Envirosan Old Boys couldn’t have wished for a better start to their centenary year when they comprehensively beat Goss and Balfe Crusaders 43-6 in their opening Under 20 ‘A’ Frank Norris rugby league game last weekend but it wasn’t such a good start for 2009 champions Jonsson College Rovers who went down 20-15 against their neighbours Acer Durban Collegians.

‘Oldies’ as predicted will definitely be the side to watch but having said that Collegians will be a very competitive and tough nut to crack. Rovers could well have won their opener but one or two bad options cost them dearly. Having said that however Collegians thoroughly deserved the win and looked a lot hungrier in the opening quarter.

The game was entertaining never the less and played in front of a larger than normal audience, which was great to see. Certainly this was the kind of spectator support we experienced in the seventies and eighties and one can only hope it continues as the season progresses as Under 20 rugby is enormously entertaining at times.

For Rovers it was their third defeat in a remarkable eight year history of success and dominance in this age group and now the youngsters will have to regroup, look at themselves and find that character that turns teams into champion sides. At the end of it all Rovers outscored Collegians two tries to one but the educated boot of Collegians fullback Gous Prinsloo with four well judged penalties made all the difference. Collegians flyhalf Willie du Plessis slotted a fifth penalty to go with the try scored by scrumhalf Jacobus Reinach.

It was a great send off for Natal u/19 flanker Carel Greef who has left to take up a contract with the Lions and he was pleased that he tasted victory in his last game for his club.

Rovers replied with a penalty try and another from their scrumhalf Charlie Purdon with Carl Meyer kicking a conversion and a penalty. What would have of more concern to Rovers after the opening weekend of club fixtures however was the way in which their ‘B’ side where thumped 36-6 by Collegians-their first loss in eight years. Clearly there is a lot of hard work ahead for them.

In the other games Maritzburg raised a few eyebrows holding their visitors Airtron Harlequins to a 14-14 draw on their home grounds at Woodburn. What was more pleasing however for the Maritzburg camp was the way in which their ‘B’ side accounted for ‘Quins’ beating them 27-13 with their ‘C’ side also tasting victory in their opening clash against Hillcrest edging out the Villagers 7-5. All in all it was a great weekend all round for the lads in the capital. The fourth Maritzburg victory of the weekend came from Varsity who hammered Ogwini Bafana 75-5 in a ‘C’ Division league game.

For the record Pieter Streicher scored the try for the home side with Dirkie Grobler kicking three penalties. Quins replied with a try from Zorba Williams with Hano Botha and Jaco van Tonder sharing the kicks.

In Zululand home side Thanda ZRA Empangeni with flank Jan Vorster, centre Wayne Jenner and scrumhalf Leslie-Dean Luters all in outstanding form hammered ChemSpec Jaguars 60-7 outscoring their visitors by nine tries to one. There can be no doubt the boys from Mick Kelly Park are also going to be a lot more competitive this year and a good some quality rugby can be expected as the season progresses.