Sunday, May 20, 2012

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Jos's Journal

- 14 May 2012

Jos Robson Varsity College Old Boys would have celebrated long into the night after edging out their long time rivals Acer Durban Collegians 25-22 in their first round Fidelity Security Premier Division clash after their star of the show flyhalf Warren Randall slotted a last gasp drop goal to secure a famous victory for the side from Durban North. What would have made their victory that much sweeter was the fact that they were away from home and even though outscored four tries to one by the home side did enough to come away with four valuable league log points leaving them and FNB UKZN Maritzburg poised on second spot on the log table behind leaders Jonsson College Rovers.

The game a Fidelity Security feature family day encounter might not have risen to any great heights, did never the less have its moments with Collegians scrumhalf Dwayne Kelly crossing for two of their tries with the others going to wing Kyle Hartley and flanker Francois Kleinhans with only one of the touchdowns being converted, which undoubtedly cost them the game. Oldies young flyhalf Randall on the other hand was on target with four penalties and the drop goal that sealed the game for the visitors while their lone try came from scrumhalf Rowan Howse making it an all halfback affair for the victors. For Oldies coach Carel Nel, his passion for the game was indeed rewarded on the evening as he now takes his charges forward to fight another day.

In yet another close encounter Varsity with home ground advantage in the capital squeezed home 25-24 against their visitors Bluff SuperSpar Harlequins leaving them an Old Boys in a tense battle for a second spot standing as Rovers seem to now be in an unsalable position to retain the 137 year old trophy after beating Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians 54-3.

Rovers yet again didn’t really play at their full potential but really looked a polished unit in phases with Jors Dannhauser and Kosie Haarhoff crossing for two tries apiece in their eight try rout with the others going to Chris Jordaan, Jaco van Tonder, Danie Mienie and Anton Verster. Dannhauser showed that he has a good boot on him as well slotting five conversions with another two being kicked by skipper Chris Mickelwood. Maritzburg Collegians can hold their heads high and can only learn and grow from each game.

In the remaining match Telnet Crusaders with former Sharks pivot Monty DuMont back in harness for the club picked up their first victory of the season narrowly beating Thanda Zululand Rhinos 24-16 so leaving the outfit from Empangeni propping up the log table. One now feels that the side from Ranleigh Crescent fortunes are about to change as they rebuild that was once a vibrant and successful club-indeed good news for their supporters.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ Division it looks as though they could take the silverware for the first time in their history after beating Rovers 31-21 in the curtain raiser to the Vodacom Super 15 match between the Sharks and the Force. It certainly be a worthy reward for coach Andy Keast and the man who has put so much time and effort into the Harlequins cause Mike Gedye.

In the other games Old Boys beat Midlands 73-0 AND Durban Collegians accounted for Crusaders 39-16.

In the First Division there is another battle royal going on for top honours with Toti, Fidelity Security Jaguars and Fidelity Security South Coast Warriors now beginning to find their feet after UKZN Durban and Teichmann Bell Ballito Dolphins having had earlier set the pace leaving the league now intriguingly wide open.

National Club Rugby Round-up – Rovers eye Club Champs return

- 21 July 2011

• For all the latest nationwide premier league club fixtures, results and logs, go towww.sarugby.co.za or follow us on Twitter @saclubrugby.

National club champions Jonsson College Rovers are one drawn match away from returning to Stellenbosch in September to defend their title, after the Durban side’s 63-0 dismantling of Crusaders in the KZN Fidelity Security Premier Division last weekend.

Unbeaten Rovers scored 10 tries – three of them to fullback Jors Dannhauser – to register their 12th win on the trot and so open up a commanding 13-point lead over Durban Collegians to all but wrap up a sixth consecutive Moor Cup title.

Collegians have a game in hand but they will have to beat Rovers in their return match this Saturday (kickoff 15h30 at Reebok Park, KP3) to have any hope of overtaking the all-conquering champions. In their first-round clash, Rovers scored a last-gasp try to emerge 24-23 victors, and a draw on Saturday will confirm their ticket to the National Club Championships.

College Rovers, who reached the 2006 and 2008 Club Champs finals before beating Maties last year, have enjoyed a remarkable run over the past three seasons, during which they have lost just two matches.

