing once again exactly what a well disciplined side that they are. Old Boys had the better of the exchanges upfront but their visitors showed some real guts against their heavier pack and gave their hugely talented backline enough ball to produce some truly magic moments.

Collegians who host Pietermaritzburg this coming weekend are undoubtedly the form side but we shouldn’t start predicting which way the dice is going to fall as these early rounds have certainly shown that this season is going to be more hotly contested than ever.

Jonsson College Rovers had a tough night of it against their visitors Thanda ZRA Empangeni beating the side from Zululand 24-14 in a hard fought and entertaining encounter. Rovers do look as though they are growing in stature with every outing and have improved quite considerably since losing to Collegians in the opening round. Scrum half Charlie Purdon crossed for both his sides tries while flyhalf Carl Meyer looking better each week and growing in confidence scored the rest of the points with his boot. The Rovers ‘B’ side picked up their first win of the season accounting for Amanzimtoti 35-8

In the other games Pietermaritzburg beat Goss and Balfe Crusaders 51-18 and Airtron Harlequins thumped ChemSpec Jaguars 66-6 with Chad Erasmus crossing for two of the tries and the others going to Steen Smith, Johan de Bruyn, Rhyk Welgemoed, Hanno Botha, Dean Lovett, Sibura Sithole, Zorba Williams who keeps making the most regular visits to the score card and Jaco van Tonder.

“The Mighty Quins” will host the Ronnie van Rooyen rugby festival out on the Bluff yet again this weekend in honor of the late ‘Oom Ronnie’ dubbed the mightiest Quin of them all. It is quite remarkable to think that this wonderful local legend of the game has been gone now for some seven years and it is wonderful that the Harlequins Rugby Club pay tribute to his remarkable legacy each year. Well we did say to Ronnie all those years ago that we wouldn’t forget him-be assured we certainly won’t.

There will be an opportunity to get a proper glimpse of the Premier Division sides with Collegians, Harlequins, Crusaders, Old Boys and Rovers all making an appearance at the festival and some great rugby festivities and camaraderie can be expected.

The Sharks XV and all the clubs have shown great compassion and friendship towards Harlequins and are extremely relieved that their players all survived their horrific ordeal last Saturday evening when a vehicle traveling towards Empangeni crashed into the Sharks XV bus on their homeward journey before spinning into the Harlequins bus traveling behind and bursting into flames creating havoc and pandemonium on the freeway. The Harlequins bus burst into flames and thankfully all the players with their coaching and management team managed to escape out the emergency exit but were badly traumatized and have lost all their kit. We can only sympathise with the team and stand by them during this unfortunate time.

Rovers Old Boys seen at the Rovers vs Empangeni Under 20 game last weekend from left to right Kim Labuschagne, Brynard Stander Snr, Dr. Nic Labuschagne, Nicholas Lambie and Graham McKenzie

There are a still few four balls available for the 2010 Ex-Sharks Players Association golf day being held at Mount Edgecombe Course 1 on Friday 19 March. For further information contact Terence at 031-5666410

Rugby fans will be able to see all of the trophies collected by Peter de Villiers’ Springboks in 2009 in the Champions Tour: The Vodacom Tri-Nations trophy, the IRB Team of the Year Award, the Unity Cup for winning the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series, the Mandela Challenge Plate, the Freedom Cup, the Webb Ellis Cup as well as the Absa Currie Cup and the SAA National Club Champs trophy have also been added to the tour to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience for South African rugby followers.

The Tour concludes on the weekend of 20/21 March in Durban including a club rugby tournament at Harlequins on the Bluff from 1-5pm on the Saturday.