Apology to Fans – Featured Durban Blog

There has been an increase in the number of tickets being sold at our gates on matchday and this past Saturday, due to late walk-ups that resulted in long queues, some fans missed the start of our match against the Jaguares.

The Sharks would like to apologise to those fans that were affected on the day and want to assure you that we are currently looking at solutions to alleviate such situations from occurring in the future.

We would also like to remind fans that matchday tickets can be pre-purchased via www.sharksrugby.co.za.  For your convenience The Sharks Ticket Office is also open from 08h30 on a matchday.  On matchdays, there is exciting pre-match entertainment on offer for the entire family and we encourage fans to come early to soak in the atmosphere at Growthpoint KINGS PARK and to experience our special matchday offering.

Our young Cell C Sharks team continues to grow and impress with each performance and the support of our community has been instrumental in this.  We look forward to your continued support as our season progresses.

Your Communications College Rovers were made to work for their 19-0 victory over eThekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti in their third round game of the Fidelity Security Premier Division league last Friday evening leaving at least three tries on the table.

The Moor Cup holders hosted the South Coast Terriers who always give of their best and yet again proved beyond doubt just how competitive a side they are going to be this season only allowing the 2016 champions in for three tries. Rovers needless to say wont be all that happy dropping a bonus point but on the positive side their defensive work was out the top draw not allowing their fiery opposition any leeway, thus resulting in them not managing to cross for a try.

Rovers three tries came from, for me, the Man of the Match flyhalf Gavin Scott deputising for the injured Chris Jordaan, centre Grant Rattray, who with his ever improving centre partner Brandon Bailing were outstanding, and the new kid on the block making his debut their American flying recruit wing Duke Makina, and has this lad got wheels to burn.

Scott slotted two conversions to conclude the Rovers scoring. For Toti skipper Kevin Buck led from the front and as hard as they tried they could not break the defensive lines of their hosts but have shown once that they are a side that can easily take on the best.

In the remaining games Bidvest Insurance played hosts to Newcastle on the hallowed turf of The Sharks at Growthpoint Kings Park outscoring the visitors from Northern KZN by eight tries to two. The game had nothing much to write home about except to say Saders were their own worst enemy and suffice to say that Newcastle undoubtedly at least made a huge improvement compared to their last outing.

Whilst the coaching staff of Crusaders might have been a frustrated lot, one should always remember that on many occasions the opposition do need to be given credit for only allowing your charges to play as well as they did on any given day.

Saders tries came from No 8 Curtly Jonson who opened the scoring to break the shackles, skipper flank Shandon Carter, wing Chris van Niekerk, fullback Selwyn White, lock Wayne Lemely, Viwe Bulala who came off the bench with Bakkies van Rensburg who crossed for two of  own. Flyhalf Spha Dube kicked five conversions. (PIC ATTACHED SADERS VS NEWCASTLE)

Newcastle replied with a great intercept try from wing Riekert Botha and fullback Avatar Sitole with flyhalf Shane van Rooyen kicking two conversions.

Mancosa Zululand Rhinos picked up a valuable five pointer beating South Coast Warriors 38-34 with the side from Port Shepstone also taking home two valuable log points. Up at the Peter Booysen Stadium in the capital FNB UKZN Impi beat Jaguars 33-26 and in the shock of the weekend Richards Bay edged out Varsity College 21-20 scoring the winning points in the last two minutes.

The clubs will now go into Easter recess and will only return into action on 21 April. With this in mind SA Home Loans Durban Collegian, who had a bye this last weekend, although delighted for the break to give some of their injured troops time to recover. However they could well be a slightly worried lot as they have yet to be truly put to the test.

What should be of concern for Collegians is the fact that their first game back against Jaguars after the Easter break, which  can hardly be called a true tester, certainly wont tell them anything. In what has been the easiest of starts for the 2016 Castle Murray Cup Champions the road has been all one way traffic for them thus far. Clearly they are astutely aware of this and are sure to be managing their charges in preparation for the tougher games ahead.

In the First Division Jaguar Land Rover Durban Hillcrest lead the way and are heading the table comfortably. After disposing of the high riding Durban Mets outfit 33-9. Westville Old Boys lie in second place after another good win beating Maritzburg Collegians 55-0 while Harlequins edged out Ballito Dolphins 15-12.

In the KZNRU Women’s League Rovers picked up their second win of the new season thumping Impendle 73-0

All eyes over Easter weekend  will now be focused on the 10th Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival at the schools piqturesque setting in Bothas Hill starting tomorrow morning with the games starting at 8.30 am with the hosts playing against HTS  Drosty at 9.30 am. All in all 12 high schools will converge on the 96 year old school together with five primary schools.