The Fidelity ADT Lions got their Carling Currie Cup campaign back on track with a resounding 52-29 win over the Airlink Pumas at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Flanker Jarod Cairns, midfielders Rynhardt Jonker and Likhona Finka, and fullback Latica Nela all starred as the home side kept up a pace that the Nelspruit side found hard to match, and outscored their opponents seven tries to four in a game that was full of action.
The Lions forwards were good at the breakdown and exploited the Pumas' mistakes easily, scoring when it mattered - especially when the Pumas were down in numbers with yellow cards - something that cost them dearly in the game.
The Fidelity ADT Lions bag their first win in the #CurrieCup 🦁📈 pic.twitter.com/qtz7Tvtpzo
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 25, 2026
Still, it was a quality performance by the Lions and it was clear that their depth is good and despite losing their opening game, they could easily see themselves in a third consecutive final at the end of this short season.
Because while Danrich Visagie got the Pumas on the board early on with a penalty, and the visitors dominated the early proceedings, once the Lions started to roar, it was hard to keep them down.
It was Finca who opened the Lions' scoring, finishing off a devastating attack, and he was followed onto the board a short while later when the Lions' short passing game opened up too many gaps and Cairns was at the end to dot down for the try.
The Pumas were not going to lie down and pulled one back through JJ Scheepers, but then things went wrong for them just before halftime when the Lions produced a sweeping attack and their offloading game took them close to the tryline, only to throw a pass inside for winger Dalvon Blood to stick a hand out.
PUMAS PUNISHED
While the pass was a wild one, and it was debatable whether the Lions attacker would have scored if it wasn’t deliberately knocked on, referee Griffon Colby decided otherwise and as he was certain, he gave a penalty try and sent Blood to the bin for 10 minutes.
The Pumas weren’t about to take a back seat and put in some thumping runs upfield, eventually finding the space so that former Western Province flanker De Wet Marais could go over and get them to within four points at the break.
That didn’t help them in the second half as a break by Jonker set up an easy try for Cairns to extend the lead, and then shortly afterwards, it was Nela who went over to open up the gap even further, this time after Jonker had crossed the line and passed him the ball.
Jonker added his own name to the scoresheet before the hour mark and the Lions were in full control now, leading 42-17 as the game started counting down towards the end.
Scrumhalf Conor van Eden went over from close range to close the gap a bit, but the joy was short-lived as the Pumas got another yellow, this time for cynical play on their own line as Thabo Ndimande was given his marching orders.
Again down to 14, they managed to score a try, with some deft passing beating the man as Blood got his name on the scoresheet in the far corner.
Nela added his second to secure the half century and the Lions simply waited it out to the end to secure the points on offer and a big win for their young side.
SCORERS
Fidelity ADT Lions - tries: Likhona Finca, Jarod Cairns (2), Penalty try, Latica Nela (2), Rynhardt Jonker. Conversions: Sam Francis (6). Penalty: Francis.
Airlink Pumas - tries: JJ Scheepers, De Wet Marais, Conor van Eden, Dalvon Blood. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (3). Penalty: Visagie.