Since April 2009, when they lost 22-10 to Collegians, Rovers have won 44 matches on the trot in all KZN league and cup competitions, and 34 in all competitions including the Club Champs.

Last Saturday’s victory over Crusaders was their 50th in 51 matches since the Collegians defeat 27 months ago, with their only loss in this period coming against eventual champions Hamilton in the 2009 Club Champs semi-finals in Pretoria.

“There were a lot of changes at the club around 10 years ago and under the new chairman, Graham MacKenzie, we invested in our youth,” said chairman Kevin Carolan, who took over from MacKenzie last year.

“Our Under-20 team back then featured the likes of Ryan Kankowski, Keegan Daniel, Beast Mtawarira and Craig Burden, all of whom graduated straight into the Sharks set-up without going through the first team.”

Carolan said that a succession of excellent coaches, including Sean Everitt, Ryan Strudwick and current head coach Brad MacLeod-Henderson, have helped build a lasting legacy. “The guys have created a winning culture. There’s no real formula but just a lot of hard work,” he said.

The latest addition to the coaching staff is former Springbok scrumhalf Robert du Preez, who looks after the backs. Carolan believes that despite a number of injuries and provincial call-ups, Rovers will be in good shape to defend their national title in eight weeks’ time.

“We’re down to our fourth-choice in some positions and we’ve lost guys like Shannon Rick to Griquas and Ross Cronjé to the Sharks,” he said. “But we’ve still got a number of very good players who are ready for the challenge.”

Elsewhere around the country, Tukkies’ 40-12 victory over Naka Bulle in the Blue Bulls’ Carlton League has given the students a six-point lead at the top of the table, ahead of Pretoria Harlequins and third-placed Police.

Wesbank beat Wellington 51-29 to move to the top of the Boland Premier League, five points ahead of Roses United, who have already qualified for the Club Champs having led the standings after the first round.

Winter Rose, Buffalo and Fort Hare continue their battle for Border Super League honours after all three sides registered victories in a league that looks set to go down to the wire.

UJ march on unbeaten in the Golden Lions’ Pirates Grand Challenge and Predator Competitions following their 74-26 demolition of Pirates, while Raiders moved to second place in both competitions following their 29-24 victory over Wits.

Progress remain odds-on favourites to take the SWD Premier League title after their 15th win in 17 matches, 26-19 over Bridgton, while Springs’ 59-27 away win over Nigel was the East Rand outfit’s 12th in a row in the Valke Peregrine Super League.

And in the battle between the country’s two oldest clubs, Hamilton (founded in 1875) beat Villager (1876) 41-13 to move to second place in the Western Province Super League A, six points adrift of pace-setters SK Walmers, who beat newcomers Belhar 38-11.

Third-placed Maties will resume their league campaign on Saturday after an eight-week student break, and coach Chean Roux and his men face a tough challenge to reel in the front-runners despite having a number of games in hand.

Issued by SARU Communications

• For more information, please contact Duane Heath at clubs@crossbarmedia.co.za

U20’s GEAR UP FOR PROVINCIAL SEASON

- 17 June 2011

The 2011 season for the U20 division has been completed. This now allows the representative players in the Sharks U19 and U21 squads to start preparing for their respective Currie Cup campaigns. Preparation for the U19 club season which starts at the end of July will also begin in earnest.

Looking back to January of this year there was much discussion around who would take the honours in the U20 competitions. If memory serves correctly, Durban Collegians were favourites with College Rovers and Empangeni close behind. Collegians were never going to be as strong as last year’s squad but Rovers and Empangeni were definitely going to be stronger. The latter proved correct. Empangeni had the edge on the other clubs in that they are an academy and would thus always be more prepared than the traditional clubs who get together two nights a week. Their Achilles heel however is their travelling issue, fifty percent of their games meant a trip to Durban or Pietermaritzburg. No mean feat.

The pre season games seemed to go according to script but it was evident that depth was going to play a major factor in the success of the top clubs. To play so many games in such a short period of time was always going to be a big ask on some of the squads. Preparation for games became more of a management issue rather than game plans etc, something that Empangeni was able to do in academy time rather than rushed night practices. The three favourites all started off well and it was no secret that the league was going to be decided when they met each other. None of the other clubs were really threatening to cause an upset although Crusaders, Harlequins and Old Boys proved difficult sides to beat.

