Unforced errors and a sloppy defence characterised a disappointing Border Bulldogs performance as they were comfortably beaten 38-17 by the Boland Cavaliers in their Currie Cup Qualification match at the BCM Stadium yesterday.
Boland backed up their impressive form this season with a strong performance that saw them outscore the home side five tries to three and dominate for large spells of the match.
Boland hooker Chadley Wenn scored a brace, while fullback Nico Scheepers had an impeccable day with the boot slotting all his kicks at goal.
The Bulldogs produced a late surge in the final minutes of the match, but by then it was too little too late and a knock on, on attack in Boland's 22m on the fulltime hooter summed up Border’s effort.
“It is really disappointing how we start games, because I have been assessing, we are always good in the last 25 minutes, we have energy and skill that allows us to have a crack, but by then it is too late,” said Bulldogs coach Elliot Fana.
“We are a good team and we have enough chances to win matches, but we don’t put them away and then our soft moments on defence let us down and we have to chase matches, which is not how we should play.
“We are not performing at the present moment and I think that certain decisions need to be made that will be affecting certain players because something has to change for us.”
An early penalty gave Boland a 3-0 lead at the start of the match, before scoring their first try in the 17th minute.
From a ruck between the 10m and 22m lines Boland swung the ball right to flank Shaun Adendorff, and with a massive hole opening in front of him he hit the gap and despite Border's cover reeling him in it was too late as he went over next to the right-hand uprights for a converted score.
Border hit back five minutes later to reduce the deficit. Patient play for the home side allowed them to go through a number of phases in Boland’s 22m, before then knocking on with the chance seemingly lost.
But Boland decided to try to run the ball out of trouble and this proved to be unwise as the Bulldogs piled in at a ruck to turn the ball over.
Another few phases were then needed for them to soften the Boland defence before the ball was swung to industrious eighthman Billy Dutton for him to smash his way over near the left-hand touchline.
Fullback Masixole Banda missed the conversion leaving it at 10-5.
The visitors then replied with a well worked try of their own.
With the buildup starting in their own half they worked their way into Border’s 22m with a good mix of back and forward play, ending with captain and outside centre Ryan Nell ghosting through to dive over under the posts.
Scheepers added the easy extras to give Boland a 17-5 lead after 31 minutes. Border really should have scored before halftime as they then spent the remainder of the half in Boland's 22m, but mistakes from both sides saw Border unable to score and Boland unable to clear until the halftime hooter came to their rescue.
Boland came out firing in the second half and had the win sealed by the 56th minute. First they scored from a driving maul after a lineout on Border’s 5m for Wenn to score his first, and then his second from a pick and drive on Border’s line after a quick tap penalty.
The Bulldogs scrum, which had a good day putting Boland under massive pressure, then got the home side their second try after a massive scrum on Boland’s five metre was stopped illegally, with the ref awarding a penalty try, and replacement Logan Basson popping over the extras to make it 31-12.
Boland however went further ahead after a poor defensive Border lineout saw Cavaliers prop Francois Hanekom receive the ball and barge his way over. A great cheer went to Bulldogs centre Makazole Mapimpi who scored a great try down the left-hand touchline, showing wonderful pace to outstrip the Boland defence, with Basson then hitting the post with the conversion attempt.
A last-gasp effort from the home side to secure a four-try bonus point was then thwarted by another handling error ending the game on a low for the home team.
Bulldogs just not up to it
Boland backed up their impressive form this season with a strong performance that saw them outscore the home side five tries to three and dominate for large spells of the match.
Boland hooker Chadley Wenn scored a brace, while fullback Nico Scheepers had an impeccable day with the boot slotting all his kicks at goal.
The Bulldogs produced a late surge in the final minutes of the match, but by then it was too little too late and a knock on, on attack in Boland's 22m on the fulltime hooter summed up Border’s effort.
“It is really disappointing how we start games, because I have been assessing, we are always good in the last 25 minutes, we have energy and skill that allows us to have a crack, but by then it is too late,” said Bulldogs coach Elliot Fana.
“We are a good team and we have enough chances to win matches, but we don’t put them away and then our soft moments on defence let us down and we have to chase matches, which is not how we should play.
“We are not performing at the present moment and I think that certain decisions need to be made that will be affecting certain players because something has to change for us.”
An early penalty gave Boland a 3-0 lead at the start of the match, before scoring their first try in the 17th minute.
From a ruck between the 10m and 22m lines Boland swung the ball right to flank Shaun Adendorff, and with a massive hole opening in front of him he hit the gap and despite Border's cover reeling him in it was too late as he went over next to the right-hand uprights for a converted score.
Border hit back five minutes later to reduce the deficit. Patient play for the home side allowed them to go through a number of phases in Boland’s 22m, before then knocking on with the chance seemingly lost.
But Boland decided to try to run the ball out of trouble and this proved to be unwise as the Bulldogs piled in at a ruck to turn the ball over.
Another few phases were then needed for them to soften the Boland defence before the ball was swung to industrious eighthman Billy Dutton for him to smash his way over near the left-hand touchline.
Fullback Masixole Banda missed the conversion leaving it at 10-5.
The visitors then replied with a well worked try of their own.
With the buildup starting in their own half they worked their way into Border’s 22m with a good mix of back and forward play, ending with captain and outside centre Ryan Nell ghosting through to dive over under the posts.
Scheepers added the easy extras to give Boland a 17-5 lead after 31 minutes. Border really should have scored before halftime as they then spent the remainder of the half in Boland's 22m, but mistakes from both sides saw Border unable to score and Boland unable to clear until the halftime hooter came to their rescue.
Boland came out firing in the second half and had the win sealed by the 56th minute. First they scored from a driving maul after a lineout on Border’s 5m for Wenn to score his first, and then his second from a pick and drive on Border’s line after a quick tap penalty.
The Bulldogs scrum, which had a good day putting Boland under massive pressure, then got the home side their second try after a massive scrum on Boland’s five metre was stopped illegally, with the ref awarding a penalty try, and replacement Logan Basson popping over the extras to make it 31-12.
Boland however went further ahead after a poor defensive Border lineout saw Cavaliers prop Francois Hanekom receive the ball and barge his way over. A great cheer went to Bulldogs centre Makazole Mapimpi who scored a great try down the left-hand touchline, showing wonderful pace to outstrip the Boland defence, with Basson then hitting the post with the conversion attempt.
A last-gasp effort from the home side to secure a four-try bonus point was then thwarted by another handling error ending the game on a low for the home team.
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