The Airlink Pumas were made to work very hard, but eventually powered their way to a bonus point 45-26 win over the Novavit Griffons in their Carling Currie Cup clash at the Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom on Sunday afternoon.
The Pumas in the end outscored the Griffons seven tries to four, but were put under immense pressure in the first half which saw them trailing early, before edging ahead 14-12 at the break and then pulling away in the second half for the win.
The result moves the Pumas onto 24 points, level on the log with the fourth-placed Toyota Cheetahs who stay ahead of them on points difference with two pool rounds remaining.
In the match it was a dream start for the hosts as they powered over for two tries in the first 15 minutes of the game.
The first came after good early pressure from the Griffons led to a penalty that they put out on the Pumas 5m, set up the maul and drove over for hooker Willem van den Hever to dot down, with wing Andrew Kota slotting the conversion.
The second came after working their way back into the Pumas 22m, where they earned a scrum, with scrumhalf Dewald Human sniping off the back of and getting close, and flank Thato Mavundla picked up and crashed over for the unconverted score and 12-0 lead.
The visitors had struggled to get a foothold in the game, but were assisted by a slew of penalties from the hosts, which saw Mavundla yellow carded in the 27th minute after repeated infringements.
The Pumas immediately took advantage, taking a tap penalty in the Griffons 22m, before prop Dewald Maritz powered over to score, converted by inside centre Clinton Swart to get them on the board in the 28th minute.
It was then the perfect end to the half for the visitors as more penalties allowed them to set up a lineout deep in the hosts' 22m, secure the ball and power a maul over for hooker Eduan Swart to score from, with Swart’s extras putting them into a 14-12 lead at the break.
POOR DISCIPLINE
The Pumas picked up where they left off straight off the second half kick-off, with them attacking into the Griffons 22m where inside centre David Brits showed good strength to bump off some tackles and put flyhalf Danrich Visagie in for the converted score.
The Griffons were then punished for their poor discipline that they carried over from the first half, with repeated infringements leading to captain Duan Pretorius sent to the bin, shortly followed by eighthman Calla Pienaar who was penalised for cynical play under pressure in their own 22m.
Despite having a two-man advantage the Pumas were initially repelled by the Griffons, but the visitors eventually got their bonus point try in the 52nd minute as they counter-attacked from a clearance, getting into the hosts' 22m where fullback Tino Swanepoel went over untouched, converted by Swart to put them 28-12 up.
The Pumas extended their lead in the 65th minute as they attacked from a scrum just outside their own 22m, Brits put through a superb grubber and followed up brilliantly to get the final pass and go over under the sticks.
The Griffons finally hit back in the 70th minute as they worked their way into the Pumas 22m, where the ball found its way to fullback Kyle Cyster, who stepped the defence and went over, with Kota adding the extras to make it 35-19.
But the Pumas made sure there would be no late fightback with two late scores in the final 10 minutes, both from lineouts in the Griffons 22m, with replacement scrumhalf Ross Braude diving over, and replacement hooker Llewellyn Claasen dotting down to lead 45-19.
The Griffons did give their fans something to cheer for in the closing moments of the game as they set up a lineout deep in the Pumas 22m, set the maul and rumbled over for replacement hooker Simon Westraadt to go over, with Pretorius converting to end the scoring for the match.
Scorers
Novavit Griffons: Tries - Willem van den Hever, Thato Mavundla, Kyle Cyster, Simon Westraadt; Conversions - Andrew Kota (2), Duan Pretorius
Airlink Pumas: Tries - Dewald Maritz, Eduan Swart, Danrich Visagie, Tino Swanepoel, David Brits, Ross Braude, Llewellyn Claasen; Conversions - Clinton Swart (5)