Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians will be welcomed back to the Fidelity Security Premier Division KZNRU club rugby league next year after narrowly beating Fidelity Security Jaguars 16-11 in a tense promotion relegation game at Jaguars' home grounds in Sydenham last Saturday.

It was nail-biting stuff with man of the moment, Collegians loose head prop and skipper Blake Kidd, crashing over for the winning try right on time for flyhalf Conal Levin to convert, which now sees the return of the 108 year old club returning to the big league for the 2012 season after being wallowing in First Division for a number of years. It was certainly a well-deserved reward after a year of hard work and dedication whilst focusing on their goal, which they have now achieved with great relief.

The Maritzburg side had been trailing 11-9 with three penalties from Juan Myburg their only reward in their hard fought battle, but to the delight of their supporters as the last seconds ticked away, their skipper did the business to give his side a new lease on life as they now go forward into the new season ahead with a lot more confidence and certainly a lot more opportunities for monetary gains in Premier Division. Congratulations to Tony Day and his hard working team at Maritzburg Collegians-indeed you have stood the test of time.

KZNRU’s champion club the 2010 National Club champions Jonsson College Rovers head off to Stellenbosch to defend their title in the 36th playing of the tournament on Friday and have a tough opener against the very strong invited side from Western Province, SK Walmers, on Saturday, which many believe is a little disconcerting as one does somehow get the feeling that there is a little favouritism for the clubs in those parts.

The other clubs participating are Middelburg from Mpumalanga, Noordelike from the Limpopo Blue Bulls Rugby Union, Springs for the Valke, the hosts Maties representing Western Province yet again, Roses United from Boland, Progress from the SWD Eagles, the champion club from the Cheetahs Shimlas, Winter Rose from Border Bulldogs, Park from Eastern Province Kings, from Griquas the uncompromising Kimberly Police, one of the favourites in this year’s competition University of Johannesburg from the Golden Lions, newly crowned Carlton League champs from Pretoria Tuks will represent the Blue Bulls while the Pukke from Potchefstroom University will represent the Leopards.

The KZN Duikers and Wildebeest Platteland returned home from the Amateur Provincial Tournament in Kimberley with great success. Carel Nel’s Duikers charges returned home with the trophy having beaten Free State Platteland 32-13 on day one before beating a tough Griquas line up 27-20 and earn their place in the final, which they won 65-24 over Orange Free State. The Wildebeest beat the Griffons 58-14 in the Plate Final after earlier narrowly losing 29-25 to Free State and later beating Griquas Platteland 32-20. The Duikers will go on to play the Blue Bulls next month in the best of three games series.

- Jos Robson