Champions Despatch beaten

DEFENDING Community Cup champions Despatch were beaten 26-20 by Roodeport in the opening match of the tournament at Outeniqua Park in George yesterday.

The strong Despatch team, who were trailing 20-3 at the break, mounted a strong second-half fight back.

Despatch flyhalf Monty Dumond scored a try and kicked two conversions and two penalties to keep his team in the hunt up until the final whistle.

South Africa's top eight clubs are battling for the right to be crowned champions in the showpiece tournament which reaches a climax on Monday.

The scorers:

Roodepoort 26: Tries (L Malau, J Shaw, M van Rooyen). Conversion: H Oosthuizen. Penalties H Oosthuizen (3).

Despatch 20: Tries M Dumond, V Russel. Conversions: M Dumond (2). Penalties: M Dumond (2).