Mitchell runs in seven as Kavaliers thump EP

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers outplayed the EP Elephants 85-29 in the final round-robin match of the 2026 SA Cup competition, at the Boland Rugby Stadium, in Wellington.

The home side led comfortably at the break 38-17 with Xavier Mitchell scoring four tries in the opening 40 minutes on the occasion of his 50th Sanlam Boland Kavaliers cap. Mitchell would cross the whitewash three more times in the second half, taking his try-scoring record for the match to seven.

In total, the Kavaliers ran in 13 tries to four in a match that saw the home side run rampant en route to an emphatic 51-point victory.

Mitchell, along with Sauliegh Arendse, made their 50th appearance for the Wellington side.

The Kavaliers broke down the EP Elephants' defence with ease, despite the visitors making some telling tackles. On attack, EP were just as clinical with former Kavaliers and Wellington native Garth April pulling the strings like a seasoned puppet master.

EP's tries came via a brace from Mpho Ntsane, and a try apiece from Lwandile Mapuko and Jac van der Walt, with April influencing most of these tries.

The second half belonged to the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, with the men from Wellington making light work of the would-be defenders of the EP Elephants and running in tries at regular intervals. Mitchell stole the show with seven five-pointers, marking his 50th Sanlam Boland Kavalier cap in style.

Jayden Bantom, playing against his former team, helped keep the scoreboard ticking over with replacement fly-half Thurlon Williams picking up in the second half. Bantom and Williams each succeeded with five of their attempts.

It was an all-round clinical and disciplined performance with the home side ticking all the right boxes to claim the much-needed five log points.

SCORERS:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 73 (38) Tries: Xavier Mitchell (7), Chris Smit (2), Jurick Lewis, Lunathi Nxele, Duren Hoffman, Kwanda Dimaza Cons: Jayden Bantom (5), Thurlon Williams (5)

EP Elephants: 29 (17) Tries: Lwandile Mapuko, Jac van der Walt, Mpho Ntsane (2) Cons: Garth April (3) Pen: April

TEAMS:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Chris Smit, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (capt), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede

Replacements: 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Andrew Beerwinkel, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Kwanda Dimaza, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Thurlon Williams, 23 Duren Hoffman

EP Elephants: 15 Jaydon Bantom, 14 Lwandile Mapuko, 13 Christiaan Potgieter, 12 Enrique Franks, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Garth April, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Jac van der Walt, 7 Laken Gray, 6 Diego Williams, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Athi Khethani, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 1 Hlomla Zondani

Replacements: 16 Deon Plaatjies, 17 Siyakubonga Nzuzo, 18 Duncan Du Buisson, 19 Armand Grobler, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Damon Royle, 22 Shirwin Cupido, 23 Maxwell Klaasen