Roodepoort caused a major upset when they beat defending Community Cup champions Despatch 26-20 in the first quarter-final in George on Thursday.

The team from Johannesburg scored in the first five minutes when prop Jaco Vermeulen went over from a rolling maul.

Roodepoort’s forwards dominated the scrums and neutralised the champions’ driving mauls. And with their set pieces functioning well, they added two more tries in the space of four minutes, scrumhalf André Esterhuizen darting down the blindside after yet another strong scrum and sending Lesego Malau away, and flank Jaun Shaw bursting over moments later following a lineout.

Two Monty Dumond penalties put Despatch on the scoreboard, as they headed into the break 20-6 down.

Roodepoort’s Hennie Oosthuizen added a penalty, but when substitute Johan Prins spilled the ball on attack, Dumond pounced and scored a runaway try. It sparked Despatch to life and when Roodepoort were reduced to 14 men, the defending champs sneaked through for another five-pointer. But Roodepoort defended valiantly for the remainder of the game with Oosthuizen nailing a final kick at goal.

In the other quarter-finals, College Rovers beat Old Selbornians 36-13, Boland’s Roses United were smashed 66-13 by Rustenburg Impala and Hamiltons cruised past Centurion 40-10.

Quarter-final results:

Roodepoort 26 Despatch 20
College Rovers 36 Old Selbornians 13
Rustenburg Impala 66 Roses United 13
Hamiltons 40 Centurion 10

Semi-final fixtures (Saturday):

College Rovers vs Rustenburg Impala
Roodepoort vs Hamiltons