SANLAM Boland Kavaliers can hold their hands high despite going down 67-19 to the ADT Lions in Saturday’s 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final at Ellis Park.
It was the first time in the professional era of South African rugby that Boland had reached a knockout game of the Currie Cup’s top flight, having played in a semi-final way back in 1969.
In reaching that milestone they had set for themselves at the beginning of the Currie Cup campaign, the Wellington-based outfit, however, found the going tough against a Lions team bolstered by a few Springboks and United Rugby Championship (URC) regulars.
And a first-half blitzkrieg by the experienced Lions saw the home side take a 41-5 halftime lead as the Kavas struggled to find cohesion on defence and attack. The Lions pounced on Boland’s errors from the get-go as winger Angelo Davids crossed for a first-half hat-trick while Henco van Wyk (a brace) and SJ Kotze also dotted down.
Boland made sure they had the last say in the first half as Sidney Tobias went over for a try from a lineout maul.
The Lions started the second half as they did the first, with their unrelenting attack and direct play leading to a penalty try after James Tedder was adjudged to have slapped the ball down with the Lions a man over.
Davids then scored his fourth as Springbok Quan Horn also dotted down to put the game away.
That, however, did not stop the Kavas as they showed some good fight in the latter stages, with Jayden Bantom and Chriswill September each scoring two converted tries.
But the home side would have the final say as Renzo du Plessis scored the Johannesburg side’s tenth of the night.
SCORERS:
Fidelity ADT Lions 67 (41) – Tries: Angelo Davids (4), Henco van Wyk (2), SJ Kotze, penalty try, Quan Horn, Renzo du Plessis. Conversions: Chris Smith (6). Penalty Goal: Smith.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 19 (5) – Tries: Sidney Tobias, Jayden Bantom, Chriswell September. Conversions: James Tedder (2)
TEAMS:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha (captain), 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Ameer Hendricks, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthozisi Gumede
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht