The Boland Kavaliers consolidated their place on top of the Bankfin Cup log after convincingly beating the SWD Eagles 47-36 at Wellington on Friday.

The home team were ahead by 20-10 at the break.

Although the scoreline suggests a far closer tussle, the Eagles never really were in a position to take control of the match.

The visitors from George came to the Winelands as the rank outsiders and soon after the kick-off it was apparent that they would struggle to keep up with their more fancied opponents.

Boland's flyhalf Chelton April drew first blood with a penalty in the third minute and soon after also crossed the goal line for a spectacular try.

Boland's promising winger Hyron Thysse showed his tremendous pace a few minutes later and stretched his team's lead to 15-0 after only 10 minutes.

The Eagles though showed some character and clawed their way back. Joggie Viljoen opened the visitors' scoring with a try underneath the uprights.

Flyhalf Rynhard van As added the conversion as well as a penalty to cut Boland's lead to 15-10. The Kavaliers regained the ascendancy shortly before the siren went at halftime after loosehead prop Carel van der Merwe (pictured) crashed over for a deserved try.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Boland dominating the opening stanza, only to allow the Eagles back into the match.

After leading by 40-17 (with only 15 minutes left in the match), the Eagles clicked into gear and valiantly fought back with tries by Jeremy Plaatjies (wing) and the flankers Johan Kapp and Nico Breedt. After Van As converted Breedt's try, the Eagles only trailed by 40-36.

Sensing that an upset may be on the cards, Boland regained their composure and scored a try to put the result of the match beyond any doubt.

The hero of the moment was the replacement-prop Fabian Brandt. He fooled the Eagles's defense with a dummy and ran 10 meters before dotting down next to the uprights.

Springbok centre Marius Joubert gained some valuable game time after coming on as a replacement in the second half. This was his first match after injuring his knee against the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations series.

The Kavaliers bagged five points for their efforts, while the hapless Eagles at least got one bonus point for their five tries.

Scorers:

Boland Kavaliers - Tries: Chelton April, Hyron Thysse (2), Carel van der Merwe, Lean van Dyk, John Daniels, Fabian Brandt; Conversions: April (2), Van Dyk; Penalties: April (2).

SWD Eagles - Tries: Joggie Viljoen (2), Jeremy Plaatjies, Johan Kapp, Nico Breedt; Conversions: Rynhard van As (4); Penalty: Van As. - Sapa