New Nation Pumas flyhalf Eddie Fouche put on a masterclass and scored a crucial try to post all his side’s points as they shocked the Toyota Cheetahs 22-15 in their Kick Off Series match in Nelspruit on Friday night.
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Fouche scored the crucial try with 10 minutes to go, taking his side to a four point lead and then added another penalty – his fifth of the night – to see them out of danger of losing as the visitors desperately tried to get back into the game.
The flyhalf was once again the heart and soul of an inspired Pumas team as they went toe to toe with the Cheetahs and never gave an inch.
The game was riddled with handling errors and as such it never quite got off the ground, and while it won’t be remembered as a spectacle, the Pumas’ perseverance paid off in the end as they got the better of the stuttering Cheetahs attack.
Fouche also grabbed another headline – albeit not a good one – as he became the first player to miss out on the new shot clock as he ran out of time with a penalty attempt by a matter of seconds. The clock was introduced to help speed up play.
Both sides faired excellently on defence and the penalty count determined much of the movement on the scoreboard, with both sides using the boot to keep in touch with the other.
An opening penalty by Ruan Pienaar was negated by two from Fouche, after which Rhyno Smith levelled the scores again with a massive drop kick from his side of the halfway line.
Two more first-half penalties from Fouche gave his side a 12-6 lead at the break. but it soon disappeared as a string of penalties early in the second half put them on the back foot again.
Pienaar grabbed one back and a yellow card to prop Morgan Naude for a no-arms tackle allowed Pienaar to level the scores.
It looked as if the momentum was turning the way of the Cheetahs when Frans Steyn stepped up to give his side the lead, but the Pumas managed a number of phases by keeping the ball in hand, with Fouche eventually stretching over to score.
A final scrum penalty was all it took for Fouche to push his side into a seven-point lead and they never looked back as they closed the game out for the big victory.
SCORERS
New Nation Pumas – Try:Eddie Fouche. Conversion: Fouche. Penalties:Fouche (5)
Toyota Cheethas - Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (3), Frans Steyn. Drop Goal:Rhyno Smith.