Kavaliers outwit, outlast and outplay Border

A powerful display of skill, speed and discipline helped the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers beat the Border Bulldogs 74-5 in a Round Six SA Cup match at the Boland Rugby Stadium on Saturday.

The home side got off to a fiery start, scoring four tries in the opening 23 minutes with Xavier Mitchell and Joshua Eras both crossing the tryline twice for the Kavaliers’ try bonus-point. Mitchell would go on to score four tries in the second half.

James Tedder was on song off the tee, converting four of his five attempts in the first half as the home side headed into the sheds with a 33-5 lead.

The victory means the Kavaliers remain in contention for one of the all-important top four spots.

Despite the wet and challenging playing conditions, both sides kept spreading the ball wide, giving the backs some quality territory to attack from, entertaining a rather modest Boland Rugby Stadium crowd.

The Kavaliers picked things right up in the second half, where they left off in the first half. Mitchell completed his hat-trick in the first minute of the second stanza.

Dominant set-pieces by the home side meant the speedsters received quality ball to get across the advantage line with ease.

Jayden Bantom crossed for his second try following some brilliant and clinical interplay between the backs and forwards, while Sibusiso Sangweni, Bentley Geldenhuys, Jurick Lewis and Sidney Tobias all added their names to the try-scoring sheet.

A brave effort from the visitors at brief intervals enabled the Border Bulldogs to set up a handful of quality attacking phases, only to be met by an equally clinical Boland defensive effort.

Late surges by both sides meant the match ended on a high intensity note as neither team wanted to back down but it was the seasoned hardman, Tobias, who had the final say. The replacement hooker dotting down for the Kavaliers’ 12th try of the day.