Varsity College excel
VARSITY College secured third place on the log table when they emphatically beat Richards Bay 66-22 in the last game of the Fidelity ADT Premier Division while South Coast Warriors won the First Division South Section league, beating Westville 39-19 in their last league game, so bringing the final curtain down on the 2018 club leagues.
Leading 33-3 at halftime Varsity College went on to score 10 tries to three. Knowing full well going into the game that they needed the bonus point win to secure that third place on the log standing, they did that in fine style after an anxious start to the game.
Full marks to Richards Bay for not throwing in the towel and scoring three wonderful second half tries. They certainly deserve credit for their efforts in making a game of it.
Scrumhalf Josh Fourie had one of his best games of the season for Varsity College, scoring 21 points, crossing for one of the 10 tries and being successful with eight conversions. It was wing Michael Sibiya, however, that led the try scoring spree with three touchdowns, while fullback Peter Ma b h u tana, and flank Anela S i b hoko crossed the chalk twice. The remaining tries went to their Will o the Wisp flyhalf Malcolm Cele and centre Phiko Sobahle.
Richards Bay replied with tries from fullback Jors Dannhuser, wing Johan Heunis and No 8 Blessing Nhlozi with scrumhalf Sydney Coetzee slotting two conversions and a penalty. In the First Division, South Coast Warriors finished their league season on a high note, comprehensively beating Westville Old Boys 39-19 to take the South Section title. After leading 24-7 at the break Warriors went on to score six tries to three with their tries coming from Xander Lourens, Yonela Baleni, Nico Smuts, Dave Durheim Cameron Camp and Brandt Fields who also kicked a penalty and three conversions. Westville replied with tries from Greg Hosken, Marc van Aswegen and Kyle Mickleburgh while Wes Singleton kicked a conversion and two penalties.
Land Rover Durban Hillcrest eged out FNB UKZN Durban 19-17 after trailing 10-7 at halftime. Scoring three tries each Hillcrest ended up as runners up in the league with their tries being scored by Dan Mulder,Sphe Kambhule and Liam Conway with Jaco de Jager and Henkie Groenewald kicking a conversion each. The students replied with tries from Ntando ‘Skinny’ Msweli, Paki Mosiea and Omo Mncewabeni with one conversion.
●The Hollywoodbets Murray Cup Draw took place at their headquarters in Somerset Park, Umhlanga Rocks on Monday. Holders of the 128 year old trophy, College Rovers, have drawn Westville Old Boys in the qualifying round of the 119th playing of the knockout competition while last year’s runners-up, SA Home Loans Durban Collegians, will travel to Vryheid for their opener.
In the other games FNB UKZN Durban entertain Bidvest Insurance Crusaders at Howard College, Richards Bay travel to play the 1955 champions Volksrust, eThekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti will be hosted by the 1965 winners Ladysmith while Piet Retief will host UKZN Pietermaritzburg. Varsity College travel to Woodburn, where the original cup is housed, to play Maritzburg Collegians and Hillcrest will host South Coast Warriors in Shongweni.