Varsity College Old Boys gave the visiting Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club from Cape Town a good run for their money gong down 19-16 in the curtain raiser to Super Rugby match between the Sharks and Stormers at Mr. Price KINGS PARK last Saturday.

Earlier in the week, the 2009 National Club champions had edged out Acer Durban Collegians 22-17 and it was thought that they would destroy Old Boys but it wasn’t to be as Oldies showed true grit against a side that is one of the favourites to take top honours in the Cape Challenge league.

Hammies, the oldest rugby club on the African continent, did show that they have quality depth with their second stringers beating Collegians and Oldies 42-6 and 49-20 respectively thus concluding a very successful tour for them. Old Boys, more importantly, can take heart with their sterling performance against the visitors especially when one considers that Hamilton beat their long time rivals, Villagers, by 30 points in their opening preseason friendly game of the year in the Cape a few weeks back.

Old Boys can now feel a lot more confident as they put together their final preparations for the newly sponsored Fidelity Premier Division competition, which starts in two weeks time.

In the First Division competition Hillcrest and Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians remain the two only unbeaten sides in the South Section league with the Villagers disposing of Kokstad 50-0 and Collegians accounting for Amanzimtoti 32-15. Collegians at the moment in particular look the side to beat in the league however.

In the other games Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins ran riot against Wentworth hammering their visitors 93-0 while Pietermaritzburg Elephants surprised FNB UKZN Durban edging the students out 6-0, which would have been a bitterly disappointing result for the lads from the Durban campus. South Coast Warriors had a good away win beating Richards Bay 15-7.

In the North Section Vryheid traveled to Piet Retief and came away with the spoils winning 23-12 in an entertaining game and so keeping themselves on track to retain the title.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ Division Durban Collegians remained the only unbeaten side in the league after edging out Thanda ZRA Empangeni 36-34 in an enthralling game that could have gone either way. Collegians have clearly now set the pace and whilst it’s still early days they do look the part. The Zululand side did show that they have far better depth this season however with their second stringers beating Collegians 31-7.

In the other games Old Boys beat Pietermaritzburg 31-5 and Jonsson College Rovers with Emil Schwarz (2), Dean Mullis, Mike Williams and Reef Nekin crossing for the tries and Kyle Wilkenson kicking the balance had a good win out on the Bluff beating Bluff Spar Harlequins 39-14

- Jos Robson