The Sanlam Boland Cavaliers kept their Currie Cup Premier Division ambitions burning bright with a resounding 80-0 demolition of the Leopards in Saturday’s SA Cup clash at Boland Stadium, Wellington.
After setting the tone early with a thrilling pace and relentless physicality, Hawies Fourie’s charges showed why they are fast becoming one of the most feared sides in the competition. With just two regular-round games remaining, this emphatic victory firmly cements Boland’s fourth spot on the log — and sends a clear message to the rest of the field ahead of the playoffs.
Boland didn’t waste any time in stamping their authority. Inside centre Jurick Lewis opened the scoring in the fifth minute, smashing through two defenders to dot down near the posts. Ashlon Davids, who would have a pivotal hand in much of the day’s action, made no mistake with the conversion.
The home side’s attacking intent was matched by their defensive ferocity. Winger Xavier Mitchell, a standout on the day, grabbed the first of his three tries in the 12th minute, capitalising on Boland’s vice-like grip on possession and territory. The Leopards — who often found themselves chasing shadows — struggled to string meaningful phases together as pressure and handling errors mounted.
When Leopards lock Uzile Tele was sent to the sin bin for cynically spoiling a Boland maul, it seemed inevitable that the floodgates would burst open. While a few early opportunities went begging due to unforced errors, the Cavaliers soon found their rhythm.
Ashlon Davids, showcasing his vision, launched a perfectly weighted cross-kick for Mitchell to bag his second, before Kwezi Mafu intercepted loose ball to canter in under the poles. Boland were running riot by the half-hour mark, with Mitchell completing a stunning hat-trick just before the break, stretching the scoreline to a commanding 33-0 at halftime.
The second half saw no let-up. Even after the unfortunate stretcher exit of Davids following a heavy tackle, the Cavas never took their foot off the gas. Hooker Sidney Tobias crashed over from a maul shortly after the break, and it was open season from there.
Replacement fullback Dominic Smit raced through for another after an audacious offload from HP van Schoor, before SA Cup try-scoring leader Lunathi Nxele added his name to the scoreboard following a dynamic break by skipper Thurlow Marsh.
Van Schoor wasn’t done yet. The powerhouse hooker showed his versatility with a barnstorming run to bag another try, flattening a would-be Valke defender in the process. Boland’s replacements brought fresh energy, with Godlen Masimla bagging a brace and James Tedder adding a try and six conversions to his impressive haul.
By the final whistle, Boland had racked up an astonishing 80 points without conceding a single one — a statement performance if there ever was one. Even when down to just 12 players late in the game due to injuries and a yellow card, the Cavaliers’ defensive pride kept the visitors scoreless.
This result wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about laying down a marker. With the semi-finals looming, few teams will relish the thought of facing a Boland side firing on all cylinders.
Final Score:
Sanlam Boland Cavaliers 80 (33)
Leopards 0 (0)
Boland Try Scorers:
Xavier Mitchell (3), Jurick Lewis, Kwezi Mafu, Sidney Tobias, Dominic Smit, HP van Schoor, Godlen Masimla (2), Lunathi Nxele, James Tedder.
Conversions: Ashlon Davids (4), James Tedder (6)
