Pumas hold off Griquas for tight win

A strong forward performance was the cornerstone of the New Nation Pumas holding off a spirited challenge from the Tafel Lager Griquas as the home side claimed a tight 26-22 (halftime 15-16) win in their Carling Currie Cup clash at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.

The Pumas outscored the visitors three tries to one but it was the superb boot of Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead that kept his side in the hunt as he slotted all six of his shots at goal, while Pumas hooker Simon Westraadt again enjoyed a brilliant game to pick up his second man-of-the-match award in three games.

The start of the match proved to be a tactical battle as the Pumas and Griquas kickers tried to gain a foothold in each other's halves, with the ball pinging back and forth constantly.

Both sides' flyhalves then traded penalties as Eddie Fouche put the home side ahead in the eighth minute before Whitehead levelled the scores at 3-all after 13 minutes.

The Pumas were however growing in confidence and six minutes later, from a Griquas defensive lineout in their own 22m, they overthrew the ball, with the Pumas quickly spreading the ball down the line where inside centre Matt More broke through and score in the right hand corner, with Fouche’s extras making it 10-3.

Griquas were being punished at the scrums by the Pumas pack and in the 29th minute a few penalties allowed the home side to set up a lineout on the 5m line and powerfully maul over, with Westraadt emerging with the ball for the unconverted score and a 15-3 lead.

Griquas did not give up and produced a smash and grab in the final five minutes of the half as two penalties from Whitehead brought them within range, and then a converted intercept try from outside centre Jay-Cee Nel on the stroke of the break gave the visitors a surprise one-point lead.

Straight from the second half restart the Pumas regained the lead as Griquas dropped the kick off, allowing the Pumas to attack and get close to the line, before earning a penalty at the breakdown, which Fouche knocked over to move them back ahead 18-16.

Another 48th minute breakdown penalty then allowed Fouche to extend the lead in the 48th minute, followed by a massive maul from a 5m lineout five minutes later, with Westraadt dotting down at the back of it to give the Pumas some daylight with the score 26-16.

Griquas then fought their way back into the game as Whitehead slotted two more penalties in the 59th and 68th minutes to bring them within a score.

However the visitors were made to rue their decision to kick a penalty in the Pumas' 22m to the corner with five minutes remaining instead of going for polls, as the home side defended the maul, earning a scrum and eventually cleared, before holding out the final few minutes comfortably to seal the win.

Pumas: - Tries: Matt More, Simon Westraadt (2), Conversions:Eddie Fouche, Penalties:Eddie Fouche (3)

Griquas: - Tries:Jay-Cee Nel, Conversions:Geroge Whitehead, Penalties:George Whitehead (5)

Teams

New Nation Pumas:1. Dewald Maritz, 2. Simon Westraadt, 3. IG Prinsloo, 4. Brandon Valentyn, 5. Pieter Jansen van Vuuren (c), 6. Francois Kleinhans, 7. Phumzile Maqondwana, 8. Willie Englebrecht, 9. Ginter Smuts, 10. Eddie Fouche, 11. Etienne Taljaard, 12. Matt More, 13. Erich Cronje, 14. Tapiwa Mafura, 15. Devon Williams

Subs:16. HP van Schoor, 17. Eduan Swart, 18. Ruan Kramer, 19. Kwanda Dimaza, 20. Khwezi Mafu, 21. Chriswill September, 22. Wayne van der Bank, 23. Jade Stighling

Tafel Lager Griquas: 1. Andrew Beerwinkel, 2. HJ Luus, 3. Andries Schutte, 4. Jeandre Leonard, 5. Cameron Lindsay, 6. Ruan Steenkamp (c), 7. Sibabalo Qoma, 8. Hanru Sirgel, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 10. George Whitehead, 11. Eduan Keyter, 12. Andre Swarts, 13. Jay-Cee Nel, 14. Daniel Kasende, Masixole Banda

Subs:16. Janco Uys, 17. Mox Mxoli, 18. Tijde Visser, 19. Mzwanele Zito, 20 Gideon van der Merwe, 21. Raegan Oranje, 22. Theo Boshoff, 23. Ederies Arendse