The Boland Kavaliers made their intentions clear to stay in next year’s Currie Cup competition when they ran the Griffons off their feet in a promotion/relegation rugby match on Friday.

Boland won 54-15 after leading 42-3 at halftime. The Kavaliers, however, had a very disappointing second half. They made several handling errors, lost strong man Janro van Niekerk in the 67th minute with what seemed to be a serious ankle injury.

Flanker Angelo Brinkhuis was yellow-carded five minutes later and lock Bradley Mockford stretchered off in the 75th minute when play was stopped for more than five minutes. From the 10th minute on it was one-way traffic when Watts intercepted to score his first of four tries under the posts.

Justin Peach converted (7-0). Soon afterwards the Griffons were awarded a penalty which flyhalf Jandre Blom converted (7-3).

Then it was all Watts magic. He scored his second try in the 24th minute after several players handled the ball. Peach added the extra points. (14-3) Four minutes later left wing Danwel Demas scored after centre Piet van Zyl kicked ahead.

Peach converted. (21-3) In the 32nd minute Watts scored his third try after an impressive period by the Kavaliers. Peach again added the extra points. (28-3). Four minutes later it was Watts again after splendid work by Zolani Mofu and Deon Scholtz. Peach converted. (35-3)

In the 38th minute it was Van Zyl’s turn to score under the posts for Peach to convert (42-3). In the 45th minute the Griffons regained some pride when loosehead prop Sarel Louw broke through a line-out to score untouched.

Blom succeeded with the conversion. (42-10). In the 67th minute it was that man Watts again when he sent Scholtz away for the team’s seventh try. (47-10).

Three minutes from the end nippy Griffons centre Jaco Jackson slipped through for a try. (47-15) In the dying seconds replacement scrumhalf Neil Papier set up a movement which was rounded off by replacement centre Lionel Cornelius. Watts added the conversion. (54-15)