The House of Paint KZNRU club rugby Premier Division competition now looks like a two horse race between Envirosan Old Boys and the 2008 Moor Cup champions College Rovers after ‘Oldies’ beat their neighbours Jonsson Crusaders 36-16 and College Rovers accounted for Acer Durban Collegians 29-19 in two vital top of the table fixtures.

‘Oldies’ who were hosted by Crusaders at Ranleigh Crescent on Friday night were made to fight all the way with the visitors only holding on to a narrow 10-6 lead for most of the first half. Crusaders slowed the momentum down, frustrating their more favoured opposition to start with, but in the second half Old Boys clicked into gear looking impressively fluid on attack as they launched more frequent dangerous raids into their hosts' half, eventually scoring four wonderfully constructed second half tries.

Flanker Damon Wilson scored the only first half try with their centres Barend Theissinger and Ian Adendorff who were outstanding on the night scoring one each, wing Lwazi Mvovo and hooker Max Tripeppi crossing for the touchdowns in the second session. Flyhalf Colin Mbongwa was successful with three conversions and a penalty while fullback Wesley Dunlop converted one.

Crusaders replied with a lone try from flank Juan Language and three penalties and a conversion from scrumhalf Mickey Malloy.

Across the Umgeni at Reebok Park (KP 3), House of Paint College Rovers came from behind to beat Durban Collegians scoring three crucial tries in the last 15 minutes with centre Chester Koyano crossing for one of the finest seen at club level this season and so securing the vital bonus point in the process that has left his side still in the hunt to retain the title. Although not looking that convincing as they would have liked, Rovers produced the type of blood and guts finish normally seen by Collegians' sides of the past, which for them was a good sign.

Their other tries came from Wesley Bodmer, Neil Cole and Gareth McKray with Guy Ranger and Peter Grunnow sharing the kicks. Collegians' two tries came from Tom Brown and Quinton Dorbyl with Jacques Venter slotting the kicks.

In the remaining game, Durban Harlequins Airtron Coastal had a good away win beating ChemSpec Jaguers 21-12 in Sydenham.

News from Cape Town is that the Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club, the oldest rugby club in the country, have won the Western Province Premier league and will be representing their Union at the National Club Championship scheduled to held in Pretoria this year. It will be the first time that they will be making an appearance at the annual tournament.

College Rovers have now wrapped up the Under 20 ‘A’ Division and the Under 20 ‘B’ Division retaining the Frank Norris Cup and Kings Park Challenge Cup for the eighth consecutive year. Their ‘A’ side made heavy weather of beating a vastly improved Collegians side 20-10 while their ‘B’s’ went on a 50-7 winning romp. In the other Frank Norris Cup games Old Boys beat Crusaders 43-12 while Jaguars edged out Harlequins 17-14 and Empangeni travelled to the capital to beat Midlands 25-20 at Woodburn.

In the First Division South Section Amanzimtoti suffered their first defeat of the season narrowly going down 19-17 to South Coast Warriors while Hillcrest hammered Wentworth 91-0, while in the North Section Newcastle Highlanders had a hard fought 17-3 victory over Sentraal from Dundee, front runners Vryheid beat Piet Retief 29-17 and Volksrust went down 20-16 to Ladysmith. Pongola accounted for Utrecht 54-27 in the remaining game.

- Jos Robson - The Mercury