Boland clinch last gasp win over Pumas

MATCH REPORT: In a game of two halves Boland came back to clinch a late victory against the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday evening.

A penalty try with three minutes to go sent Boland into the lead and handed them a 29-26 victory, sending them to the top of the log.

Boland got their runners into the game after five minutes of play, forcing a penalty after stretching the defensive line and James Tedder sent it clean through the uprights to take an early lead.

Khwezi Mafu was sent to the sinbin for stopping the quick tap and go and the Pumas struck from there.

They were quick to respond as they got behind their ball-carrier to drive over the line for Ross Braude to quickly get the ball out the ruck and dot down for the try.

Danrich Visagie slotted the conversion for the Pumas to take the lead.

Minutes later the Pumas found themselves on the five metre and from the line-out they rumbled forward.

But the ill-disciplined Boland was shown another yellow card for not rolling away, and they lost their playmaker Tedder for 10 minutes.

Using their numerical advantage, the Pumas score their second try through the strongman Eduan Swart. Visagie converted once more to take the homeside’s lead to 14-3.

Then the Pumas did so again, and Braude scored his second try receiving the ball in midfield after a great break up the sideline by Stefan Coetzee.

The homeside was comfortably ahead by 21-3 after the first quarter.

Boland gradually advanced into the Pumas’ 22 after their two yellow card offenders returned to the pitch, but the Pumas’ defense stood firm.

The Cavaliers had chances but struggled with continuity on attack as their handling and discipline let them down.

The teams headed to the change room at halftime with the Pumas ahead 21-3.

The start of the second half quickly saw the home side advancing to the tryline and Swart barged over for his second try for his side’s bonus point.

But Boland wasted no time in launching their attack, moving all the way into the opposition 22, but they once again lost possession.

The try was inevitable as Marcqwien Titus finished off in the corner, closing the gap to 8-21 after Tedder could not convert.

Finally the gaps opened for Boland which allowed Xavier Mitchell to dance his way through for his side’s second try.

Boland seemed to get into the match more, and managed to close the gap to 15-26 after the successful conversion.

The visitors continued to claw their way back into the match. They exerted pressure as they set up a maul that stopped short of the line but Dayan van der Westhuizen picked up and drove over for the try.

The conversion was good, as well as a successful penalty kick which suddenly opened up the game as the visitors clawed their way back to trail by 22-26.

With seven minutes to go, it was helter skelter stuff from both sides.

Boland camped out in the Pumas’ 22, making their intention clear to fight until the bitter end.

An intentional knock-on by Darren Adonis saw him get his marching orders three minutes before the end, and Boland was awarded a penalty try which took them into the lead by 29-26.

Scorers:

For Pumas:
Tries: Braude 2, Swart 2
Cons: Visagie 3

For Boland:
Tries: Titus, Mitchell, Van der Westhuizen, Penalty Try
Cons: Tedder
Pens: Tedder 2

Yellow cards: Khwezi Mafu (Boland, 9′ – cynical play); James Tedder (Boland, 16′ – not rolling away)

Teams:

Pumas: 15 Andrew Kota, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janke
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Tiaan Pretorius, 23 Dalvon Blood

Boland: 15 James Tedder, 14 Marcqwien Titus, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 HP van Schoor, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Laurence Victor 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Ludio Williams, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison, Hernus Coetzee
TMO: AJ Jacobs