Pumas power past Griquas
MATCH REPORT: Pumas kicked of their Currie Cup season with an impressive 42-19 win over the Griquas in Nelspruit on Friday.
Pumas outscored the Griquas five tries to three in front of a very modest crowd at the Mbombela Stadium.
The Griquas got the game underway but did not enjoy much of the possession. From the kick-off, the Pumas dominated proceedings. The side piled on the pressure and found themselves inside the Griquas’ 22.
However, after 18 phases they failed to break the Griquas’ tight defence and the score remained 0-0.
Pumas’ efforts were finally rewarded as they were rewarded a penalty and they opted for the posts. Pumas flyhalf Christopher Smith made no mistake to add the first points of the season, 3-0.
Soon 3-0 turned into 6-0 as the Griquas were again penalised for being offside at the ruck. Smith again stepped up a double his side’s lead.
The Pumas further piled on the pressure as a quickly taken penalty helped captain Hennie Skorbinski slide over the chalk for the first try of the season.
With just 10 minutes left of the first half, the Griquas finally got their hands on the ball and made their way inside the Pumas’ 22. After great momentum, AJ Coertzen burst over the line for the five-pointer. Flyhalf George Whitehead added the extras to narrow the deficit, 7-13.
The score seemed to shift the momentum as Griquas had another opportunity to score, however, Goerge Whitehead’s long-range attempt failed to make its way over the crossbar and the men from Kimberley had to settle for a 7-13 deficit at the break.
The Pumas started the second half in sublime form. The side went on to add three additional three tries courtesy of Stefan Ungerer, Smith and Neil Maritz for a 35-7 lead just before the hour mark.
The Griquas’ match went from bad to worst as the side was forced to play with 14 men after Rasta Rasivhenge handed Liam Hendricks a yellow card.
Taking full advantage of the extra man, Pumas run rampant and added another try this time Marnus Schoeman got his name on the scoresheet.
Similar to the first half, the Griquas opted to start playing in the last 10 minutes of the match. The visitors scored two tries, first scrumhalf Christiaan Meyer made his way over chalk, while No.8 Conway Pretorius’s speed and agility got him over the line.
The Griquas ended the game on a good note, but it was the Pumas’ pack who made sure they have the first Currie Cup win of the season.
The Pumas will enjoy a bye next week, while the Griquas head to Johannesburg to take on the Golden Lions.
Man of the match: Pumas’ flyhalf Christopher Smith accurate kicking was vital during the side’s win. While Marnus Schoeman’s powerful breaks caused headaches for the Griquas defence. However, for his great runs and vision, our nod goes to Pumas scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer.
The Scorers:
For Pumas:
Tries: Skibinski, Ungerer, Smith, Maritz, Schoeman
Cons: Smith 4
Pens: Smith 3
For Griquas:
Tries: Coertzen, Meyer, Pretorius,
Cons: Whitehead 2
Yellow Card: Liam Hendricks (Griquas, 60)
Teams:
Pumas: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Ryan Nell, 12 Hennie Skorbinski (captain), 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Kwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Frankie Herne, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Jeandré Rudolph, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Trompie Pretorius.
Griquas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Kyle Steyn (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Conway Pretorius, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendell Wehr, 5 FP Pelser, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Devon Martinus.
Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Pieter van Vuren, 20 Izak Burger, 21 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Andre Swarts.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Des van Wyk
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
