Jonsson College Rovers, the newly crowned 2011 Premier Division champions, secured three of the KZNRU club rugby trophies last Saturday at the Fidelity Security Old Boys and Supporters day at Reebok Park (KP 3). Hosting a memorable day of club rugby with the league sponsors Fidelity Security Services and their visiting neighbours Acer Durban Collegians, Rovers started the afternoon proceedings by retaining the Third Division Walker Cup after beating their visitors 36-13, before their second stringers were made to work for their 34-21 win and so secure the Wylie Cup once again.

It was the main game that the large crowd of supporters, family friends and old boys had really come to watch and they weren’t disappointed. Collegians, who were a badly-depleted outfit, held Rovers well in the first half and only trailed 8-0 at the break but it was in the second session that it became quite clear that the 2010 champions were going to retain their title and once again add the 136 year old Moor Cup to their cabinet. Scoring four tries without reply just showed the dominance of the 2010 National Club Champions who have now also booked their place back to Stellenbosch to retain their title, which they will now be focusing on as the local clubs get ready to do battle for the Castle Murray Cup knockout competition.

CEO of the Fidelity Security Group former Springbok and Sharks flanker Wahl Bartmann was on hand with his team to help make the day a most memorable day for the club game. We should after all try and remember that it should be always considered the very heartbeat of the game in this country where future provincial and international players can be found and nurtured. It is hard to believe that Wahl Bartmann has held the Currie Cup aloft but never the Moor Cup so arriving in one of the company helicopters with the priceless piece of rugby club silverware before kickoff and being welcomed with his son Zander by the Vice President of the KZNRU Graham Mackenzie together with the Collegians Chairman Ian Losinsky and Kevin Carolan the Chairman of Rovers was a special moment for him.

Dave Henry, a former Chairman of the Berea Rovers Club and captain of the class of 1970, was the first man to raise the Moor Cup from the club and was proudly on hand with his former team mate Richard Terry-Lloyd and Rovers stalwart Theuns Gerber, together with many other old boys from both clubs to watch Rovers do the business. Lead brilliantly by fullback Chris Mickelwood who crossed for one of the four tries, Rovers just had too much quality depth for a brave Collegians to make any kind of impact. Their other tries went to flyhalf Guy Cronje, their flying winger Rosco ‘Ferrari’ Speckman and prop Sabelo Nhlapo.

Mickelwood added two conversions and a penalty to become the top points scorer in the league. Collegians replied with a try from lock Tom Brown converted by flyhalf Devon Lailveaux and at the end of it all, Bartmann presented Mickelwood with the Moor, cup so ending another unforgettable day of club rugby.

In the other games FNB UKZN Maritzburg narrowly beat ZRA Thanda 37-34 and Varsity College Old Boys edged out Goss and Balfe Crusaders 19-10 while out on the Bluff the Bluff SuperSpar Harlequins outfit beat Fidelity Security 29-16 Jaguars with wing Levi Swartz crossing for three of their winning tries.

- Jos Robson