Jekyll and Hyde Pumas blitz Sharks

MATCH REPORT: The Jekyll and Hyde Pumas bounced back from one of their worst defeats to beat the Sharks 31-21 in an entertaining Currie Cup match at Kings Park in Durban on Friday.

The Pumas, outscoring their hosts by five tries to three, moved into the top four.

After an impressive first-round win over Griquas (44-24) in Kimberley, they imploded spectacularly against the Lions (21-75) in Nelspruit a week later.

On Friday they won away from home again, leaving the Sharks winless in a start eerily similar to their United Rugby Championship campaign.

The home team had the better of possession and territory, the visitors dominated the set pieces and exploited many of the 16 turnovers the Sharks conceded.

Add in 13 penalties at a tackle success rate of only 85 percent, it is obvious the Durban-based team have as lot of work to do if they are to have any hope of a play-off place/

* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

* (The article continues below …)

The Pumas got off to a flying start – centre Clinton Swart and wing Darren Adonis going over in the first five minutes.

Where the build-up to Swart’s try was savage and ruthless, the second had some sublime touches.

Swart converted both for a 14-0 lead.

The Pumas continued with their high-tempo blitz game, which troubled an inexperienced Sharks team, with flank Ntsika Fisanti finishing off the third try. This time Swart was wide of the mark, but the visitors held a 19-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Sharks put up a bit more resistance for the next 15 minutes, but four minutes before half-time a couple of penalties allowed the Pumas to set up a line-out five metres out from the home team’s line. captain Eduan Swart getting the armchair ride over the line. Clinton Swart was again wide of the mark with his conversion attempt – 24-0.

That is how it stayed till half-time, with the Pumas already having a bonus point in the bank.

The Sharks started the second half with more purpose, but still made a litany of errors.

That was until a purple patch that resulted in a in a couple of penalties inside the Pumas 22. From one of those, replacement Dian Bleuler burst over after a tap-and-go. Alwayno Visagie slotted the conversion – 7-24.

However, moments later the Pumas launched a blistering attack from inside their own half, Phiko Sobahle using his blistering pace down the lefty win to strike back straight away. Dan Visagie added the conversion and the lead was 24 points again – 31-7 on the hour mark.

The Sharks then enjoyed another purple patch, another tap-and-go resulting in captain Nick Hatton going over from close range. Replacement Tiaan Fourie added the conversion -14-31.

Three more tap-and-go penalties from five metres out – including a stern talking to by the referee – saw Kerron van Vuuren charge over. Fourie added the conversion – 21-31 with seven minutes remaining.

However, the Pumas hung on in the face of several more raids, to secure the bonus-point win.

The scorers

For the Sharks
Tries: Bleuler, Hatton, Van Vuuren
Cons: A Visagie, Fourie 2

For the Pumas
Tries: C Swart, Adonis, Fisanti, E Swart, Sobahle
Cons: C Swart 2, D Visagie

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Muller du Plessis, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Siya Ningiza, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Reinier Viljoen, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Abraham Reyneke.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Meno Barnard, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Jaco Williams.

Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Phiko Sobahle, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart (captain), 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Lundi Msenge.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Paul Mente

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