Resurgent prodigy Hufke scores a hat-trick as Boland claim Currie Cup first division title

Boland laid the foundation to challenging for Currie Cup promotion in 2024 by claiming a gutsy 43-25 victory over the Valke in Wellington on Saturday to claim the first division title.

While promotion-relegation is only up for grabs next year - the Griffons have been given a guaranteed two-year stay in the top flight - the Kavaliers will hope this success leads to continuity in their playing ranks and inspires them to replicate their form next season.

Fullback Cameron Hufke was the hero for the hosts, concluding a magnificent campaign with an outstanding hat-trick of tries.

The former schoolboy prodigy didn't have the greatest of times after being contracted by the Bulls out of school a few years back, but has now started to show the consistency that earned him such rave reviews and is now understood to have caught the eye of the Stormers, who could take him on loan.

Through his efforts, Boland established an early 15-0 lead and went into half-time 28-14 ahead.

A yellow card for No 8 Keenan Opperman allowed the Valke - who won the Mzansi Challenge last weekend - to stay in contention, but they just couldn't summon the punch to truly push the hosts closer.

Instead, the Kavaliers resisted the pressure and took control late on to clinch a deserved victory.

Point scorers:

Boland 43 (28)

Tries: Cameron Hufke (3), Keenan Opperman, Bentley Geldenhuys

Conversions: Darian Hock (3)

Penalties: Hock (3), Hufke  Valke 21 (14)

Tries: Musa Tshabalala, Easton Arendse, Cohen Kiewit

Conversions: Keagan Fortune (3)