Brilliant Boland fight back to win away at Pumas

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers fought back from their halftime deficit of 21-3 to secure a famous 29-26 away victory over the Airlink Pumas in the Carling Currie Cup at Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on Friday evening to go top of the log.

The evening began with the Pumas looking to bounce back from a narrow one-point loss the previous week. Coach Jimmy Stonehouse, a veteran of the region, was banking on home advantage and a powerful pack to overpower the Kavaliers. But Boland, led by the ever-composed Thurlow Marsh, had other ideas.

The Kavaliers started brightly, dominating possession and territory in the opening minutes. James Tedder slotted an early penalty to give Boland a 3-0 lead, and it looked like the visitors were here to play. But then came the chaos.

Two yellow cards in quick succession, first to flanker Khwezi Mafu and then to fullback Tedder, left Boland down to 13 men. The Pumas pounced. Ross Braude, the livewire scrumhalf, darted over for the first try, followed by a textbook maul finished off by hooker Eddie Swart. Braude then bagged his second after a slick move involving wing Stefan Coetzee and fullback Andrew Kota. 

Suddenly, it was 21-3, and Boland were reeling. But rugby is a game of two halves, and Boland came out swinging in the second.

Coach Hawies Fourie's halftime pep talk must have been electric, because the Kavaliers returned with fire in their boots. Right wing Marcqiewn Titus finished off a flowing move to score in the corner, and left wing Xavier Mitchell added another after a dazzling break from Juan Mostert and Erik Lamprecht. Tedder converted Mitchell’s try, narrowing the gap to 26-15.

With momentum shifting, Boland’s forwards began to dominate. Tighthead prop Dayan van der Esthuizen bulldozed over from close range, and Tedder’s conversion brought the score to 26–22. The Pumas, now on the back foot, began to unravel. Penalties mounted, and handling errors crept in.

Then came the moment of magic - and madness. With just minutes left, Boland surged forward again. A deliberate knockdown by Puma winger Darren Adonis, with two Kavaliers outside him, earned a yellow card and a penalty try.

Boland took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes: 29-26.

The final minute was pure theatre. The Pumas, desperate to snatch victory, launched one last attack. But a knock-on at the line sealed their fate. The Kavaliers kicked the ball into touch, securing Boland’s first away win of the season, and it came in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. 

Despite trailing by 18 points and playing with 13 men for a stretch, they showed grit, flair, and a refusal to lie down. The Pumas, meanwhile, will rue their missed chances and ill-discipline. They had the game in their hands, but let it slip through their fingers.

As the dust settles on this Friday night epic, one thing is clear: the Carling Currie Cup is alive and kicking, and the Boland Kavaliers are very much in the hunt.