Toti’s terrier-like win over Rovers

DURBAN Collegians may have ended up the only unbeaten side in the Premier Division after round four at the Club Rugby Day hosted by Amanzimtoti on Saturday, but the day definitely belonged to the South Coast terriers for their historic 14-11 win over College Rovers in the main match of the afternoon.

It was a day to remember and cherish for the Amanzimtoti supporters as they witnessed their 22 brave terriers claiming their first win against Rovers, a club that for the last decade has ruled the roost in the local club game.

Certainly the tide seems to be turning, which is good for the club game in the province.

The day’s proceedings started with the two Fidelity Security sponsored First Division sides doing battle, with Jaguars claiming the honours 34-16 against South Coast Warriors from Port Shepstone.

Jaguars clearly have made their intentions very clear that they want to return to the Premier Division and certainly do look the part comfortably beating last year’s winners of the South Section.

The man-of-the-match awards went to flank Jackson Buthelezi and flyhalf Nkululeko Ndlovu.

The opening Premier Division game was all action, with Durban Collegians having to dig deep against a very motivated FNB UKZN Impi outfit who were on the verge of a famous victory being up 27-17 heading into the last quarter.

The students were certainly looking poised for glory and the first shock result of the season against the 2014 Moor Cup champions looked on the cards but for Collegians, clearly it’s a title they won’t relinquish without a fight. So it was in the great tradition of Collegians rugby that they did the business in a pulsating last quarter to earn their hard-fought win and so keep their campaign on track, but they knew they had been in a game.

For Durban Collegians, who now stand alone on top of the Premier Division log table while also being top of the Reserve League with Rovers, top of the Third Division and Under 20 “A” Leagues, they couldn’t have wished for a better day at the office with all their teams returning home with wins under their belts.

Their Premier Division side scored six tries to three in the end with their touchdowns coming from scrumhalf Werner Botha, centres Andrew Holland and Nkululeko Mcuma, wing Sipho Mkize, substitutes Greg Bauer and Fijian winger Tonisio Vaihu, with Clavin Sacks doing the rest of the damage with his boot.

UKZN Impi replied with two tries from their flyer on the wing, Thebekani Buthelezi, who was named backline man-of-the-match and flanker Sanele Malwane with flyhalf Spa Dube kicking the rest of the points.

Collegians flanker Fanele Zwane was named forward man-of-the-match.

It certainly was an afternoon of close calls with Varsity College also having to dig deep in their closely fought game, eventually coming out victors with a 13-7 win over Maritzburg Collegians who, it is to be said, were a tad unlucky and certainly looked a vastly improved side.

Varsity College prop Kayde Slinger was named forward man-of-the-match and Collegians full-back Christopher van Niekerk the backline manof-the-match.

The curtain came down with the famous victory that saw the South Coast Terriers of Amanzimtoti fly like eagles in a game that could have gone either way and, in the end, it was the hosts who perhaps were the hungrier in the day with their flyhalf, Jose Rodrigues, slotting the vital winning drop-goal right on the final whistle that saw them through to secure the memorable win, thus ending what had been an incredibly successful day of club rugby.

Prop Thinus Volker, who was named forward man-ofthe-match, scored Toti’s try with Rodrigues kicking the balance while for Rovers Mesuli Mncwango crossed the line with Juandre Small slotting the balance.

Chris Jordaan, a late replacement for Guy Cronje at flyhalf for Rovers, was named backline ma-of-the-match.

The celebrations would have gone on late and why not? It was another great day in the history of the Amanzimtoti Rugby Football Club and coach Jeff Harper, himself a College Rovers Old Boy, certainly deserves accolades.

In the other First Division games, Westville Old Boys beat Harlequins 11-7, while Hillcrest beat Ballito Dolphins 29-12. In the remaining game in Empangeni Nashua Crusaders beat their hosts, Zululand Rhinos 32-16.