In a Currie Cup first-division rugby match played hard until the final whistle, the Border Bulldogs outscored the Boland Cavaliers 24-19 in East London at the Absa Stadium on Friday night.
The win was sweet revenge for the Bulldogs, who lost heavily to Boland in their first encounter in Boland.
There was some consolation for the visitors, however, as they came away with a bonus point to share the top of the table lead with the Bulldogs, but their better points difference sees them through to a home semifinal and final if they win.
The Bulldogs needed the win to secure their home semifinal, so it was mission accomplished.
The Bulldogs led the the entire match apart from a three-minute spell when a penalty by flyhalf Solly Goosen put them 19-18 ahead in the 52nd minute, but this was cancelled out by opposing flyhalf Reinhard Gerber soon after.
The Bulldogs led 18-9 at the break.
Both flyhalves put their stamp on the match with Goosen scoring all his side’s points, also scoring a try, while Gerber booted 14 points.
The best try of the match went to Bulldogs prop Michael Coetzee just before the break from an inital probing run by winger Akona Ndungane. — Sapa