The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers remain in the second place on the Carling Currie Cup log despite falling short against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Pietermaritzburg, 33-31
With a minute left, Boland took the lead for the first time following a James Tedder 77th-minute penalty goal to put them 31-30 up. Despite the loss, the Wellington side remains in the hunt for the semi-final spot.
Captain Thurlow Marsh, however, said afterwards his team was not good enough on the day, especially after conceding a 17-7 halftime lead and again having to dig deep to fight back in the second half.
After converted tries by Jacques Marais and Albie Bester, the hosts put the Kavas on the back foot. They replied through a Sauliegh Arendse score just before halftime, with Tedder adding the extras.
Jean Smith’s penalty goal, however, made sure the Sharks had a 10-point buffer going into the break, 17-7. Smith picked up where he left off in the opening stanza, slotting another penalty, putting the home side ahead by two scores, 20-7.
Marais’ second five-pointer for the home side, however, put Boland under more scoreboard pressure. Still, it did not faze coach Hawies Fourie’s men, who worked themselves back into a scoring position for prop Dayan van der Westhuizen to dive over from close range.
Smith’s third successful penalty goal then made it 30-21 for the Sharks with less than 20 minutes to play. Boland, however, hit back with their fourth and bonus point try as HP van Schoor crashed over. Another attacking foray then saw Tedder line up a penalty attempt at goal. He converted, handing the Kavas the lead for the first time in the Round Six encounter.
Unfortunately, a lack of concentration in the dying moments cost the visitors, who now sit on 23 points and face neighbours DHL WP next week, where it will be all to play for as Boland hunt that semi-final spot.
SCORERS: Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 33 (17) – Tries: Jacques Marais (2), Albie Bester, Cons: Jean Smith (3), Pens: Smith (3) and Siya Masuku Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 31 (7) – Tries: Sauliegh Arendse, Donovan Don, Dayan van der Wethuizen, and HP van Schoor Cons: James Tedder (4) Pen: Tedder
TEAMS:
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Diego Apollis, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Christie Grobbelaar, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ceano Everson, 8 Nicholas Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Coetzee Le Roux, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Jacques Marais, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jaco Williams. Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donovan Don, 13 Erik Lambrecht, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 David Brits, 23 Domenic Smit.
The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers head coach, Hawies Fourie, has announced his team that will play against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Pietermaritzburg in the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday.
Fourie has made five changes to the starting line-up that beat the Airlink Pumas in Mbombela last Friday.
According to the Kavaliers coach, some changes were made due to injuries while Sauliegh Arendse and Erik Lambrecht have been rewarded for their recent performances, earning them a place in the starting line-up.
Flyhalf Ashlon Davids is out of action after suffering a knee injury in Mbombela last week. However, there is also a piece of good news with winger Donovan Don, who is the tournament’s leading try scorer with seven tries in just four matches, returning from the knee injury he sustained in round four against the Bulls.
Among the forwards, Arendse comes in at flank, with Khwezi Mafu moving to the bench. Sidney Tobias returns at hooker after being rested against the Pumas, with HP van Schoor being named on the bench.
Juan Mostert replaces Davids at flyhalf, while the versatile Lambrecht is rewarded for his good performance against the Pumas with a place in the starting line-up at outside centre. David Brits consequently moves to the bench. On the right wing, Don takes the place of Marcqiewn Titus, with fullback Domenic Smit named among the replacements.
Saturday’s match will not take place at Kings Park, the Sharks’ traditional home, but at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. Kick-off is at 17:10 with Dylen November as the referee.
SANLAM BOLAND KAVALIERS: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donovan Don, 13 Erik Lambrecht, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper
REPLACEMENTS: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 David Brits, 23 Domenic Smit
Die Sanlam Boland Kavaliers se hoofafrigter, Hawies Fourie, het sy span aangekondig wat Saterdag in die Carling Curriebeker teen die Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Pietermaritzburg gaan speel.
Fourie het vyf veranderinge aan die beginspan aangebring wat verlede Vrydag die Airlink Pumas in Mbombela geklop het.
Volgens die Kavaliers-breier is van die veranderings aangebring weens beserings. Daar is ook Sauliegh Arendse en Erik Lambrecht wat hul plek in die beginspan oopgespeel het.
Die losskakel Ashlon Davids is buite aksie nadat hy verlede week in Mbombela ’n kniebesering opgedoen het. Daar is egter ook ‘n brokkie goeie nuus met die vleuel Donovan Don, wie die toernooi se voorste drieëdrukker met sewe drieë in slegs vier wedstryde is, wie terugkeer ná die kniebesering wat hy in rondte vier teen die Bulle opgedoen het.
