House of Paint College Rovers went to the top of the log table in the Premier Division club rugby competition when they beat Durban Harlequins Airtron Coastal 40-13 out on the Bluff last Friday. As the league enters its final three rounds one has to quietly start leaning towards Envirosan Old Boys as the possible favourites to take the silverware this year though.

It was altogether a frustrating weekend of club rugby, what with the Vodacom July on Saturday and clubs having to withdraw because of their players on loan for the Varsity Cup tournament played all last week. It’s great news to hear that the Combined UKZN side finished in ninth spot and have earned the right to a promotion relegation match against TUT in September, which if they win will give them the right to play in the FNB Varsity Cup at the start of next years rugby season.

In the local games that were played, a few Zululand hearts could have taken some strain as their side Thanda Zululand Rhinos squeaked home by the narrowest of margins edging out their visitors from Sydenham ChemSpec Jaguars 12-9.

In the other game Rovers scored six tries to one to regain the lead on the log table of the House of Paint Premier Division. Rovers were very much under strength with key players having been lost to other franchises in the last two weeks and are now stretched to the limit and for their most ardent supporters they will certainly be hoping that they will be able to go the distance and retain the prized Moor Cup. Their 40-13 victory came at a cost having lost Matt de Beer in the match for what appears could be for the rest of the season. De beer has been looking particularly good in recent outings.

Rovers tries came from skipper, hooker Alistair Schwikkard, prop Brandon Squires, flank T.C. Khoza, centre Chester Koyano and wings Shane Spring and Anton Verster with Peter Grunnow kicking five conversions. Sharks utility back Monty Dumond scored all Quins' points with a try, a conversion and two penalties.

In the only Under 20 ‘A’ Division game played Empangeni accounted for Jaguars 39-10 while in the First Division South Section competition Gestetner Maritzburg Collegians BEAT Ballito Dolphins 34-7, South Coast Warriors thumped Durban Varsity 50-10 and Toti travelled to the Capital to comfortably beat Maritzburg Waratahs 41-8.

In the First Division North Section Piet Retief beat Newcastle Highlanders 35-6 and Sentraal scraped home 8-7 in a cliffhanger. Vryheid second stringers beat Pongola 30-3 and the Ladysmith second side accounted for Utrecht 24-10.

This weekend Rovers host the Rhinos, Crusaders travel to the Bluff to meet the Mighty Quins, Jaguars are at home to ’Oldies’ and Acer Durban Collegians travel to Washington Road to meet Maritzburg Varsity.

- Jos Robson - The Mercury