Jonsson College Rovers finished their 2011 Fidelity Security Premier Division campaign with a not too convincing performance when they beat a remarkably improved Fidelity Security Jaguars 38-9 line-up in wet, sticky conditions last Friday evening. Outscoring their visitors by six tries to nil, Rovers never really looked threatened in any way even with Jaguars looking dangerous in patches with their talented flyhalf Sonawbiso Mqualo outstanding behind a pack going backwards.

Rovers wing Jors Dannhauser added another try to his impressive season's collection with the others going to their other wing Anton Verster, prop Grant Scott (2), scrumhalf Charlie Purdon and flank T.C. Khoza with flyhalf Guy Cronje converting three and fullback Chris Mickelwood one. Jaguars replied with three well judged penalties by fullback Siphathisesne Dube.

In the other games, Varsity College Old Boys accounted for ZRA Thanda Zululand Rhinos beating the side from Empangeni 29-6 while Bluff SuperSpar Harlequins beat Goss and Balfe Crusaders 29-17. The game between Varsity and Durban Collegians was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch.

Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians, the winners of the South Section, won the overall First Division competition when they beat the winners of the North Section, Vryheid, 32-22 on neutral turf at Mick Kelly Park in Empangeni on Saturday so securing the magnificent Dewar Shield while Richards Bay beat Vryheid 10-3 to take the honours in the First Division Reserve league and adding the Brian Irvine Cup to their trophy cabinet.

Acer Durban Collegians will host the first round of the Starlite Under 19 Trophy tonight (Wednesday) on KP 10 with Crusaders up against Harlequins at 6.15pm and the hosts and 2010 winners of the inaugural competition facing Old Boys. Rovers have bye for the first round.

The Castle Murray Cup Draw took place at Cotton Fields in Umhlanga Rocks last Monday night and on hand to lend a helping hand were Hayden and Dave Hutton, surviving relatives of Sir T.K. Murray the first President and founder of the Natal Rugby Union who presented the historic trophy to the Union in 1890 (see right).

Newly crowned Fidelity Security Premier Division Champions College Rovers have drawn Vryheid for the opening round of the 2011 Castle Murray Cup. After retaining the Moor Cup last Saturday the 2010 champion side begin their 2011 campaign in Northern KwaZulu Natal on Saturday and will trek to Vryheid for their opening round in their quest to retain the double before heading off to Stellenbosch for the National Club Championships in September.

In the other first round clashes that takes the competition into the country districts a wonderfully innovative way of helping the game grow in the outlying country towns Durban Collegians, the club that has won the coveted trophy more times than any other, will travel to Ladysmith for their opening round game. Interestingly enough Ladysmith had their name engraved on the priceless piece of silverware way back in 1927 while 46 years ago in 1965 Ladysmith Wanderers won the knockout trophy so the competition makes an interesting historic return to the Northern KZN town.

Crusaders don’t have to travel as far as their trip takes them to Richards Bay for their opener and Harlequins will visit the Northern KZN town of Newcastle to face the Highlanders. ZRA Zululand Rhinos will be entertained by the South Coast club side Amanzimtoti while Hillcrest host FNB UKZN Maritzburg at their Shongweni headquarters and Maritzburg Collegians host Jaguars at Woodburn.

The remaining game which sees Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins hosting Old Boys will be the main focus point in the opening round with the Castle Dancing Girls strutting their stuff and the sponsors Castle Lager and SAB Millers together with Derek Macaskill and his team from Macaskill Sports Marketing putting together a wonderful afternoon of rugby entertainment for the supporters, spectators and families from the area and well worth attending . All games will kick off at 3.30. except for the game being hosted by Hillcrest, which kicks off at 5pm because of an equestrian event taking place at the Shongweni Polo Club earlier.

The quarter-finals will be played on Saturday 20 August and semi-finals on Saturday 27 August. The Finals are scheduled for 3 September and will also include the final of the Starlite Under 19 Trophy.

- Jos Robson