Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins couldn’t have wished for a better start to their 2010 First Division club rugby season after beating the 2009 South Section champions Amanzimtoti 16-10 in the opening round of the competition on their home grounds last weekend.

Toti coach Jeff Harper by his own admission had to admit that his charges were well below par on the day especially after an exceptionally good pre-season build up, but he didn’t take anything away from the Dolphins stating that they are a vastly improved outfit from last year. Certainly the North Coast side are not going to be an easy side to play in Ballito and their coaching staff with vast experience behind them will ensure that their newly motivated side take each game as it comes - Rome wasn’t built in a day and nor was Ballito for that matter, but the signs do look good after all their preseason hard work.

Once again it’s clearly obvious that trying to make early predictions is a hopeless cause in this league as well with Hillcrest Villagers opening their 2010 campaign with a convincing 33-7 win over the newly formed Pietermaritzburg Elephants Rugby Club founded out of the amalgamation of the Waratahs and Voortrekker. Head coach Jonno Brayley is buoyant about the season and although being badly beaten by Premier Division club side Goss and Balfe Crusaders in a preseason friendly match, must still fancy his chances of winning some silverware this year although he too understands it’s a long way to go yet.

South Coast Warriors also got their season off to a good start beating Kokstad 33-3 while Durban Varsity accounted for Wentworth 33-7 in the remaining game.

In the Frank Norris Under 20 ‘A’ Division league, Thanda RZA Empangeni edged out their hosts Airtron Harlequins 6-0 out on the Bluff leaving the competition even more delicately poised. The Zululand squad have really come on in leaps and bounds in the last two seasons and by all accounts it does look as though there are going to be many more surprise results coming from this highly-improved and competitive Mick Kelly Park based Zululand Academy side.

In the other games Acer Durban Collegians kept their unbeaten record intact beating Crusaders 34-7, although coach Sean Erasmus wasn’t overly enthusiastic about his team's performance on the evening. He is astutely aware that his charges have to be on their toes when they travel to Empangeni to meet the second-placed Zululand outfit at Mick Kelly Park soon. There is also the question of facing the Mighty Quins on the Bluff and with their old adversaries Jonsson College Rovers also in the hunt to retain their 2009 title the pressure is very much on them now.

Rovers didn’t look too good in narrowly beating Envirosan Old Boys 16-10 and seem to love making their lives difficult at times. Take nothing away from Oldies, they looked an incredibly improved side and hopefully can now get their campaign back on track. The Rovers second stringers line-up beat their ‘B’ side 13-10.