Rovers hold on to beat Collegians

COLLEGE Rovers held their nerve as they edged bitter rivals Durban Collegians 24-22 in a nail-biting, top-of-the-table Fidelity Security Moor Cup clash yesterday.

The hard-fought win was Rover’s first league victory over their rivals in three seasons and, more importantly, sees them shoot to the top of the Moor Cup standings on 43 points – two ahead of secondplaced Collegians.

Both teams went into the match undefeated, each having reeled off eight consecutive victories. It took two tries from Rovers’ flanker Mesuli Mncwango and the reliable boot of flyhalf Cameron Dunlop to eventually see them over the line after much of the damage was done in the first half.

After an early penalty from Dunlop, Collegians hit back immediately in the opening exchanges with a try from flyhalf Duncan Campbell. He converted his try to give Collegians an early 7-3 lead. Rovers, however, began to gain the ascendancy. Two further penalties from Dunlop saw them hit the front with a 9-7 lead midway through the half.

Mncwango then struck with his first try for Rovers, heading into the final five minutes of the half with Collegians having a man in the sin bin. The burly flanker was up to his tricks just moments later with a crucial intercept try on the stroke of half-time to see his team take a valuable 21-7 lead going into the break.

But Collegians were not going to be swept away so easily, and began a stirring second-half comeback.

Both teams traded penalties early in the second half before a try from Collegians’ winger Malcolm Cele in the 60th minute reduced the deficit to 24-17.

The visitors began to attack relentlessly in an attempt to salvage a draw as the tension mounted heading into the final quarter of the game.

Robert Isaks got Collegians third try of the afternoon with just three minutes left to narrow the lead to 24-22.

Campbell had the opportunity to salvage a draw for his team, but was unsuccessful with his conversion from an acute angle. Rovers held on for a valuable victory which will see them top the standings as the league now splits into a top five and bottom five.

Elsewhere, Durban Crusaders came away from Empangeni with a 48-20 victory over Zululand Rhinos.