WELLINGTON – The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers endured their second successive defeat on Saturday, falling 14-24 to SA Cup log leaders Suzuki Griquas at the Boland Rugby Stadium in Wellington.

The loss follows last weekend’s disappointing 33-24 defeat to the Dotsure SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George, leaving the Kavaliers searching for answers as they prepare for next weekend’s home encounter against the Border Bulldogs.

The visitors dominated the opening exchanges, racing to a commanding 7-19 half-time lead through tries from Gurswin Wehr, Tiaan Lange and Dylan Maart. George Whitehead converted two of the three attempts as the Griquas capitalized on the home side’s unforced errors.

Former Kavaliers players Maart and Wehr both crossed the whitewash against their old teammates, whilst Lange’s close-range effort compounded the hosts’ misery in the opening 20 minutes.

The Kavaliers showed brief resistance before the interval when Doctor Booysen powered over the line. Replacement fly-half James Tedder, who had entered the fray in the opening ten minutes after Juan Mostert suffered a shoulder injury, added the conversion to make it 7-19.

The Griquas extended their advantage early in the second half when Connor Mahoney claimed the bonus-point fourth try, with the visitors’ dominant set piece proving decisive.

Tedder provided a late consolation for the home side, scoring and converting his own try to reduce the deficit to 14-24, but it proved insufficient as the Kavaliers’ enterprising attacking play failed to translate into meaningful points.

The defeat leaves the Kavaliers with mounting concerns as they slip further behind the competition’s pace-setters.

Scorers:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 14 (7): Tries: Doctor Booysen, James Tedder. Conversions: Tedder (2)

Suzuki Griquas 24 (19): Tries: Gurswin Wehr, Tiaan Lange, Dylan Maart, Connor Mahoney. Conversions: George Whitehead (2)