Johannesburg - The Boland Cavaliers dented the Falcons' chances of securing promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division with an emphatic 35-20 victory in a Currie Cup qualifier at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday.
The Falcons dominated the first 10 minutes of each half but were unable to make their dominance count with some resolute Boland defence.
The score-line flattered the home side somewhat as Jaun Kotze scored and converted a try after the final hooter had sounded.
The Falcons fullback had a solid afternoon, scoring 15 of his side's 20 points with a try, two conversions and two penalties.
Boland took a while to get into their stride but when they did, they secured points at almost every visit into their opponents' territory.
Kotze opened the scoring after eight minutes when Boland were penalised by referee Pro Legoete for not supporting their own weight at the ruck.
The Cavaliers grabbed their first try just three minutes later with some quick hands from outside centre Richard Lawson, which sent Duwayne Smart over in the right-hand corner.
Morne Hugo converted from the right-hand touchline but then missed an opportunity to extend the visitors' lead when he missed a relatively easy penalty just minutes later.
Boland then sealed an excellent first half performance with a try from Nathaniel Manuel, while Hugo converted, slotted a drop goal and brought the first half to a close with a penalty.
The second period began just as the first had, with the home team dominating.
The Falcons made more of their opportunities as right wing Coert Cronje rounded off a good move by the backline by chipping, chasing and gathering to score under the posts just three minutes after the restart.
Despite a penalty from Hugo midway through the second half, the Cavaliers ran straight and ran hard which secured them two more tries through replacement hooker, Ryno Coetzee.
Coetzee replaced Clemen Lewis at half-time and both of his tries came from powerful rolling mauls as the hooker controlled the ball and broke away from the rear to barge his way over.
The visitors were looking to close out the game 35-13 when Hugo slotted his second penalty a minute before time, but the Falcons refused to let up after the final hooter when Kotze jinxed his way through the Boland defence, to dot down under the posts for a consolation try.
Scorers:
Boland Cavaliers (20): Tries: Ryno Coetzee (2), Duwayne Smart, Nathaniel Manuel. Conversions: Morne Hugo (3). Penalties: Hugo (2). Drop-goal: Hugo.
Falcons (3): Tries: Coert Cronje, Jaun Kotze. Conversions: Kotze (2). Penalties: Kotze (2).