Rovers conquer the Suburbs in opener

GO NUTZ College Rovers flew into Windhoek for their opening Gold Cup match and couldn’t have wished for a better start to their National Club Championship campaign against their Namibian hosts, FNB Western Suburbs.

It was the first time these two sides had met, with Rovers coming away with the all important bonus-point win, beating their hosts 46-17 an hour after arriving at customs in Windhoek.

The visitors played with 14 men for 35 minutes after lock Chris van Leeuwen was shown a red card.

The two-time National Club champions, bidding for a third crown, fought on, eventually out-scoring Western Suburbs six tries to two and registering the third-highest score in the opening round of the championship.

Suburbs flyhalf Justin Nel had opened the scoring for the hosts with a penalty 10 minutes into the game.

But it didn’t take long for Rovers to find their feet and they were soon awarded a penalty try to open their scoring in the first half.

From then on it was Rovers who dominated play with some great running rugby.

Rovers fullback Gav Scott led the point-scoring spree with 21 points, crossing for the last try of the game to go with five conversions and two penalties.

Ever-improving centre Brandon Bailing crossed for two touch downs while props Jarret Crouch and Thinus Volker also crossed for tries.

Western Suburbs replied with two tries from their impressive wing, Gino Wilson, with Nel converting both tries to go with his first half penalty.

Last year’s National Club champions, Rustenburg Impala, opened their campaign with a comfortable enough victory when they beat Recall Security Bloemfontein Police 28-10, while last year’s runners-up, Direct Axis False Bay, accounted for Roses United 43-19.

Wildcard side Swallows edged Mike Pendock Motors Old Selbornians 25-24 in an all Border derby, while in the last game of the weekend the other wildcard, Tygerburg from Western Province, ran up the second-highest score of the weekend by beating Gap Management Progress Uitenhague 54-27. It was a rude awakening for Raiders after their hosts, Old Georgians from Harare, tallied the biggest score in the opening round of the championship to beat the team from the Golden Lions 57-31.

Speedy Car Sales Vaal Reefs narrowly lost 27-21 to Northam Platinum Rhinos and Sasol Hydra Arc Rugby beat Human Auto Welkom 40-24.

Rovers have a bye this weekend and next meet Roses Unites in their first home game on September 23.