Running rugby delights as club rugby gets into swing of things
IN A perfect build up to the Wahl Bartmann Fidelity Security Club Rugby day at Growthpoint Kings Park this coming Saturday, the Flya Knockout tournament, hosted by Bidvest Insurance Crusaders, and the 71st Flya Sportswear Bozas Cup, hosted by the 96-year-old Eshowe Rugby Club over the last weekend, produced some wonderful running rugby.
It’s time for the club season proper to swing into action with the first game on Saturday between Varsity College and Newcastle, kicking off at 10.30am at the Shark Tank.
The match welcomes in the season as the Fidelity Security Premier Division sides prepare to do battle for the oldest piece of silverware in world rugby, the Moor Cup. Last Friday, in Pool A of the tournament, Your Communications College Rovers beat Crusaders 32-20 to win the Flya Knockout trophy for the first time.
It was the fifth final of the tournament and arguably the most entertaining with the hosts, Saders, giving it their all in the closing stages of the game to come back from 32-5 down with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The Crusaders crossed the line first for a 5-0 lead, but it didn’t take Rovers long to click into gear as they went on to take control of the game, out-scoring their hosts by six tries to three.
Jarret Crouch, Sinele Banda, Gav Scott, Juandre Jacobs, Bei Tshamala and Molotsi Bower crossed for the touchdowns with only one successful conversion being added.
Crusaders replied with tries from Sbu Nkosi, Shannon Carter and Spa Dube with Selwyn White slotting a conversion and a penalty.
In the Pool B final, Varsity College went on the rampage, thumping Jaguars 81-0, while Rovers’ second stringers beat Crusaders 31-5.
Up in the Zululand town of Eshowe, the Bozas Cup reflected the true meaning of rugby camaraderie and special mention must be made of the Crusaders Top Guns for paying their own way and turning up with a wonderful bunch of rugby friends, including former South African Schools and Rovers centre Brad Sparks, now based in Maclear and coaching Kapaailand.
Certainly the Durban clubs would be taken aback by how special this tournament is, played at the most beautiful facilities and grounds.
Camaraderie
Mancosa Empangeni beat Hluhluwe 5-0 in the final to take home the trophy they last won in 2011.
Hluhluwe, believe it or not, was founded in 1951 and were in the final of the Castle Murray Cup knockout competition in 1957 won that year by Wanderers.
This tournament must be taken a lot more seriously if identifying real potential talent for the bigger stage is the name of the game. The big flanker from Esikhalweni, Sanele Mtshali, who was named forward of the tournament, comes to mind.
Carel Swart from Empangeni was named backline player of the day, while the spirit award went deservedly to the Top Guns.
In Saturday’s Wahl Bartmann Club Day Premier Division games at Kings Park, eThekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti will meet Jaguars in the second game of the day followed by SA Home Loans Durban Collegians against South Coast Warriors.
Next up in the main game, last year’s cup holders, College Rovers, will meet Crusaders once again.
There will also be games on the outer fields of Kings Park
Further up the coast, at the home of the Ballito Dolphins, there will be a big day of rugby with the Dolphins hosting not only The Durban Mets but also the SA Rugby Legends, who are taking the game to the people.
Locals can prepare to meet many a great from yesteryear.
At Howard College on Monday, FNB UKZN Impi beat Rhodes University 31-13 after trailing 13-0 in the opening stage of the game to find a way into an away semi-final of the Varsity Shield competition.
Springbok backline coach Franco Smith will join Brendan Venter at a breakfast, from 7am to 9.30am, at the Elangeni Hotel on Friday.
Contact Ross 082 553 4232. Fraser on