House of Paint College Rovers and Envirosan Old Boys produced some champagne rugby in the Captain Morgan Murray Cup knockout final, adding another magic new moment in the annals of the KZNRU Club Rugby history books that couldn’t have been scripted better if you tried. Never before in the history of the 119 year old Premier Division Knockout competition have the two side’s been level at the end of extra time and it was sad there had to be a winner at the end of it all as the province's two top clubs were full value in giving the lively crowd a truly entertaining evening of quality club rugby at its very best at the wonderful rugby facility on the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Durban campus last Friday.

Rovers eventually came away with the silverware having won the final on the try count after the teams had gone into extra time having been level 24-24 on full time having played some enthralling rugby. The sides could still not be separated after extra time and at 34-34, Rovers with a try count of four tries to three on the final whistle emerged victors but it was so desperately close at the end of it all, finishing off as undoubtedly one of the finest finals played in the history of the competition.

Rover’s tries were scored by flank ‘TC’ Khoza who crossed for two of the best and lock Jonno Coetzee with a penalty try awarded, which could well have been the defining moment in Old Boys losing out on the silverware. Rovers flyhalf Peter Grunow had a good day at the office with the boot, slotting four conversions and two penalties. Old Boys replied with tries from wing Jeff Williams, flank Brian Shabango and hooker Alfred Ries with flyhalf Wesley Dunlop kicking the balance.

TC Khoza was named best forward on the night and his Rovers team mate Chris Jordaan the best back while Oldies no 8 Nicolai Blignaut was named player of the tournament.

It was a weekend of finals to remember with Ian Downie scoring Old Boys winning try in extra time to beat Rovers 19-16 to take home the Premier Division Reserves Peter Taylor Trophy while on Saturday Vryheid had former Kwa-Zulu Natal under 21 flyhalf Riaan Nigrini in sparkling form in their 40-28 win over a brave South Coast Warriors line up to retain the First Division Junior Murray Cup. This too was a fitting finale with Vryheid only really taking control in the last quarter but there were a number of youngsters from the Warriors that particularly need mentioning none more so than the two 19 year olds Eben Botha at fullback and scrumhalf Zander Engelbrecht.

In the First Division Reserves Keith Parkinson Cup knockout final the Amanzimtoti second stringers half backs Juba Mbeko and Wesley Barnard were the catalyst that spurred their side to a 40-25 win over Pongola but the score doesn’t really tell the true story after the Zululand boys had stayed the pace for most of the game sadly only to fade at the end in another entertaining final.

In the remaining final, Matatiele, well led by No 8 Neil Kirk, also made history by winning the Findlay Cup for the first time after beating Drakensberg 39-27. Two lads from Matat need special mention in another entertaining game namely wing Bielie Ntinde and unquestionably the man of the match centre Deon Lategan who would surely not look out of place in a Premier Division side.

- Jos Robson - The Mercury