Pumas edge past KZN
Riekert Barnard was on top of his game as he kicked four successful penalties to give his team the last laugh on the final day.
In the other matches Leopards put on a great first-half performance to ensure a 36-24 win over Griffons, while Griquas’ second-half performance made it easy for them to cruise to a 43-12 win over Falcons.
Scorers and scores!
Griffons 24-36 Leopards
The opening minutes of the match was highly contested. Both teams showed that they were up for a battle as the first try was only scored after ten minutes of play. A Riaan Van der Spuy try gave the Leopards the lead, while Gerhard Fourie added the extras. 7-0
After five minutes of play, Griffons scored a try of their own. Thanks to Marco Labuschagne the Griffons narrowed the deficit to two points.
But Leopards kept the pressure on the Griffons and scored two tries and a penalty before the halftime break. 24-5
After a horrible first half start, the Griffons scored the first try in the second within a minute. Dealin Jafta with the five points and Andrew Kota added the two, 12-24.
Despite Griffons third try on the hour mark, Leopards attack just proved too strong, as they scored the final try on the 70th minute.
The scorers:
For Griffons:
Tries: Marco Labuschagne, Dealin Jafta, Hendrik van Staden, Jason Wagman,
Cons: Andrew Kota 2
For Leopards:
Tries: Riaan Van der Spuy, Marthinus De Villiers, Dane Booysen, Andre Fouche, Tiaan du Toit
Cons: Gerhard Fourie 4
Pens: Gerhard Fourie
Referee: Pieter Maritz
Assistant referees: Mpho Matsaung, Local
Pumas 26-23 KwaZulu-Natal
Within two minutes of the match, Gideon Lubbe broke through to score KwaZulu-Natal’s first try of the match. Sanele Nohambe added the two points, 7-0.
Pumas managed to put on some pressure on KwaZulu-Natal' defense. Their efforts got rewarded with two successful penalties. Riekert Barnard stepped up and narrowed the score to just one point, 6-7.
The match was highly contested as both teams scored a try apiece before halftime. Angus Curtis scored for the KwaZulu-Natal and Jaco Joubert for Pumas.
Pumas took a one point lead as they head to the change room, 13-12.
In this high stakes match one had to fold.
Pumas made some technical substitutions which payed off because they stretched the lead to 16-12 with a penalty, just after two minutes of the second half.
The teams both added some points to their score, and on the hour marked the score was level at 23 apiece.
As the game headed into its dying minutes and the teams locked on 23-23 some tempers was really high. And surprisingly the KwaZulu-Natal broke, Phendulani Buthelezi received his marching orders.
Pumas took full advantage and Barnard slotted over his fourth successive penalty kick to give his team a three point advantage, 26-23.
The scorers:
For Pumas:
Tries: Jaco Joubert, JC Pretorius
Cons: Riekert Barnard 2
Pens: Riekert Barnard 4
For KwaZulu-Natal:
Tries: Gideon Lubbe 2, Angus Curtus
Con: Sanele Nohamba
Pens: Maartin Holtzhausen 2
Yellow Card: Phendulani Buthelezi on 65 minutes.
Referee: Sindile Ngcese
Assistant referees: Vusi Msibi, Local
Falcons 12-43 Griquas
Griquas got off to a blistering start. They scored three unanswered tries, thanks to Niel Coetzee, Cameron Huffke and Werner Fourie. 21-0 after 15 minutes of play.
Just shy of 20 minutes Falcons pulled one back through a Werner Fourie try.
For the last 15 minutes of the first half both teams failed to change the score, as Griquas had to finish the first with 14 men. Ashwill Botha was given a yellow card on 35 minutes.
Being a man down did not phase Griquas as their continued to score tries and won penalties. Falcons struggled to keep as the game slipped away. Griquas secured a 43-12 win.
The scorers:
For Falcons:
Tries: Lee-Irwin Andries, Timothy van Dieman, Werner Fourie
Cons: Ginter Smuts, Lee-Irwin Andries
For Griquas:
Tries: Cameron Hufke, Dehan du Plessis, Niel Coetzee, Rian Kotze, Rian Schultz, Willem du Plessis.
Cons: Cameron Hufke 5
Pen: Cameron Hufke
Referee: Ricus van der Hoven
Assistant referees: Pieter Maritz, Local
