Acer Durban Collegians celebrated a fine victory last Friday evening after convincingly beating House of Paint College Rovers 22-10 in their Premier Division encounter at their home grounds on KP 10. It has been a long time coming for the 2008 Moor Cup champions who looked out of sorts against the rejuvenated Collegians outfit.

Collegians led 19-3 at the break and looked a lot more composed and focused against a side that seemed to lack enthusiasm after two early easy fixtures. At the end of it all Rovers would surely have openly admitted that it was the best thing that could have happened to them. On paper they are certainly a far more talented side than what the result showed but if the flare and talent is harnessed there isn’t much you can do with it as Collegians showed them on the night. Star of the show for Collegians was their scrumhalf and skipper Rudi Dames who gave a masterly display from the base of the scrum rounding off the game with five penalties and the conversion of Jacques Venter’s try.

Rovers replied with a try from their scrumhalf Neil Cole with a conversion and penalty coming from the boot of Andrew Borgen. The only consolation for the Rovers camp on the night was their overall results, having won four of the five fixtures played.

In the other House of Paint Premier Division games played, Thanda Zululand Rhinos raced to an easy 69-5 over the luckless Maritzburg Varsity side at the Mick Kelley Park in Empangeni. Rhinos are certainly showing that they are going to be a side to watch in the early rounds. Envirosan Old Boys edged out Jonsson Crusaders 21-16 in a closely contested game that could have gone either way at the Riverside Sports Club (Tungay Park). Crusaders did leave with some just rewards however with their second stringers beating their hosts 48-24.

In the remaining game played out on the Bluff, ChemSpec Jaguars squeaked home 28-27 against the home side Durban Harlequins Airtron Coastal in an absolute thriller of a contest with the side from Sydenham stealing victory with a last gasp drop goal almost on time.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ Division, Rovers had a surprisingly easy victory over Collegians beating their neighbours 41-10 with Arno van Zyl crossing for two tries. Wings Mark Richards and Roscoe Speckman together with hooker Kyle Cooper also scored one each. Fullback Patrick Lambie converted all five tries and added two penalties.

Harlequins beat Jaguars 44-10, Old Boys accounted for Crusaders 46-10 and Empangeni edged home 24-22 to take the honours against Midlands in the other games.

In the South Section of the First Division league early front runners Amanzimtoti and Hillcrest had comfortable wins with Toti hammering the Ballito Dolphins 43-O and the Villagers beating Maritzburg Waratahs 34-16.

In the Third Division Walker Cup, holders Rovers hung on by the skin of their teeth to edge out Collegians 8-5 with a penalty right at the end giving them the victory and so remaining unbeaten in the competition. Old Boys had a narrow win over Crusaders as well and it definitely looks as though this league is also going to be hotly contested this season.

- Jos Robson - The Mercury