The Wesbank Rugby Club grounds in Malmesbury proved to be an unhappy hunting ground for the Boland Kavaliers who, despite finishing strongly against the visiting Leopards, slumped to their third defeat of the season.

Things could have been very different however, as home flyhalf Elgar Watts missed an injury-time penalty from the touchline that would have given the Bolanders victory.

Both sides scored three tries, but it was replacement flanker Milroy Isaacs' late effort for the Kavaliers which brought the biggest cheer of the afternoon from the 1,300-strong crowd, who sensed a famous come-from-behind win victory.

But it was not to be as the Leopards defended manfully for the last 10 minutes to take the spoils.

The visitors enjoyed a perfect start, going 7-0 up after just five minutes thanks to a try from second-rower Siyanda Ndlovu and a conversion by veteran former Springbok flyhalf Andrč Pretorius.

Watts brought the Kavaliers to within three points of the Leopards at the break when he darted through for a try he converted himself.

The home side took the lead after halftime with a converted try to flanker Franzel September, but a 13-point spree by the Leopards gave them a lead that, in the final analysis, proved to be just enough.

Final Score Boland Kavaliers (7) 21 Leopards (10) 23

Scorers

Kavaliers
Tries: Milroy Isaacs, Franzel September, Elgar Watts
Conversions: Watts (3).

Leopards
Tries: Siyanda Ndlovu, Hoffman Maritz, Edgar Marutlulle
Conversion: Andrč Pretorius
Penalties: Adriaan Engelbrecht (2).