Airlink Pumas produced a strong second-half performance to power their way to a crucial 39-13 bonus-point win over DHL Western Province in their Currie Cup clash at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday night.
It was a must-win game for the Pumas to stay in the hunt for a playoff place, and the result saw them move onto 20 points, still outside the semi spots in fifth, but one point behind the Toyota Cheetahs and Fidelity ADT Lions, three behind the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, and five off the table-topping Suzuki Griquas.
It was a game of two halves, as the Pumas initially struggled in the first, trailing 10-7 at halftime, but led by their dominant scrum and maul, they overpowered the hosts in the second, as they added a further four tries to their tally for a big win in the end.
It was a dream start to the match for Western Province as they chased hard from the kick-off and turned over the ball, attacked deep into the Pumas 22m, and loose forward Connor Evans crashed over for the opening score within the first minute.
If fans had hoped the early score would turn the match into a try-fest, they were mistaken, as the game then became a massive arm wrestle over the rest of the half.
Home flyhalf Kyle Smith slotted a 25th-minute penalty to put his side 10-0 up, but with time ticking down to the break, the Pumas scored a crucial try just before the halftime hooter.
It came in the 39th minute as the visitors kicked deep into the Province 22m, secured the lineout, set the maul and rumbled over for replacement loose forward Andre Fouche to dot down, converted by flyhalf Clinton Swart, as they trailed by three at the break.
SECOND-HALF BLITZ
Having picked up some momentum at the end of the first half, the Pumas continued it at the start of the second, as Swart first levelled the scores with a penalty, before they rumbled over another monster maul from inside the hosts' 22m, lock Tiaan de Klerk scoring to put them into a 15-10 lead after 46 minutes.
Four minutes later, they were at it again, setting up the lineout deep in the 22m, but this time their maul was stopped, only for the ball to be quickly sent to the backline, where Swart managed to free the arms and offload to outside centre Sango Xamlashe to run in the converted score.
Smith and Swart then traded penalties, which saw the Pumas holding a solid 25-13 lead after 63 minutes.
Six minutes later, they picked up the all-important bonus-point try. As they attacked into the Province half, the ball was swung down the line where Xamlashe sent a superb grubber into the 22m, which wing Darren Adonis chased down, picked up and scored, with the extras essentially making the game safe.
With a minute to go, the Pumas added the cherry to the cake, replacement prop Junior Banda smashing his way over from close range to seal an impressive win.
SCORERS
DHL Western Province: Try - Connor Evans; Conversion - Kyle Smith; Penalties - Smith (2)
Airlink Pumas: Tries - Andre Fouche, Tiaan de Klerk, Sango Xamlashe, Darren Adonis, Junior Banda; Conversions - Clinton Swart (4); Penalties - Swart (2)