Sanlam Boland Cavaliers went down fighting in Saturday’s entertaining 41-36 SA Cup loss to the Suzuki Griquas at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley.
Although they secured two important bonus points – one for scoring four tries and one for losing within seven points – Cavas coach Hawies Fourie would certainly feel that this was a game his side should have won after leading by 10 points with 10 minutes to go.
But yellow cards to Ashlon Davids and Thurlow Marsh saw the Cavas fall to their third defeat of the SA Cup campaign and put another speedbump in their way to securing qualification to later this year’s Currie Cup Premier Division.
But the bonus points for scoring four or more tries and losing by seven points or less keep the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers in the hunt for a Currie Cup Premier Division promotion, although they now need to win all their remaining games and hope for favourable results elsewhere.
The Cavas made a fast-paced start, keeping the Griquas pegged back with some scintillating play from their forwards and backs and were rewarded early after hooker Sidney Tobias powered his way over from a strong lineout drive.
However, Griquas started imposing their physicality and took the lead through two lineout drive tries from No 2 Gustav du Rand. The first half would prove to be an arm-wrestle after the early fire from both sides as Boland closed the gap through an Ashlon Davids penalty.
Some tough and disciplined defence by the Cavas also made sure the Griquas could not regain the earlier momentum from Du Rand’s brace as the visitors regained the lead just before halftime as midfielder Jurick Lewis broke the Griquas' defensive line before barging his way over the try-line.
QUICK SECOND-HALF START
Boland made another quick start to the second half by scoring first as Lewis dotted down for his second five-pointer and put the Cavas up by 24-14.
But just as it looked as if Boland were gaining full control of the game, the Griquas showed why they are such a dangerous side as they exploited a mismatch in numbers with a brilliant counterattack from their own half for Cameron Hufke to score and reduce the visiting side’s lead to three points.
A yellow card on the side of Griquas for a late and high tackle on Davids, however, helped Boland stifle the fightback from the home side as the visitors capitalised on an error for James Tedder to pounce on a loose ball and score, putting the Cavas ahead by 10 points.
Davids was sent off after being penalised for apparently slapping down the ball, and minutes later, Marsh received his marching order to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle.
The Griquas took full advantage as hooker Du Rand completed his hat-trick with another maul try, and Gurshwin Wehr then gave Griquas the lead from a move started from deep within the home side’s half before replacement winger Marcqiewn Titus scored shortly afterwards.
Ludio Willaims’ score at the death, however, salvaged a second losing bonus point for the Cavas in what is turning out to be a very tight race for qualification for the Currie Cup Premier Division. Final score Suzuki Griquas 42-36 Sanlam Boland Cavaliers
Scorers:
Suzuki Griquas 42 (14) – Tries: Gustav du Rand (3), Cameron Hufke, Gurshwin Wehr, and Marcqiewn Titus. Conversions: George Whitehead (6)
Sanlam Boland Cavaliers 36 (17) – Tries: Sidney Tobias, Jurick Lewis (2), James Tedder, and Ludio Williams. Conversions: Ashlon Davids (4). Penalty: Davids