A brilliant performance from Airlink Pumas inside centre Clinton Swart helped his team power to a thumping 66-26 win over the Suzuki Griquas in their Carling Currie Cup clash at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Swart scored two tries and slotted eight conversions and a penalty for a personal haul of 31 points in an action-packed performance that earned him the man-of-the-match award.
The game got off to a flying start as both teams got in for two tries each during the opening 10 minutes.
The Griquas were first to strike, with flyhalf Zinedine Robinson hitting a gap and putting away fullback Cameron Hufke for a converted try after two minutes.
But the Pumas hit straight back as they attacked into the Griquas 22m from the kick-off and lock Dean Slabbert crashed over, followed by Slabbert making a superb break, before following up in support to score his second, both converted to make it 14-7 after seven minutes.
The visitors then responded by setting up a lineout deep in the Pumas 22m, with the maul stopped just short, but scrumhalf Thomas Bursey was able to pick up and dot down over the line, with Robinson’s extras drawing the scores level.
After the thrilling start the game became a bit more measured over the rest of the half, but it was the Pumas who pulled away with two more converted tries.
First on attack in the Griquas 22m, Swart received the ball, stepped past and brushed off a few defenders to score in the 29th minute, while wing Phikolomzi Sobahle was found on the overlap with three minutes left to score, giving them a 28-14 lead at the break.
SHUT THE DOOR
The hosts picked up where they left off in the second half, striking first as they attacked into the Griquas half, with the ball going wide to wing Darren Adonis to bust through a few tackle attempts and score in the 45th minute.
Swart added the extras and then slotted a penalty five minutes later to put his side into a strong 38-14 lead.
The Griquas finally responded in the 53rd minute as Robinson and Hufke combined again, before feeding wing Sako Makata to run over for the converted score to bring themselves back into the game.
But the Pumas instead shut the door almost immediately with a quickfire double in three minutes, as Stefan Coetzee finished a good move in the corner, while Swart again scored a superb solo try, stepping and bumping off tackles, before adding both conversions for a 52-21 lead after 59 minutes.
The hosts weren’t done, however, as Adonis scored his second in the 68th minute, finishing off a good Pumas attack started near the halfway, with him going over in the corner, while Swart slotted his ninth straight kick.
The visitors also wanted to finish strong and were next to score as they worked their way into the Pumas 22m before putting the ball through the hands for replacement back Connor Mahoney to go over in the corner.
But the Pumas made sure it would be them finishing on a high as they attacked from their own half, breaking into the Griquas 22m where replacement back Lundi Msenge received the ball on the switch and went over with just over a minute remaining to seal the monster win.
SCORERS
Pumas: Tries - Deon Slabbert (2), Clinton Swart (2), Phikolomzi Sobahle, Darren Adonis (2), Stefan Coetzee, Lundi Msenge; Conversions - Swart (8); Penalty - Swart
Griquas: Tries - Cameron Hufke, Thomas Bursey, Sako Makata, Connor Mahoney; Conversions - Zinedine Robinson (2)