After falling to the Suzuki Griquas in the inaugural SA Cup Final in May, the Airlink Pumas gained satisfying revenge with a commanding 44-24 victory over the same opponents in the Premier Division Carling Currie Cup opener at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors scored six tries in a clinical display, exhibiting some superb running rugby as well as some tigerish rush defence when required against their opponents who nonetheless managed a bonus-point four tries themselves.
Flyhalf Clinton Swart was the Pumas’ star, collecting 19 points including a try, two penalties and four conversions.
The match opened with some breathless running rugby from both sides but it was the Pumas who struck first with Swart bullocking his way over after his team won a lineout in the Griquas’ 22.
The home team responded swiftly with full-back Cameron Hufke darting his way through a huge hole in the Pumas’ defence after some excellent phase play. The Pumas restored their advantage with some lovely quick handling among their backs leading to fullback Stefan Coetzee sprinting over in the left corner.
A quick tap penalty by Griquas’ scrumhalf Thomas Bursey then led to Mnombo Zwelendaba crashing over for Griquas to score the fourth try of the match after just 15 minutes. Ruwald van der Merwe then scored his team’s fourth try before Swart contributed two penalties as the Pumas went into the break 25-12 ahead. Griquas’ problems were increased when flanker Marco de Witt was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle just before the break.
Despite playing with 14 men, Griquas started the second half brightly with Zwelendaba bursting through a clutch of players to score his second try after a sizzling period of continuous attacking rugby from both teams.
This narrowed the Griquas’ deficit to six points (19-25) but a Pumas’ rolling maul then led to prop Etienne Janeka barging over. All Griquas’ efforts to get back into the match were thwarted by excellent defence from the Pumas and they went further ahead when influential scrumhalf Ross Braude spotted a gap and darted over. And when De-an Ackermann clutched a deft kick ahead to fall over the line for his team’s sixth try, the match was all but over.
It remained, however, for substitute scrumhalf Bobby Alexander to dash over for Griquas shortly before the whistle to secure his team’s single bonus point for four tries.
SCORERS:
Suzuki Griquas (12) 24. Tries: Cameron Hufke, Mnombo Zwelendaba (2), Bobby Alexander. Conversions: Lububala Dobela (2)
Airlink Pumas (25) 44. Tries: Edwan Swart, Stefan Coetzee, Ruwald van der Merwe, Etienne Janeke, Ross Braude, De-an Ackermann. Conversions: Clinton Swart (4). Penalties: Swart (2).