Dominant away teams sets tone in First Division
ROUND ONE WRAP: The opening round of the First Division saw wins for all the away sides with the Boland Cavaliers, Eastern Province and Leopards claiming victories in their respective matches.
Boland Cavaliers picked up where they left off last season when they got the win against their 2023 Finals opponent, the Falcons at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.
The Cavaliers had a 26-22 half-time lead and ultimately got a resounding 46-32 win over the Falcons.
In George, Eastern Province got the better of their neighbours the SWD Eagles by 34-19.
The Leopards also bagged points away from home in East London over Border by 26-24 at Police Park.
The Leopards had a healthy 21-7 half-time lead but a resurgent Border side came out in the second half to bring it to a two-point win for the Leopards.
Border scored three tries and two conversions whilst the Leopards scored four tries and three conversions.
Border wing Sakhekile Dingile and replacement utility back Curwin Casper both scored tries in addition to a penalty try.
Flyhalf Merlin du Plessis added a conversion and penalty goal.
Lock Mncedisi Dlwengu scored a brace for the Leopards with tries to prop Ruben du Plessis and fullback Andre Grobler.
Flyhalf Charles Williams slotted three of his four conversions.
Eastern Province made a great start to their season to beat the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George by 34-19.
The men from Port Elizabeth opened the first half scoring with five tries to take a 34-7 lead into the break.
The Eagles came back in the second stanza and kept Eastern Province scoreless but they still didn’t have enough to get the win as Eastern Province came out as 34-19 winners in the Southwestern Cape derby.
Fullback Jayden Bantom had a stellar first half for Eastern Province as he dotted down twice over the Eagles’ line and slotted three conversations and a penalty kick.
Prop Heinrich Roelfse, wing Mpho Ntsane and fullback Rosco Syster were all on the scoreboard for the Eagles with flyhalf Marlo Weich slotting two conversions.
Eastern Province will face the Boland Cavaliers at the Wolfson Stadium next week whilst SWD will host Border at Outeniqua Park and the Leopards taking on the Falcons at Olën Park.
Scorers
Falcons 32 – 46 Boland Cavaliers
For Falcons:
Tries: Mosolwa Mafuma, Luciano Elias, Godfrey Muzanargwo 2
Cons: Keagan Fortune, Sergio Stalmeester 2
Pens: Sergio Stalmeester, Keagan Fortune
For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Michael Benadie, Duren Hoffman 3, Xavier Mitchell 2
Cons: Darian Hock, Ashlon Davids 4
Pens: Ashlon Davids 2
SWD Eagles 19 – 34 Eastern Province
For Eastern Province:
Tries: Temba Boltina, Stefan Willemse, Rodney Damons, Jayden Bantom 2
Cons: Jayden Bantom 3
Pens: Jayden Bantom
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Heinrich Roelfse, Mpho Ntsane, Rosco Syster
Cons: Marlo Weich 2
Border Bulldogs 24 – 26 Leopards
For Border:
Tries: Sakhekile Dingile, Curwin Casper, Penalty Try
Cons: Merlin du Plessis, Wandile Mapuko
Pens: Merlin Du Plessis
For Leopards:
Tries: Andre Grobler, Ruben Du Plessis, Mncedisi Dlwengu 2
Cons: Charles Williams 3