The first of the big match-ups was Empangeni vs College Rovers in Durban. Rovers dominated a first half playing into a strong wind. All and sundry predicted a win for the home team at half time. It was here that Empangeni made their biggest statement, they outscored Rovers by 4 tries to nil in the second half and won comfortably. The following week saw Collegians travel to Empangeni and, contrary to predictions, edged a 2 point victory. Effectively this meant that a win against Rovers would set up Collegians to retain the title. They did this, from behind once again, 3 weeks later. Rovers were effectively out of the running with these 2 losses and Collegians just needed to beat Empangeni in Durban to end the race. Nobody could have predicted what happened next. A fresh Empangeni side caught Collegians a couple of days after the bruising clash with Rovers. A confident win by the Zululanders put them equal with Collegians on the log. A win by Rovers over Harlequins suddenly kept them in the race. It got even more bizarre when Collegians were thrashed by Harlequins on the Bluff and Rovers recovered to record a bonus point win against them in the return fixture. In the matter of two weeks Collegians had gone from top of the log to 3^rd and Empangeni just needed to beat Rovers in Empangeni to secure the title. This they did after a fierce battle in a midweek night game. Thus the final standings in the Frank Norris league were:

U20 A Division

1) Empangeni

2) College Rovers

3) Durban Collegians

4) Harlequins

5) Crusaders

6) Old Boys

7) PMB

U20 B Division

1) Empangeni

2) College Rovers

3) Durban Collegians

4) Harlequins

5) PMB

6) South Coast Warriors

This meant that there was new name on the trophy with Empangeni winning the Frank Norris league for the first time in their history. An achievement that really bodes well for the future of Zululand rugby. They also went on to beat College Rovers in the two knock out finals played at the neutral Riverside in two closely contested games. The highly sought after double. Well done Empangeni.

It has to be said that the current structure of the league is very hard on the players with injuries being a deciding factor in many of the games. The current structure was borne out of the clubs wanting to play all games at full strength before their stars were taken by the provincial squads. In reality, there are hardly any games being played at full strength due to all the injuries. Many of these injured players are in actual fact the ‘stars’ who are withdrawn from contact at the first sign of a niggle by the medical staff. There is no doubt that they are also subjected to far more training than the average player and one has to question the ever increasing list of casualties. Playing two games a week, in some instances, without a break, is not sustainable.

All in all this was a hard season of uncompromising rugby that impressed with its passion and standard of play. The strongest, best prepared, club won and we now look forward to the remainder of the open season, the U19 league and the National Club Championship for the winning premiership team.

Good luck to all.

SHARKS UNDER 19 & U21 CURRIE CUP SQUADS ANNOUNCED

The Sharks U19 & U21 Currie Cups Squads were announced this week and College Rovers have no less than 15 players in the two teams with a further 4 in the greater training groups.

Congratulations to Monde Hadebe, Pieter-Stef du Toit, Chris Cloete, Brynard Stander, Siseko Jafta, Terror Mthembu, Charlie Purdon, Andrew Norton (Sharks U21); Billy van Lill, Jandre Jacobs, Mike Williams, Gideon Bruwer (Sharks U21 training group); Simon Kerrod, Senzo Mtshali, Jason Klaasen, Ivan Ludick, Gavin Hauptfleisch, Andrew Holland and Vernon du Randt (Sharks U19). Nick Schonert is currently in Italy with the Junior Springboks and will most likely join the U21’s on his return.

Our thoughts are with Emil Schwarz who should have been with the Junior Springboks and Sharks U19 teams but sustained a serious knee injury in Rovers’ league fixture against Crusaders which has put a sudden hold on his rugby career. We wish you a full and speedy recovery Emil.

College Rovers win SAA Club Champs

- 25 September 2010

Jerome Pretorius © Gallo Images

24 September 2010, 17:24

College Rovers won the SAA National Club Champs for the first time in their history when they beat Maties 24-15 (halftime 11-5) at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday.

For Rovers, the KZN champions, it was a case of third time lucky after they had lost the two previous finals they had appeared in, in 2006 and 2008, also in Stellenbosch. It was also the second year running that an open club – after Hamilton in 2009 – had beaten a Varsity Cup team to lift the most prestigious club rugby tournament in the country.