Onder die voorspelersgroep kom Arendse in op oopkantflank, met Khwezi Mafu wat na die bank skuif. Sidney Tobias keer terug as die begin-haker nadat hy teen die Pumas ‘n ruskans gegun is, met HP van Schoor wat op die bank is.
Agterlangs vervang Juan Mostert vir Davids op losskakel, terwyl die veelsydige Lambrecht beloon word vir sy goeie vertoning teen die Pumas met ’n plek in die beginspan op buitesenter. David Brits skuif gevolglik na die bank. Op regtervleuel neem Don die plek van Marcqiewn Titus, met die heelagter Domenic Smit op die plaasvervanger bank.
Saterdag se wedstryd sal nie by Kings Park, die Sharks se tradisionele tuiste, plaasvind nie, maar wel by die Woodburn Stadion in Pietermaritzburg. Afskop is om 17:10 met Dylen November as die skeidsregter.
SANLAM BOLAND KAVALIERS: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donovan Don, 13 Erik Lambrecht, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (kaptein), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. PLAASVERVANGERS: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 David Brits, 23 Domenic Smit
Erik Lambrecht is loving his impact role after making his Carling Currie Cup Premier Division debut off the replacement bench in Sanlam Boland Kavaliers’ convincing 29-10 win over the Fidelity ADT Lions.
Since that win, Lambrecht, schooled at famous rugby school Boland Landbou, has made three appearances off the bench as the Kavas downed the Vodacom Bulls 28-20 in Round Four and Airlink Pumas 29-26 in this past weekend’s Round Five clash in Mbombela.
The win over the Pumas was Boland’s first Carling Currie Cup away win of the season and one that cemented their place in the Currie Cup semi-finals after fighting back from trailing by 21-3 at halftime at the Mbombela stadium.
With Boland under pressure, coach Hawies Fourie decided to substitute Lambrecht, and the former Bredasdorp Rangers Rugby Club centre player made an immediate impact after breaking the Pumas’ defensive line to set up a try for winger Xavier Mitchell.
Lambrecht did not stop there as he made several impactful attacking runs while also staying solid in defence as the Kavas shut down the Pumas’ attack in the second half. His contribution in Mbombela helped the Kavas reach their early target of qualifying for this season’s Currie Cup semi-finals.
“There was not a direct message from coach Hawies of what my role should be when I get onto the field,” Lambrecht said when asked what Sanlam Boland Kavaliers’ head coach, Hawies Fourie’s message to him was before taking to the field.
“I just knew that coming on off the bench, I have to go out there and make a difference.
“Sometimes you just get that one opportunity and you have to go out and use it. And the guys know I am someone who will always give my 120 per cent and come and make a difference.”
The midfielder also revealed that his role in the Kavas setup is not just that of impact in the backline, but as a hybrid player – much like Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen – that can be utilised as a sixth loose-forward.
But Lambrecht admits it is a role that can be challenging and explains: “It’s always a tough challenge to get yourself mentally up for a game, especially with coach Hawies’ plans of not knowing whether I will be going on in the backline or as flanker.
“But I try and stick to my pre-match routines of keeping things very simple.”
Part of the 24-year-old’s game-ready rituals, he reveals, is trying to watch as much rugby as possible, whether it is watching some club rugby or even early morning international rugby games.
“It just calms me and relaxes me, and then I will also watch old highlight reels of myself playing just to tell myself: ‘I know what to do and that I can play rugby, and you must just go out there and express yourself and tell yourself you are the best guy in that position’,” Lambrecht reveals.
“To play with guys like Xavier Mitchell, Ashlon Davids, Juan Mostert, and David Brits is a privilege.
“Mossie (Mostert), I know from my playing days at school, he is a good ball distributor, and I just love running off his shoulder. Ashlon is our [main] general; he leads us game in and out, he brings calmness and has a lot of time on the ball.
“Xavier, we all know, is the man with that pace on the outside, and it is just important to get the ball to him. I am also getting to learn a lot from David with his Sevens rugby experience. So, it is amazing to get to play with all of them.
“One of my goals was just to be part of the 2025 team that will take part in the Currie Cup Premier Division. We are busy making a name for ourselves, and it is definitely one of my biggest career highlights to be part of this group.”
The Sanlam Boland Under 21 team’s defence of their SA Rugby U21 Shield title got off to a shaky start after a nervy 31-24 win over Border Bulldogs at Boland Stadium in Wellington.
However, Boland U21 head coach Juan de Jongh was satisfied seeing his team secure a bonus-point win that puts them in second position on the log, behind Eastern Province, after the first round.
De Jongh’s men will have a few things that need attention this week, more so because the next two fixtures are both away games.
