SA Home Loans Durban Collegians may have got sweet revenge in edging out College Rovers 24-20 in the final round of the Fidelity Security Premier Division last Saturday after Rovers had beaten them in the first half of the season. It mattered not, however, as the 2016 Moor Cup champions retained the priceless piece of silverware after securing a valuable log point by staying within seven points of the winning score.
The league season couldn’t have ended on a more exciting note as the two sides went head to head to win the coveted trophy in what was an enthralling encounter. Certainly it was a game that could have gone either from the start but huge credit must go to Collegians for pulling off a hard fought victory, which sadly didn’t help their cause with Rovers ending the league season with the better points difference to take the honours.
In the end it was a great advert for the club game and enjoyed by one of the biggest crowds seen at a club game this season so far. Collegians looked the better side on the day with Rovers ending the game with possibly their worst performance of the year. Here again credit to Collegians for restricting Rovers a side that loves to express themselves with flair of which they have plenty in abundance.
It was the Collegians backs that looked the part on the day with their talented fullback Morne Joubert crossing for two tries with their third going to loose forward Wade Elliott playing lock on this occasion. Flyhalf Jacques Venter was successful with three conversions and a penalty.
All good sides rise to the challenge and that is exactly what Rovers did finishing strongly they managed to secure that all important bonus point with their two lifesavers wing Tythan Adams and their whizz kid scrumhalf Grant Williams coming off the bench crossing for those two all important touchdowns to ensure that the trophy returned back to their cabinet. Fullback Gavin Scott slotted two penalties and two conversions.
Rovers said farewell to their prop Jarret Crouch who has served the club with distinction. Crouch flew out to New Zealand on Monday and hopes to continue his rugby career out there. Collegians will also be saying farewell to one of their faithful servants loose forward Carl Marks as he will be leaving for Hong Kong shortly. The KZNRU wish both payers all the best in their new rugby adventures.
If the Premier Division finale didn’t do your heart any good no one expected a double whammy on the day with Rovers edging out Durban Collegians 33-32 in an absolute Premier Division Reserves classic game of running rugby with both sides throwing everything at each other for Rovers to eventually end victorious and reclaim the Wylie Cup that they lost to Collegians last year.
All in all it was a memorable afternoon of club rugby that now sees Rovers with four trophies secured for their trophy cabinet so far this season as they now prepare for the Murray Cup Knockout competition before moving onto to the Gold Cup National Club Championship.
In the other games Varsity College beat their hosts Bidvest Insurance Crusaders 34-18 and Standard Bank Richards Bay finished their league season off on a high note edging out eThekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti 22-20 with their second stringers ending their league season with a 12 -12 draw.
The clubs take a weeks break before starting with the Murray Cup Knockout competition.
This Friday sees the brutally honest Nick Mallett at a business breakfast talking Springbok and South African Rugby at the Elangeni Hotel hosted by Corporate Sport. Should you require any further information phone 011-803 0165 or email csport@mweb.co.za.
In the evening the annual Ryan Walker 7’s fundraising dinner takes place at Crawford College La Lucia starting at 6pm.The event is in support of the Ryan Walker Foundation for raising funds for research into the dreaded motor neuron disease which has attacked so many of our great sportsmen not only in South Africa but globally as well.
For further information contact Richard Kohne at 076-174 8222 or email Richard.kohne10@gmail.com
Finally on 3 August Locker Room 11 moves to the Northwood School and sees Mark Andrews in the mix with Dick Muir. It also sees John Allan in the business segment going eye2eye with Miles Dally CEO of RCL Foods Ltd. It certainly a long while since we have heard from the former Springbok lock and a great evening is on the cards. RSVP Nadine at nadine@gameoncard.co.za or jvniekerk@nwood.co.za or phone 031-5769600 for bookings and further information.
The post Wednesday Column Club Rugby appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
Following the conclusion of the Cell C Sharks’ Vodacom Super Rugby commitments in the knock-out stages, there will be no time for rest as they now step into their Currie Cup boots for the domestic competition.
Although this is not week one of the tournament, the players involved in the overlapping Super Rugby competition were unavailable for last week’s opening clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, but have now transferred into Currie Cup training mode.
The Cell C Sharks side that played the Lions in last week’s Super Rugby quarter-final – and could so easily have won – is expected to be pretty much intact for this weekend’s must-win home game against a very good Pumas side.
The match, originally scheduled for 2.30pm on Saturday, has been moved to 5pm at Growthpoint KINGS PARK to accommodate the Super Rugby semi-final featuring the Lions, who take on the Hurricanes at Emirates Airline Park.
Speaking of the first home game in the Currie Cup, outside centre Lukhanyo Am admitted that building continuity was vital for the team if they are to be a force in the domestic competition. Given that they have many of their players available, team selection should not be too different from the Super Rugby side.
“We want to take the momentum that we built in Super Rugby into the Currie Cup,” says Am who is having a wonderful season this year. He has formed a lethal partnership with inside centre Andre Esterhuizen and he is relishing the opportunity to continue his Sharks development.
“We still have the majority of the squad together, so hopefully that continuity will work in our favour.”
Although the players have suffered major disappointment at their Super Rugby exit, more so because they gave their quarter-final match their all and the result could so easily have been the other way around, the Currie Cup presents the ideal opportunity to not only put the past behind them, but it’s also a shot at redemption.
“We had a couple of disappointing performances in Super Rugby, so going into the Currie Cup, we’ll take it game by game and try to execute the game plan for each specific game.”
He knows it won’t be easy this weekend, the Pumas beat the Lions in week one, although, like the Cell C Sharks’ loss to Free State, both sides were heavily depleted. The Pumas will relish the opportunity to earn a second successive ‘big name’ scalp and this makes the contest that much more competitive.
“There are no easy games and it all comes down to who performs on the day,” said Am.
“This is a big game, the first one at home, we have confidence and hopefully the result will go our way.”
The post Taking Momentum Through appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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