The Sanlam Boland Cavaliers claimed two valuable bonus points in Saturday’s SA Cup game after going down 35-38 to the Novavit Griffons in Welkom.

The visitors let an 11-point halftime lead slip as an error-ridden second half in Welkom saw a spirited Griffons side score three converted tries and take the lead with five minutes left on the clock. But not before the Cavas extended their halftime lead to 18 points when Cornal Hendricks scored the visiting side’s fifth converted try. However, the gap was quickly brought back to 11 as Griffons’ winger Qamani Kota dived over in the right-hand corner.

The Sanlam Boland Cavaliers then had the chance to hit straight back from the kick-off after winning a penalty, but the attack – setup from a lineout – never got going as the Griffons turned the ball over.

The errors that started to creep into the Cavaliers’ game started to frustrate them and played into the Griffons’ hands as replacement prop Junior Banda drove his way over from close quarters to bring the home side within four points of the visiting team’s lead.

DETERMINED DEFENCE

With time running out, the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers pushed to regain the lead but could not get past a determined Griffons defensive effort and will certainly leave head coach, Hawies Fourie, disappointed after his team looked in full control at halftime as tries by Ashlon Davids, Keenan Opperman, Lunathi Nxele, and Hendricks' first of two tries gave his side a 28-17 lead with flyhalf Davids converting all four five-pointers.

Despite losing the game at the death, the two bonus points – for scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points – could well prove valuable in the latter stages of the SA Cup and the Wellington outfit’s aspiration of securing a top-four log position and qualifying for the Currie Cup Premier Division.

Scorers:

NOVAVIT GRIFFONS 38 (17) – Tries: Andrew Kota, Simon Westraadt, Chris Hollis, Junior Banda, Lungi Mbiko; Conversions: Andrew Kota (5); Penalties: Kota

SANLAM BOLAND CAVALIERS 35 (28) – Tries: Cornal Hendricks (2), Ashlon Davids, Keenan Opperman, Lunathi Nxele; Conversions: Davids (5)