The Premier Division looks destined to be much more closely contested this year-that was made quite apparent at the Ronnie van Rooyen Club Rugby Day hosted by Bluff Superspar Harlequins last Saturday. There was some good rugby played in trying conditions.

Bearing in mind that it was extremely hot and humid it still gave one every indication that we can look forward to a season of entertaining club rugby. 2010 Moor Cup holders and National Club Champions Jonsson College Rovers look like the side to beat again and although they didn’t play that well did enough to beat Varsity College Old Boys 41-10.

For Old Boys scrumhalf Rowan Howser was outstanding behind a scrum going backwards much of the time while the Rovers loose trio of skipper Eric Ngoie, Brynard Stander and Kosie Haarhof were very effective combining well to form an impressively dangerous unit-but perhaps it wasn’t about individuals but rather about the clubs celebrating the life and times of a good rugby man ‘Oom’ Ronnie as he was affectionately known and the camaraderie of the game.

In another game FNB UKZN Impi with their side involved in the Varsity Shield put together a make shift side to play Jaguars narrowly losing 24-22. Certainly going on this performance the Maritzburg students are going to be a lot more competitive.

In the final game of the day hosts Harlequins edged out Acer Durban Collegians 13-12 but one shouldn’t look too much into the result as if one recalls at last years tournament Rovers lost to Goss and Balfe Crusaders and went on to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season. Quins, on the other hand, do look like a far better unit and should compete well this year.

Collegians will play the visiting Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club from Cape Town tonight at 8pm before meeting Old Boys on Saturday.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ Division Durban Collegians beat Harlequins 32-25 in an enthralling game while College Rovers beat Old Boys 22-8 and Crusaders accounted for Pietermaritzburg 32-10.

UKZN Impi finished with a flourish in their inaugural Varsity Shield campaign beating CUT from Bloemfontein 24-22 at the Peter Booysen Stadium in stormy conditions in the capital on Monday evening. It was more important for CUT to have won as it would have given them a home final in the competition but it was not to be with the local students coming away with the spoils and so insuring that they didn’t finish at the bottom of the log.

Impi scored tries through Gerrit Fourie, wing Gareth Borchardt and prop Sizwe Kubheka with fullback Jaco Potgieter kicking the balance.

The KZNRU will shortly be announcing the name of the new sponsors for the Moor Cup Premier Division League competition

In the First Division Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins caused a little upset beating the South Coast Terriers from Amanzimtoti 18-17 on the South Coast sides home grounds while the fast improving UKZN Durban side were edged out 37-33 in a thriller against Hillcrest on the Durban campus. Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians hammered their neighbours Pietermaritzburg Elephants 59-0 and look like the side to beat this year.

- Jos Robson