Rovers - The Toast of KZN

The Berea Rovers Sports Club will be making history in the next few weeks as their rugby and cricket sections head off to represent their province at the National Club Championships of both sporting codes being held in Stellenbosch and Pretoria respectively.

Andrew Shedlock is pretty upbeat about the Rovers' cricket side’s chances explaining that Greg Fotheringham, Wayne and Lloyd Madsen, Russell Symcox and Mark Rosenburg will be all is back in time from their various duties abroad for the tournament, which starts on 19 September. Of the two teams the cricketers definitely look set to be a lot more competitive going into their tournament.

The College Rovers rugby side leaves on Friday for Cape Town and have welcomed Sharks players wing Chris Jordaan and centre Riaan Swanepoel back into their ranks. Both youngsters have been looking pretty comfortable playing at Currie Cup level and will no doubt add some much valued experience to an otherwise depleted line up. Their two most experienced backline players Braden Farreira and Keegan Scott are unavailable for the tour while flanker Kosie Haarhof who was unquestionably one of the standout players of the season has left for overseas.

Half backs Andrew Borgen, Guy Ranger, Sandile Nxumalo and Neil Cole should add some sound streetwise backup for the young side, which will be making their third consecutive appearance at Stellenbosch the home of title holders the Maties. Loose forwards Justin Downey and Mark Els will lead the charge up front with player-coach Ryan Strudwick, but all in all it does look like it’s going to be an uphill battle for the KwaZulu Natal House of Paint Premier Division champions who just haven’t had the opportunity to have too many quality practice sessions.

The Rovers hockey and squash sections have also represented their respective sporting codes at their National Club Championships in the past but this weekend history is being made as KZN wish them well for their respective tournaments.

- Jos Robson - The Mercury