2011 Fidelity Security Premier Division champions Jonsson College Rovers and runners up Acer Durban Collegians got their respective 2012 Moor Cup campaigns off on a positive note with emphatic wins over FNB Maritzburg Varsity and Telnet Crusaders respectively.

Crusaders have to be complemented even though being thrashed 79-0 by their visitors from across the Umgeni. The Durban North based club were on their knees and looking ominously close to not being able to field a side but they rallied to the cause managed to put two make shift sides together and bravely contested the opening round of club fixtures. With the help of their new sponsors Telnet they will now be able to live to fight another day.

On a more positive note, if young Stephen Whalley wasn’t named Crusaders player of the day, then it would have been an injustice as he braved the Collegians' onslaught like a true warrior that even Brave Heart would have been proud of. To Wes Cowan, Chris ‘Young Buck’ Cowan and coach Lodewyk Rickert take a bow and to all the players that fulfilled the fixture, you have survived to tell the story now it’s time turn the ship around.

For the record, centre Douglas Warden, with three tries to his name and another two from their elusive fullback Patrick Vermeulen and flank Brendon Groenawald, led the try-scoring spree, Collegians' forwards eventually getting on top to lay the foundation for their runaway victory.

Rovers had flank Thabo ‘Shak’ Tshabalala with three tries and Jaco van Tonder with two leading the way in their nine tries to two, 66-14 romp over Maritzburg Varsity in the capital. Their other tries went to Eric Ngoie, Chris Jordaan, Juan Language and Kayde Fisher with Andrew Borgen converting eight of the touch downs.

In the other games, Varsity College Old Boys had a good away win at Mick Kelly Park in Empangeni beating the home side Thanda Zululand Rhinos 25-19 while Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians went down 29-14 to Bluff SuperSpar Harlequins with Malcolm Moore crossing for two of his sides four bonus point winning tries.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ Division, Rovers raised a few eyebrows beating the much vaunted Harlequins 26-17 while Old Boys thumped Midlands 61-5. The game between ‘Saders’ and Collegians was postponed. In the First Division Hillcrest got their campaign off to a sound start with a 35-7 win over their hosts PMB Waratahs while FNB UKZN Durban also kicked off their season on a high note beating Richards Bay 31-5. The games down the South Coast were called off because of flooded fields.

- Jos Robson