FNB UKZN Maritzburg showed their true potential at last by winning their first match of the season comprehensively beating their hosts Goss and Balfe Crusaders 45-16 at Ranleigh Crescent in Durban North on Saturday.

The students got off to a scratchy start but once they settled and found their composure they looked a positively focused unit showing some deft touches in the process with their talented fullback Jaco Potgieter always dangerous on the counter attack.

The second half belonged all to Varsity as they grew in confidence eventually outscoring their opponents by six tries to two with scrumhalf Zander Engelbrecht crossing for two of them. The other touchdowns went to wings Jake Adam and Sino Ganto, lock Tinashe Bopoto and flyhalf Wessel Booysen with Potgieter slotting three penalties and two conversions.

‘Saders’ replied with tries by scrumhalf Nolan van Staden and Warren van Rooyen with Nico van de Westhuizen kicking two penalties.

In another game Crusaders neighbours Varsity College Old Boys were beaten 36-20 by their visitors Jonsson College Rovers. Rovers one would think will be a little concerned about their performances as somehow they are not as convincing as they should be and with Acer Durban Collegians looking all that more ominous they should a tad worried for their meeting in two weeks time.

Rovers earned their bonus point before half time and perhaps they thought that they had done enough. Against stronger sides one cannot afford that kind of complacency. Chris Mickelwood, Nic Pearson, Eric Ngoie, Jody Jenniker, Daniel Adonga and Kobus de Kock scored their tries with Mickelwood kicking three conversions.

Out on the Bluff Collegians were imperious slaughtering Bluff SuperSpar 63-17 and showing signs that they could well become the newly crowned Moor Cup champions-not that Ray van Noordwyks charges want to be tagged as the potential champions just yet.

Collegians wing Kyle Hartley crossed for four tries with Quinton Dormehl, Matthew Hill and Cobus Reinach crossing for the others. Quins scored tries through Jaco van Tonder, Dean Lovett and Levy Swartz.

In the remaining game Thanda ZRA Zululand Rhinos squeezed a last minute win over Fidelity Security Jaguars in Empangeni beating the side from Sydenham 25-22.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ Division Harlequins put the cat amongst the pigeons with a resounding 66-19 win over a badly depleted Durban Collegians outfit leaving Empangeni in with a big chance of winning the Frank Norris Trophy for the first time in their history-how special would that be for the Zululand side.

In the other games Rovers also seriously depleted rose to the occasion to also stay in touch with the log leaders after their brave 29-17 win over Old Boys while Crusaders beat Maritzburg 31-7 in the capital.

In the First Division South Section Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians may as well prepare their cabinet for the trophy after Hillcrest suffered the second loss of the season going down 35-5 to Amanzimtoti. Maritzburg Collegians had little trouble in accounting for South Coast Warriors 50-14 while Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins beat FNB UKZN Durban 38-24

- Jos Robson