The DHL Western Province Emerging side, SWD and Boland on Monday set the tone on the opening day of the Southern Amateur Provincial Championship in Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape as they registered impressive victories.

SWD thumped EP Rural 29-7 in the opening match, whilst defending champions DHL Western Province defeated the EP Invitational XV by 36-24 and Boland beat Eastern Province 34-21.

***See the DHL WP Emerging squad HERE.***

The big match-up on Day One, however, was between Border and their provincial counterparts Border Rural, who were involved in a nailbiting clash, which ended in a last-gasp 24-21 victory for Border.

Border Rural came out firing in the first half and scored 15 unanswered points thanks to two tries – one of which was converted – and a penalty to enter the break 15-0 up.

But Border fought back with intent in the second half and earned two converted tries to reduce the deficit to only one point. Border Rural, however, stretched their lead to four points with a penalty, but the opposition hit back with a hard-earned try on the stroke of full-time to secure the three-point victory.

Province will next take on provincial neighbours, Boland, on Wednesday at Vosloo Park (kick-off 16h00), with the final round of matches taking place on Friday.

APC South Day One results (Monday, August 25):
SWD 29 EP Rural 7
Border 24 Border Rural 21
DHL Western Province Emerging 36 EP Invitational 24
Boland 34 Eastern Province 21