The 2010 House of Paint Premier Division KZNRU Club Rugby season is turning out to be the most competitive and entertaining competition in decades. Not in a long while have we seen such closely contested games with no one club clearly breaking away from the rest of the pack, which has been so good for the club rugby this year. In fact if one looks at all the leagues, it has been most heartening to see how competitive all the competitions have been, which has definitely created a keen new interest in the club game and this can be seen with the vast improvement in the spectator support that one can't help but have noticed since the start of the new season.

The 2009 Moor Cup holders Jonsson College Rovers traveled to Empangeni to meet Thanda RZA Zululand Rhinos and were given a real run for their money at Mick Kelly Park, eventually coming away with a hard-earned 18-12 victory, outscoring their tenacious hosts by two tries to nil. Goss and Balfe Crusaders also had their work cut out in beating Foton Maritzburg Varsity with a narrow 15-8 win on their home grounds at Ranleigh Crescent in Durban North while Acer Durban Collegians also found the going tough in beating Envirosan Old Boys 17-5, leaving the league interestingly-poised as the sides prepare for round four this weekend.

Airtron Harlequins picked up their first win of the season when they beat ChemSpec Jaguars 36-13 out on the Bluff with flanker Renaldo Bothma leading the try scoring spree crossing for two touchdowns. The other tries came from centres Gary Bishop and Howard Mnisi with wing Willem Rheeder and flyhalf Hanno Botha getting the other two. Botha kicked the balance.

In the Frank Norris Under 20 ‘A’ Division league, a rejuvenated Crusaders outfit caused the first upset of the season when they beat Pietermaritzburg 33-21 while Durban Collegians steam-rolled ‘Oldies’ with an impressive display comprehensively beating their visitors 62-15. In the remaining games Rovers had a good away win over Empangeni beating their hosts 27-10 while ‘The Mighty Quins’ hammered Jaguars 84-7.

There is also a closely-contested competition going on in the First Division South Section league with Gestetner Maritzburg Collegians, Amanzimtoti, South Coast Warriors and Hillcrest all in the mix. The Villagers beat Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins 17-5 while the Warriors accounted for Wentworth 56-7. Maritzburg Collegians who are looking a vastly improved side this year beat their neighbours Maritzburg Elephants 33-0 but would have been a little concerned with their second stringers going down 14-10.

In the remaining South Section game, Amanzimtoti disposed of Kokstad beating ‘The Blacks’ 36-3 while Vryheid lead the way in the North Section of the competition having destroyed all before them in the early rounds of their league.

There is also a closely-contested competition going on in the Third Division Walker Cup league with Rovers and Collegians looking like the best of the pack so far while Collegians hold the aces in the Fourth Division Foaden Bowl competition so it augers well for the club game for the rest of the season.