Kavaliers outmuscle the Bulls in wet Wellington

Kavaliers got the better of a spirited Vodacom Bulls XV 24-10 in a tight Round One clash of the Carling Currie Cup.

The final match of the opening round was played in front of a packed Boland Rugby Stadium in Wellington. Tough conditions underfoot set up a battle of strengths as the teams kept possession tight among both packs of forwards.

The home side were the first on the scoreboard after a relentless passage of attacking phases. Pressure mounted for the Bulls XV as they were unable to neutralise the driving onslaught, resulting in Joshua Eras crashing over for his first Currie Cup try. James Tedder added the extras to make it 7-0.

For about 20 minutes it was a back-and-forth tussle, predominantly between the two packs of forwards, with the Kavaliers enjoying much of the possession during this period.

Dayan van der Westhuizen broke the deadlock when he cantered across the whitewash following a series of attacking phases. The front rower's 26th-minute five-pointer is his fifth Currie Cup try. Jayden Bantom, who took over the kicking duties from Tedder, succeeded with his conversion attempt to open up a 14-point lead for the home side.

Players headed into the half-time break at 14-3 after Bulls flyhalf Keagan Johannes had knocked over a penalty. The second half saw the visitors strike first when Shaun Schürmann crashed over for his side's first and only try of the match.

Johannes' conversion attempt took the score to 14-10 as the final quarter approached. A late surge by the home side following a 25-metre driving maul saw referee Griffon Colby award the Kavaliers a penalty try that secured a winning start to competition for the men from the Cape.