In a repeat of last year’s Currie Cup final, the Airlink Pumas met the Windhoek Draught Griquas in round three of this year’s campaign at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, running out 28-13 winners after a strong second-half performance.
The win by the Pumas ensure they remain unbeaten to date as they continue to make a statement and prove last year’s success in claiming the trophy was no fluke.
Both sides were like two boxers sizing each other up in the first 40 minutes although disallowed tries at both ends of the field did not help matters.
In the sixth minute, after early pressure, Griquas lock Derik Pretorius forced his was over but the five-pointer was disallowed due to a double movement from Pretorius in gaining the line.
Five minutes later, Pumas wing Lundi Msenge chased a kick and took the ball to cross the line but was deemed to be in front of the kicker, meaning the teams remained scoreless.
It was only in the 35th minute that the scoreboard came to life, Pumas fullback Devon Williams putting in a crosskick which was gathered and kicked ahead in one movement by centre Diego Appollis which saw wing Etienne Taljaard gather and dot down.
Flyhalf Tinus de Beer added the two points for a 7-0 lead which was cut to 7-3 thanks to a successful Griquas penalty in first-half injury time from flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela.
It was any side’s game as the teams headed for the break at 7-3 to the Pumas.
TRY OF THE MATCH
Dobela closed the gap to 7-6 with an early second-half penalty but failed to take advantage of the Pumas losing De Beer to the sin bin after a dangerous tackle.
In fact, it was the Pumas who extended their lead to 10-6 thanks to a Brandon Thomson penalty while De Beer was off the field.
As the match went into the final quarter, it was the Pumas who took control. De Beer landed another penalty (13-6) in the 67th minute and with too many basic errors coming from Griquas, the Pumas bagged their second try in the 71st minute when Thomson gathered a chip into space from De Beer to score next to the uprights.
De Beer added the conversion (20-6), meaning Griquas needed two converted tries to at least earn a draw.
They scored one in the 74th minute, No 8 Carl Els crashing over from close range for Dobela to convert (20-13) but the result was put beyond doubt when De Beer added another penalty (23-13) in the 78th minute.
With time already up on the clock, the Pumas scored the try of the match in the 81st minute when flanker Andre Fouche rounded off a superb team effort, De Beer missing the conversion.
The win takes the Pumas to second on the log, a point behind the Cheetahs who are also unbeaten so far.
PUMAS 28: Tries 3 (Taljaard, Thomson, Fouche); Conversions 2 (De Beer); Penalties 3 (De Beer 2 Thomson 1)
GRIQUAS 13: Tries 1 (Els); Conversion (Dobela); Penalties 2 (Dobela)