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Pretoria - The Boland Cavaliers produced an inspiring performance when they beat the Blue Bulls 35-26 in a Currie Cup Qualifier clash on Friday night.
Both teams scored four tries for a bonus point, but it was the visitors who won thanks to a strong performance in the 20 minutes before and after half time.
The hosts initially defended very well, but lost their way midway through the game from which they never recovered.
After Blue Bulls captain Hanro Liebenberg scored his first of two tries in the 22nd minute of the game, the home side fell away badly after that and had to chase the game for the remainder of the night.
The Blue Bulls, whose scrum was dominant throughout the game, won a scrum penalty in the Boland 22m area before Ruan Steenkamp was driven over from a five-metre lineout. However, TV replays showed his foot was in touch before he managed to score the try.
Instead, Boland were awarded a five-metre lineout. Unfortunately for them, Zandre Jordaan failed to control a low pass which allowed Liebenberg to kick the ball forward and score the opening try of the game.
The Cavaliers struck back soon after a sustained period of attack on the Blue Bulls try line. After some brave defending from the home side, Boland wing Danwel Demas found his way over the line just before half time to give his team a 13-7 lead going into half time.
Boland extended their lead immediately after the interval, first through a penalty by the reliant Nico Scheepers, who scored 15 points with his boot, and then through a spectacular try by Sergio Torrens, who cut inside and beat several defenders for his first try of the match.
When Basil Short went over to give the visitors a commanding 28-7 lead, the writing looked to be on the wall for the Blue Bulls. But they fought back brilliantly through tries by Divan Rossouw, a second one by Liebenberg and Andre Warner which took them within two points of the Cavaliers.
However, a mistake on their tryline resulted in Torrens scoring his second and the Boland's fourth try to secure an important away victory for them.
The men from Wellington are now a good bet to qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division.
