For the second consecutive home game the Boland Kavailiers scored a try well beyond the hooter but this time it was to clinch a bonus-point try as they continued on their giant-killing way with a 29-10 Carling Currie Cup win over the ADT Fidelity Lions in Wellington on Sunday afternoon.
It was a very different game for the Lions compared to what they have had up to now.
They won their games against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and DHL Western Province comfortably with a fast-tempo running game but although it was a lovely clear winter’s afternoon at the Boland headquarters, the rain that had fallen in the previous two days meant they encountered conditions far removed from what they are used to at home on the highveld.
The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers claim another big scalp at home 👀🏡#SSRugby | #CurrieCup pic.twitter.com/1tOd9WVaaz
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 10, 2025
They also encountered a highly passioned opponent, and let’s not deny it also skilled, in the form of Boland, who retained possession for eight minutes after the hooter to put Donovan Don in for the winning try against the Toyota Cheetahs two weeks ago.
That was their determination writ large, and it was again in this game, with their defence showing in the early minutes that they were up for the battle.
Indeed, the Lions exerted such pressure in the first three minutes that they forced Boland into conceding three penalties in that time, with centre Luthani Nxele being dispatched through a yellow card off the third after as many minutes.
But being down to 14 men didn’t bother Boland, who kept out the Lions attack and then won a heel against the head at the next scrum.
Suddenly it was the Lions conceding penalties and Boland, even though down a man, showed off their penchant for creating space and playing into space, with Don being sent in for the first try of the match after fullback James Tedder had wrong footed the Lions defenders following a good driving maul.
Everybody loves a Chicken Wing 😏
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 10, 2025
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers open the scoring as Don scores in the corner 🙌
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NEED TO GIVE AWAY FEWER PENALTIES
That made it 5-0 to Boland after eight minutes and for much of the first quarter it was them that won the mini-battles, particularly around the breakdown.
However, Boland do need to sort out their discipline if they want to go all the way in the competition because they did allow the Lions to easily build momentum through the penalties they conceded.
And when Tedder came out of the defensive line in the 19th minute it allowed the Lions to break what up to then had resembled a dam wall as flyhalf Kade Wolhuter ran through the gap to score.
He couldn’t convert his own try so it was 5-all at the end of the first quarter.
Apart from two heels against the head in the set scrums in the first half, Boland also managed to poach several Lions lineout throws, although to be fair the Lions did the same to them and it would probably be more accurate to say the lineouts were a mess for both sides.
The Lions did have their opportunities but were denied by tenacious and organised Boland defence, with the visitors enjoying territorial dominance but Boland making good use of their opportunities.
A Tedder penalty in the 26th minute put Boland back into the lead at 8-5 and then a few minutes later it was Don who scored again, this time the try being laid on for him by a superb break down the short side by the impressive flyhalf Ashlon Davids.
ROLES REVERSED LATER ON
Tedder converted and by this time Boland were starting to get some momentum as the earlier slew of penalties against them now turned into penalties against the Lions.
Lions scrumhalf Nico Steyn was yellow carded after 34 minutes and if Boland had been a bit more clinical with their finishing they should have scored again before halftime.
As it was though they took a handy 15-5 lead into the break, handy because of the heavy underfoot conditions.
The good contesting at the lineouts - let’s call it that - continued into the second half, as did some good direct play from both teams, with veteran Kavaliers hooker Sidney Tobias being a standout when it came to his direct driving and allround contribution to his team’s effort.
The Lions though were the team doing most of the pressing in the third quarter and eventually Boland, in their quest to keep their opponents out, lost another man to a yellow card, with Tedder being pinged for a cynical defensive intervention near his line.
The Lions, as they had after the earlier Boland yellow card, laboured too long over exploiting the extra man advantage, although when they eventually capitalised on a long period of patience by putting Gianni Lombard in at the corner flag in the 58th minute at the very moment Tedder was due back on the field, they were back in the game.
However, a chip and gather from Lombard’s opposite number Tedder led to a Xavier Mitchell try nine minutes later and then it was all about Boland chasing the bonus point, which they achieved six minutes after the hooter when replacement wing Juan Mostert went over.
Mostert was on the field because of an unfortunate injury to Don and with captain Marlyn Williams also lost to injury perhaps that was the only false note on another great Sunday for the Kavaliers.
Another big and vibrant crowd turned up for the game and if the Kavaliers continue in this fashion seats will be hard to find at their home ground in the weeks to come.
They have certainly served notice that they are going to very tough to beat in Wellington this season.
Scores
Boland Kavaliers 29 - Tries: Donovan Don 2, Xavier Mitchell and Juan Mostert. Conversions: James Tedder 3; Penalty: James Tedder.
ADT Fidelity Lions 10 - Tries: Kade Wolhuter and Gianni Lombard.