“Great start for us in terms of getting the victory and getting a bonus point win to get our campaign underway,” said Juan de Jongh, Sanlam Boland U21 head coach. “There are obviously a lot of things that we have and will be working on in the week leading to the next match.
Photo: Wellington, 23 August 2025, Juan de Jongh, head coach of Sanlam Boland U21, ahead of the Sanlam Boland U21 v Border Bulldogs in the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition. Photo by Boland Rugby Media / Ernest Kilowan
“Two away matches coming up, but really satisfied to see a couple of individual players that performed well.”
Boland winger Slade Jacobs opened the scoring for Boland after five minutes as he finished off a great attacking move.
The winger then scored his second as the home side went 10-0 up before Border struck back through a converted try by Siya Sakhela.
Border then took a 14-10 lead as Lakhe Baliso crossed the chalk for a second converted try.
The Bolander would wrestle back the momentum with Renaldo Koker scoring and Tireque Apolles converting as the home side hit the sheds 17-14 up.
Photo: Wellington, 23 August 2025, O’Ryan Jack of Sanlam Boland U21 v Border Bulldogs in the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition. Photo by Boland Rugby Media / Ernest Kilowan
Enrico Giani then got in on the scoring action after halftime with his converted try, putting Boland 24-14 ahead. But Boland’s 10-point lead was cut in half when Siphenathi April went over for the visiting side’s third try.
Koker then bagged his brace as Boland went 31-19 up with Apolles kicking a third conversion.
The home side could not stop Border securing two bonus points as Sakhela went over for his second try of the day, making sure the Eastern Cape side also bagged a point for losing the game by a margin of seven.
De Jongh’s side next travels to Gqeberha, where they will face log leaders Eastern Province this coming Saturday at the De Wet Stadium in Despatch.
SCORERS:
SANLAM BOLAND U21 – Tries: Slade Jacobs (2), Ronaldo Koker (2) and Enrico Giani. Conversions: Tireque Apolles (3)
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers delivered an emphatic come-from-behind performance in the Carling Black Label Currie Cup season as they fought back from 23 points down to beat the Airlink Pumas 29-26 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Hawies Fourie and his men have won four from their five league matches, with the only loss coming against the Suzuki Griquas in Round Two in Kimberley. The win sees the Boland move to 21 log points and become the first team to book their spot in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division playoffs, with two league games still left to play.
Two first-half yellow cards against Khwezi Mafu and James Tedder saw the visitors down to 13 men, providing an ideal opportunity for the Pumas to capitalise and score three converted tries.
The scoreboard was firmly in favour of the home team, 21-3, as the players made their way into the sheds. The only points in the opening stanza came courtesy of a Tedder penalty. But the tide turned in favour of the Pumas as ill-discipline by the Kavas and an over-eagerness to play fast put them on the back foot.
The three first-half tries came via scrumhalf Ross Braude, who scored a brace of tries, and hooker Eddie Swart dove over from a rolling maul for a 21-3 lead. The Kavas lost star playmaker Ashlon Davids to a suspected knee injury early, making way for Juan Mostert.
NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 22: Juan Mostert of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers during the Carling Currie Cup match between Airlink Pumas and Sanlam Boland Cavaliers at Mbombela Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)
Swart’s second try, which was also the team’s bonus-point try from a lineout maul early in the second half, put more scoreboard pressure on the Kavas. Boland made sure they hit back when Marcqiewn Titus finished off a lovely set-piece move from a scrum to make it 26-8.
A second try on the hour mark after some relentless attacking phases by Boland saw winger Xavier Mitchell’s five-pointer, converter by Tedder, cut the Kavas’ deficit to nine points.
Six minutes later, the Kavas put themselves in losing bonus point territory as Dayan van der Westhuizen crashed over after a powerful lineout maul.
But a bonus point is not what Boland travelled to Mbombela for, as they continued to set up attacking phases.
Pumas’ winger Darren Adonis was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball forward. The pass from Mostert was intended for either Mitchell or Tedder out on the right wing. Referee Cwengile Jadezweni awarded a penalty try, and Adonis saw yellow for the transgression.
More brave defence, as the Pumas tried stealing the game at the death, saw the Kavas win a turnover penalty and tap-kick the ball before booting it into touch as they secured a famous win.
SCORERS
Airlink Pumas 26 (21) – Tries: Ross Braude (2) and Eddie Swart (2) Conversions: Danrich Visagie (3)
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 29 (3) – Tries: Marcqiewn Titus, Xavier Mitchell, Dayan van der Westhuizen, and Penalty Try. Conversions: James Tedder (2) Penalty: Tedder
AIRLINK PUMAS: 15 Andrew Kota, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke
