Impressive Boland Cavaliers continue dream Currie Cup start with Bulls' scalp

Something is cooking in the Boland. It's been eight years since the Cavaliers competed in South Africa's premier domestic rugby league. Now, they find themselves well in the race for the Currie Cup semifinals after defeating the Lions, Cheetahs and now the 25-time champions, the Bulls. 

In the backdrop of the Hawequas Mountains, the vibes at the chock-full 12,000-seater Boland Stadium have been immaculate this year, and Sunday was no different.

On the 13-minute mark, sustained pressure finally saw Bulls prop Jean Erasmus crash over the line after a few powerful close carries. Boland prop Doctor Booysen was shown a yellow card after several team infringements.

The arm-wrestle continued as both teams prioritised tries over the kicking tee. The Bulls got their second when they bulldozed forward from lineout maul, resulting in lock Jaco Grobbelaar peeling off the back and dotting down.

Then the comeback began. Hawies Fourie's Bolanders were finally rewarded for their endeavour on the cusp of halftime. Hooker Sidney Tobias went over the whitewash off the back of the lineout maul. Ashlon Davids added the extras and the players went down the tunnel with the score at 7-12.

In the second stanza, the Cavaliers struck again when try-scoring machine Donavan Don was the pick and drive to go over from three metres out for his seventh of the season. Davids chipped over from wide to make it 14-15.

Then there was a flurry of cards. First, Boland scrumhalf Louis Schreuder got himself a yellow card after a deliberate knockdown when the Bulls were hot on attack. He was joined just minutes later by teammate Michael Benadie, who was too upright in a tackle. Bulls star Cornel Smit was also sent off after a high shot.

In amongst referee Robbie Jenkinson's card game, Bulls played to their strengths and another lineout maul led to another try - this time through captain Nama Xaba - increased the lead to 14-20.

With 20 minutes to go, replacement Khwezi Mafu took advantage of some great hands to go over and the accurate Davids slotted the conversion, eking out a one-point lead.

The dealing of cards continued as Bulls replacement Esethu Mnebelele got sent to the sin bin for pulling back a jersey during a dangerous Boland attack.

Camped down on the Bulls' line, Wellington native Dayan van der Westhuizen burrowed his over in for a memorable score near the uprights in the 73rd minute that virtually sealed the deal for the home side.

Kids flood the field at the full-time whistle and the Bolanders feel like kings for a fleeting moment. Because come Monday, captain Thurlow Marsh continues his day job as a policeman and other teammates are back to their daily grind. These are the true heroes of the oldest domestic rugby competition in the world. 

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