Amanzimtoti, making their debut in the Fidelity Security Premier Division, have now really made their presence felt with their second impressive four try bonus point victory when they convincingly beat their visitors from Durban North, Varsity College, 27-17.

The South Coast Terriers are certainly not looking out of place in the competition thus far and are certain to surprise a lot more sides before the season runs its course. With skipper, centre Louis Joubert leading the victory march with two tries, the Toti side looked a lot more cohesive as they confidently worked their way to their second successive win. Their other tries came from scrumhalf Matt McDonald and their 19 year old wing Kyle Lubbe with fullback Jaco de Jager slotting three conversions and a penalty.

Whilst it’s still early days yet, it does look as though this could be the year that a new name is engraved on the 141 year old Moor Cup after SA Home Loans Durban Collegians went on the rampage against the Thanda Zululand Rhinos at Mick Kelley Park in Empangeni, beating the Zululand side 62-3 and at Ranleigh Crescent in Durban North Nashua Crusaders beating current cup holders and eight time champions Jonsson College Rovers 21-15.

Rhinos, although starting against their visitors with meaning, simply had no answer to the more structured Collegians line up whose defences were almost impenetrable. This clearly put their Empangeni hosts on their back feet as they ran in 10 tries through Brndon Groenewald and Kyle Hartley who crossed for two each with the others going to Doug Warden, Mynhardt van Schalkwyk, Andrew Holland, Ryno Rust, Dylan Nel and Steve Crause with Calvin Sacks kicking five conversions and Duncan Campbell one.

There were celebrations aplenty at Crusaders after their victory over Rovers who it has to be said were flat after their hectic Cell C Community Cup campaign in George the week before. Take nothing away from Saders, they certainly deserved the win, handing out the 2013 champions their second local league defeat in four years. As brave as Rovers were, they simply couldn’t sustain the pressure at the end with two players having been yellow carded towards the end of the game. Leading 15-14 with the seconds ticking away, Rovers were sent reeling with a final match winning forward surge, which saw Byron van der Nest scoring the try that had the Crusaders supporters on their feet in sheer delight. Wing Troy Chiochetti and flank Buzwe Mpothulo crossed for their other two tries with all three converted by Cameron Dunlop.

Dusty Noble scored the Rovers two tries with fullback Jeandre Small slotting a conversion and a penalty.

In the remaining game, FNB Impi suffered their second defeat in as many games with Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians surprising the students with a 16-10 win in the Maritzburg derby at Woodburn in the capital.

In the First Division, Harlequins had a runaway 75-5 victory over UKZN Durban, Richards Bay beat their visitors Jaguars 20-11, Hillcrest edged out Westville OB 15-12 at Shongweni and South Coast Warriors hammered the Ballito Dolphins 78-7. In the other lower leagues 2013 Third Division Walker Cup champions Durban Collegians edged out Durban Mets 26-22, Rovers beat Crusaders 29-0 and Pinetown beat Queensburgh 33-13. The best news came from the Fourth Division with Scottburgh making a welcome return beating Hillcrest 48-17 and Trevor Kelly is sure to be one person that will be happy with that result after all his dedication to the South Coast Club.

UKZN Durban will be hoping to host the Premier Division match between Impi and Crusaders tomorrow (on Thursday) at 3.30 pm and are looking at having an afternoon of rugby at the Howard College campus with UKZN Durban up against Ballito Dolphins with all the Reserve League fixtures also to be played.

Hugh Bladen, Dan Retief, Ian McIntosh and John Allan will be in conversation in the All things Rugby breakfast fundraiser for Rescuetech at Greyville Race Course on Thursday 29 May. The breakfast being held in association with Durban Aviation Centre will be raising funds for Rescuetech a voluntary emergency search and rescue service that goes out their way to save lives, their slogan being “It’s that golden hour after an accident that can mean the difference between life and death and Rescuetech will be there for you”. Contact Ricky Smit at for ticket sales and enquiries.

Jos Robson