Shock results, shocking conditions in Gold Cup contest

THE second round of the Gold Cup National Club Rugby competition produced a few shock results.

One of the favourites to find their way into the final, False Bay, were surprisingly beaten 26-19 by Brakpan, effectively leaving a door open in Pool C for SA Home Loans Durban Collegians.

False Bay, who beat Durban Collegians relatively comfortably in the opening round, found themselves on the receiving end in round two, which now makes this competition intriguing with unknown quantities.

In atrocious conditions, Collegians and Your Communications College Rovers won their respective home games last Saturday, with the Fidelity Security Moor Cup champions absolutely sublime in the worst possible wet conditions on KP 2. There was concern that the game could be called off at half-time with the rain bucketing down.

Rovers knew all too well that they needed to cross Worcester Villagers’ line four times to collect maximum points, and they did exactly that.

Rovers had a 34-5 lead at the interval and went on to score nine tries to their visitors’ two. Collegians, clearly not playing in the easiest of pools, hosted White River from Mpumalanga in the wet curtain-raiser to the Currie Cup match between the Sharks and the visiting EP Kings at Growthpoint Kings Park, and although winning comfortably enough, beating their visitors 36-17, were happy to get the game behind them.

It was an error-driven game in the wet conditions with very little continuity.

For Collegians it was their set pieces that eventually laid the foundation for their hard-fought victory, with Fanele Zwane leading the six-try victory march with two touchdowns.

The other tries came from Sipho Mkize, Ethan Beukes, Robbie Harris and Sibulelo Nanto, with Beukes kicking two conversions and Mondi Nkosi one.

Rovers travel to Welkom this Saturday to play Welkom Rovers, and Durban Collegians host the very side that beat False Bay, Brakpan, who are an unknown quantity, having had a bye in the opening round.

Kick-off is at 3.30pm

Tomorrow morning there will be a Tribute Breakfast for Durban Collegians stalwart, former Springbok and Natal flanker Snowy Suter, at His Church in Pinetown. Contact Beryl, 082 403 916.

Then in the evening you can join John Allan Eye2Eye in the Locker Room with Sharks chief executive and former Bok skipper Gary Teichmann and SA Rugby Legends president Gavin Varejes, discussing South African rugby. Further details: Yvonne, 079 183 8711.