FNB UKZN Impi comprehensively beat the 2013 Varsity Shield champions CUT Ixias 39-21 on their home grounds in Pietermaritburg on Monday night. Their bonus point victory over the Bloemfontein side gives them their first opportunity of qualifying for the promotion relegation stakes with John Mitchell’s charges having to face CUT once again next Monday but this time in the Free State capital.

It was a long weekend of mixed fortunes for Jonsson College Rovers after their mixed side of third and second team players took a terrible 68-0 pounding from a very clinical and impressive SA Home Loans Durban Collegians outfit last Thursday evening.

The Rovers First XV nevertheless more than made up for their second stringers' loss against Collegians with a resounding 78-14 victory over their hosts, Bloemfontein Crusaders, in the City of Roses on Saturday running in 12 tries for good measure, nine of which were converted by fullback Jors Dannhauser. Wing Dusty Noble with three tries and flank Jean Pretorius with two touchdowns led the points' scoring spree with their other tries coming from wing Jarred Chiochetti, centre Quinton Crocker, flyhalf Juandre Small, scrumhalf Shannon Rick, Kirk Twine, Warwick Venter and replacement scrumhalf Warren Randall.

With a game in hand, Rovers now sit in second place on the Pool B log table behind Roodepoort who they meet this coming weekend in Gauteng. The Lions representatives had a tough game against the other Rovers outfit from Welkom, edging out the Griffons representatives 37-31 and one wonders how that Union has two sides competing in the Community Cup as Durban Collegians would have been a far better option as certainly they would have been a lot more competitive.

Their 10 try romp against Rovers at the Flya Club tournament hosted by Nashua Crusaders had back line player of the match Kyle Hartley crossing for four tries with the others going to Dylan Aylward (3), Andrew Holland, Deon Stow and Dylan Marcus, with Holland kicking two conversions and Jacques Taylor one. Take nothing away from Collegians playing albeit against a weakened side, they showed real class with some fine deft moves. Sadly however they lost prop Robbie Harris who is likley to out for the season with a snapped archilles tendon.

Amanzimtoti beat Harlequins 40-0 in the another game with their impressive No 8 Zander Erasmus leading the try scoring with two finely executed tries. The other tries went to Richard and Wayde Shore, Ryno Els, Hansie Graaf and Wimpie Pretorius, with Jaco de Jager kicking two conversions and two penalties. Hosts Crusaders beat Varsity College 33-8 in the remaining game.

Up at Eshowe, the host club won the Flya Bozas Cup beating the Varsity Drifters 13-10. It was the 68th Anniversary of the tournament, which was a great success with over twenty clubs participating in what has become a popular event on the Zululand Rugby calender.

The inaugural Rugby Rush tournament held on the outer fields of Growthpoint KINGS PARK over the long weekend was a great success. Huge accolades need to go out to Chris Micklewood his wife Chelsea from ‘How do you like Your Coffee’ and Jenna Nortier franchisee of In2touch Durban, together with the South African Rugby Touch Association and all their teams and sponsors. It was truly a memorable long weekend of fun and the true spirit and camaraderie of rugby in all its forms.

Jos Robson