Kavaliers fall to spirited Pumas

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers missed out on claiming first place in the Carling Black Label Currie Cup after suffering a 15-20 Round Three defeat to the Airlink Pumas.

A spirited Airlink Pumas recorded their first win and the first Currie Cup loss for the Kavaliers at home since last year’s tournament.

The Kavaliers made an uncharacteristic start to Sunday’s clash, after conceding 12 penalties in the first half and struggling to secure clean lineout ball on their throws.

The defensive pressure from the Pumas also rushed the Kavaliers into forcing passes and making numerous handling errors at critical stages.

The mammoth penalty count also led to two sin-binnings for the Kavas side.

Flanker Kwanda Dimaza was the first to get yellow-carded for a high tackle on Pumas captain Willie Engelbrecht, in the 14th minute.

In the 35th minute, Boland fullback James Tedder also saw yellow for his high shot on opposite number Jay-Cee Nel.

Despite being a man short, Boland found themselves lucky not to concede any points during Dimaza’s 10 minutes in the bin. The Pumas did, however manager to secure a 5-10 lead at halftime thanks to flyhalf Nevaldo Fleurs’ penalty goal after six minutes.

Boland then hit the front in the 25th minute as winger Xavier Mitchell dotted down after fielding a well-placed cross kick from flyhalf Chris Smit.

The home side then found themselves trailing again as Pumas scrumhalf Thomas Bursey scored after the visitors fielded a loose ball from a high kick that Boland flyer Jayden Bantom fumbled.

Shortly after the break, the Pumas made their advantage of an extra player on the field count as playmaker Fleurs darted through a huge gap in Boland’s defence to put the visitors 5-17 up.

However, the home side hit back almost immediately as prop Dayan van der Westhuizen drove over from a powerful lineout maul.

The Pumas then found themselves a man down as lock JJ Scheepers copped a yellow card for a deliberate slap down of the ball with the Kavas on the attack. Boland could not take advantage of the extra man as Fleurs slotted a second penalty of the afternoon to put the Pumas 12-20 up.

Tried as they might, the Kavas could not cross the Pumas’ tryline, with the visitors putting in an impressive defensive shift.

Bantom’s 77th-minute penalty goal for the Kavas cut the Pumas’ lead to five points.

The home side won a breakdown penalty from the kick-off, with Bantom booting for touch to set up one final attacking line-out.

The Kavaliers could not secure the ball, as the Pumas hit game management mode for the final moments before Fleurs booted the ball into touch to end the game.

The result sees Boland fall to fourth position on the log as the Wellington side prepare to hit the road for their fourth clash in this season’s tournament.

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers will travel to the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal to take on the HollywoodBets Sharks XV on Saturday 8 August.

SCORERS:
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 (5)
Tries: Xavier Mitchell, Dayan van der Westhuizen
Cons: James Tedder
Pens: Jayden Bantom

Airlink Pumas: 20 (10)
Tries: Thomas Bursey, Nevaldo Fleurs
Cons: Fleurs (2)
Pens: Fleurs (2)

TEAMS:
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Chris Smit, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Thurlow Marsh (c), 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jeandré Leonard, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Toks Gumede
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Johnré Stopforth, 20 Taine Booysen, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Domenic Smit

Airlink Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Alfondso Isaacs, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Stephan Krugel, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Troy Delport, 23 Darren Adonis