RUGBY: JOS ROBSON’S COLUMN |
COLLEGE Rovers and SA Home Loans Durban Collegians have again reached the final of the Hollywoodbets Murray Cup Final after victories over Westville Old Boys and Varsity College respectively last Saturday at the home of Bidvest Insurance Crusaders in Durban North.
In the opening semi-final last year’s champions College Rovers scored 14 tries in their 86-5 win over Westville Old Boys. Rovers played entertaining running rugby for which the never say die Westville Old Boys outfit had no answer.
For Rovers, Curtis Jonas crossed for three tries, with the others going to Sinovuyo ‘Snake’ Nyoka, who crossed for two, Tythan Adams, Alrin Eksteen, Alcino Isaacs, Inny Radebe, Jabulani Mkhize, Malotsi Bouwer, Zee Makhabela, Sandile Kubeka and Sipho Mkhize.
Radebe, who was named Hollywoodbets Man of the Match, converted three of the tries, with one going to Gav Scott and four automatically given, with the tries having been scored under the poles. Westville replied with a lone try by Matthew Everitt. They were the first First Division side to make it to a Murray Cup semi-final.
The second semi-final saw SA Home Loans Durban Collegians edge Varsity College 20-17. Flyhalf Maarten Holtzhausen’s four penalties kept Varsity College in the hunt, with their only try coming from Gadj Sibisi. Collegians’ tries went to Sharks flanker Luke Stringer, Joel Kidgell and Nanto Sibulele with Devon Lailvaux slotting a conversion and a penalty. The Hollywoodbets Man of the Match award went to Durban Collegians center Andrew Holland.
Rovers will meet Durban Collegians on Sunday at Crusaders in Ranleigh Crescent, Durban North
In the Junior Murray Cup, Ethekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti beat Jaguar Land Rover Durban Hillcrest 25-19. In the final they will play Standard Bank Richards Bay who disposed of Newcastle 38-14, while the hosts, Crusaders, will be in the final of the Peter Taylor Cup after hammering Westville Old Boys 78-5. They will meet Varsity College who beat Durban Collegians 25-15 in their semi-final.
A highlight of last Saturdays semi-finals day was Rugby World Cup side, Namibia, beating a Cell C Sharks Invitational XV 41-0. For the Crusaders skipper who led the Sharks invitational XV, Alex Curry, it was his last game of rugby, having decided to hang up his boots.
With the Newcastle Highlanders second stringers pulling out of the Keith Parkinson Cup, Richards Bay will meet Amanzimtoti in their final on Sunday after Toti beat Hillcrest 22-21. In the Under-20 Basil Medway Trophy Final, Varsity College will play Midlands after Varsity College beat Durban Collegians and Midlands accounted for South Coast Warriors 15-13.
Sunday action will start at 10.40am with the Basil Medway Trophy final. A featured game will see a Hollywoodbets ALL STARS side, comprising of players from clubs that haven’t made it to the finals, against this year’s Gold Cup semifinalists from Border, Hollywoodbets Swallows, in the main curtain-raiser to the Murray Cup Final, which is set for 4pm.