It was the first time in 30 years that Maties, the 12-time champions, had lost in the final. Their eight-match unbeaten streak in deciders was broken by a committed Rovers side whose defence, which was their hallmark throughout the tournament, again proved to be impenetrable.

Flyhalf Wesley Dunlop, one of the standout players during the week-long tournament, was again magnificent, kicking a conversion, three penalties and a drop goal to dash the Stellenbosch students’ dreams of an unprecedented 13th title.

In a match in which both sides looked tired and not on top of their games, it was Rovers’ flyhalf Dunlop who gave the gutsy KZN champions a 6-0 lead after 24 minutes with two penalties.

Maties, who, like Rovers were playing their fourth match in seven days, appeared off the pace and hesitant against the Rovers defence but they finally made a breakthrough after 27 minutes when hooker Arno White crashed over from a lineout penalty. Flyhalf Coenie van Wyk missed the conversion that would have given his team the lead.

With play swinging back and forth and neither side able to stamp their authority on the game, it was Rovers who broke the deadlock just before halftime when centre Jerome Pretorius raced over after some great phase play by the Durbanites to give them an 11-5 halftime lead.

Stellenbosch began the second half with more vigour and were rewarded with the lead after 46 minutes when White crashed over for his second try, converted by Van Wyk, to make it 12-11. But Dunlop reclaimed the lead for Rovers with a penalty before Pretorius intercepted a lazy Maties pass to scoot home under the posts.

Dunlop’s conversion suddenly opened up a nine-point gap for the KwaZulu-Natalians as the listless students just couldn’t get out of second gear. The flyhalf then coolly slotted a last-minute drop goal to ensure that the trophy would return to Durban.

In the Plate competition, Shimlas beat East London Police 35-17.

Scorers:
Maties 15 – Tries: Arno White (2). Conversion: Coenie van Wyk.
College Rovers 24 – Tries: Jerome Pretorius (2). Conversion: Wesley Dunlop. Penalties: Dunlop (3). Drop goal: Dunlop.

Supersport Rugby News Feed

Workmanlike Stormers go top

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:27:01 GMT

There was nothing spectacular about the way they did it but the Stormers powered back to the top of the Vodacom Super Rugby log with a win over the Waratahs at Newlands on Saturday.

Michalak leads Sharks to victory

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:26:50 GMT

French flyhalf Frederik Michalak produced an impressive tally of 19 points to lead the Sharks to a 34-20 victory over the Cheetahs in their Super Rugby encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Bulls come up short in Dunedin

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:26:25 GMT

The Highlanders survived a ferocious late onslaught by the Vodacom Bulls to down the South Africans 16-11 at the Forsyth-Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.

Rebels win tight game against Force

Sun, 20 May 2012 10:19:12 GMT

Kurtley Beale kicked a game-winning penalty from the sideline as the Melbourne Rebels beat the Western Force 32-31 in their Super Rugby clash in Perth on Sunday.

Sharks breathe a sigh of relief

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:14:19 GMT

Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis said the coastal side were relieved after pulling off a crucial 34-20 win against the Cheetahs in their Super Rugby derby in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Guildford called into ABs squad

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:33:25 GMT

Crusaders winger Zac Guildford has been called into the All Blacks training squad ahead of their June test series against Ireland after two players were ruled out with injury.

Leinster crush Ulster to retain Heineken Cup

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:54:22 GMT

Leinster racked up the records by thrashing Ulster at Twickenham on Saturday to win the Heineken Cup as the first all-Irish final turned into a celebration for Europe's most dominant side.

Quade makes winning contribution

Sat, 19 May 2012 13:48:17 GMT

Quade Cooper made the contribution in his return game for the Reds that put his team on path to their emphatic 34-20 win over the MTN Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.

Crusaders thrash Blues

Sat, 19 May 2012 11:46:13 GMT

The Crusaders responded to the verbal rocket they received from coach Todd Blackadder earlier in the week by demolishing the Blues 59-12 in their Super Rugby match on Saturday.

WP snatch first Cup title

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:20:25 GMT

DHL Western Province claimed their first Vodacom Cup title when they snatched an exciting 20-18 victory (halftime 10-13) over GWK Griquas in the final, at GWK Park, in Kimberley, on Friday evening.

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