Sanlam Boland Kavaliers gained a third straight win and their first at home of the campaign, when they defeated rivals Phangela SWD Eagles 43-7 in their First Division Currie Cup, clash Saturday afternoon in Ceres. There were also wins for second-placed Valke and the Leopards.
The Kavaliers led 21-7 at halftime and went on to score seven tries to the solitary efforts of the Eagles to consolidate their leading position on the log.
Speedster Duren Hoffman continued his fine form by scoring another brace of tries, while scrumhalf Chris September also went over twice. Fly-half Ashlone Davids converted three of the seven tries as the team from Wellington once more made their intentions clear of successfully defending their First Division crown.
Inside centre Edwin Sass dived over for the Eagles' only try, which was converted by scrumhalf Sachin Toring.
Valke got their second victory courtesy of a 59-12 triumph over Border Bulldogs at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. The Scarlet Jerseys led 17-12 at the halfway stage but cut loose in the second half for a comfortable win as they registered nine tries in total, while Border could only reply with two five-pointers.
Left wing Valentino Wellman was the standout player for the Valke with his hat-trick of tries and flyhalf Keagan Fortune succeeded with seven of the nine conversion kicks.
Border's try scorers were hooker Sikholise Nanto and lock Lumphumlo Mbiko, with inside centre Ryan Maree slotting one of the conversion attempts.
Eastern Province ran Leopards close in an exciting match played in Kariega (Uitenhage), but it was the visiting side who prevailed 31-26 in this encounter. Just six points separated the sides at halftime, with the Leopards 18-12 ahead.
Leopards flyhalf Charles Williams scored three penalty goals, while they also scored three tries plus a penalty try. EP matched the Leopards' try tally of four, with Darryle Kameel hitting the target with three conversions.
The latest results mean the Boland Kavaliers extend their points tally to 15 from their three bonus point wins. Meanwhile, Valke sit second on 11 points from two wins which is the same amount as Leopards.
The leading trio are followed by EP on eight points, SWD on five points, and Border who have two points.
In next week's fourth round action SWD are home to Valke, Border and EP are in action in an exciting Eastern Cape derby while Boland hosts Leopards. All next Saturday's action will kick off at 15h00.
Scorers:
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (21) 43, Phangela SWD Eagles (7) 7
Boland - Tries: Chriswill September (2), Duren Hoffman (2), Keenan Opperman, Thurlow Marsh, Cornell Engelbrecht. Conversions: Ashlon Davids (3), Durin Nasson.
SWD - Try: Edwin Sass. Conversion: Sachin Toring.
Eastern Province (12) 26, Leopards (18) 31
EP - Tries: Temba Boltina, Lungi Mbiko, Gerrit Huisamen, Rodney Damons. Conversions: Darryle Kameel (3).
Leopards - Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi, Andre Grobler, Herman Agenbag, Penalty Try. Penalty: Charles Williams (3).
Valke (17) 59, Border Bulldogs (12) 12
Valke - Tries: Valentino Wellman (3), Kayden Kiewit, Pierre Rabie, Adri Kermis, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Zander van der Merwe, Zingisa April. Conversions: Keagan Fortune (7).
Border - Tries: Sikholise Nanto, Luphumlo Mbiko. Conversion: Ryan Maree.
