Pumas and Sharks in thrilling 12-try draw

MATCH REPORT: The Pumas and Sharks played to a thrilling 44-all draw in their Round Five Currie Cup match in Nelspruit on Saturday.

The two teams scored six tries each, with two late penalties – Bradley Davids in the 78th minute and Clinton Swart after the full-time hooter – adding to the drama.

However, the 12 tries – the Pumas scoring four of their six in the first half and the Sharks five of their six after the break – provided the real entertainment.

After a slow start that saw the Pumas race into a 24-3 lead before the half-hour mark, the Sharks dominated possession and territory.

However, a yellow card to veteran flyhalf Lionel Cronje allowed the home team, to stem the tide after a period that saw the visitors score three tries.

* To recap the drama, CLICK HERE!

The early exchanges were dominated by a territorial kicking game, with the home shading the contest.

It brought them great reward when inside centre Clinton Swart launched a sublime crossfield kick for Phiko Sobahle, to score the opening try. Swart added the conversion – 7-0

Sobahle was over for his and his team’s second try in the 14th minute – with the Pumas launching a blistering counterattack from inside their half and making the Sharks pay for a poor attempted clearance with some sublime interplay. Swart was wide of the mark with the conversion attempt – 12-0.

Veteran Lionel Cronje eventually opened the Sharks’ account with a penalty in the 18th minute.

Captain Eduan Swart scored the home team’s third try from a powerful maul. Clinton Swart again failed with the conversion attempt – 17-3 after 25 minutes.

Sobahle got his hat-trick in the 27th minute – a series of raids by the home team that included forward pods and sublime backline handling. This time Clinton Swart added the conversion – 24-3.

Just past the half-hour mark Eduan Keyter got over for the Sharks’ first try, from a series of aggressive phases. Cronje missed the conversion – 8-24.

On the stroke of half-time Clinton Swart slotted a penalty to make it 27-8 at the break.

The Sharks had a perfect start to the second half, wing Jaco Williams collecting a sublime grubber by Lionel Cronje to jog over. Cronje added the conversion – 15-27.

That gap narrowed even further when Litelihle Bester charged down an attempted clearance and followed up to get his team’s third try. Cronje made it a five-point game (22-27) with the conversion.

Cronje produced another magical grubber for flank Jannes Potgieter to collect and score the Sharks- bonus-point try. Cronjé couldn’t add the conversion – 27-all after 52 minutes.

The Pumas managed to stem the tide when scrumhalf Ross Braude jinked his way past several defenders after a midfield break from Clinton Swart, from a strong scrum inside the Pumas’ half. Clinton Swart added the conversion – 34-27.

Just past the hour mark Lionel Cronje was yellow-carded for a coat-hanger tackle, allowing the Pumas to set up a line-out five metres out. The maul went close, but when it went to the ground, Braude was there to collect the bouncing ball and dive over. The call went to the TMO, who said it was all legal. Clinton Swart stretched the lead to 14 points (41-27) with the conversion.

The visitors hit straight back with captain Nick Hatton barging his way over after a maul was held up short. Scrumhalf Bradley Davids took over the goalkicking and narrowed the gap to seven points (24-41).

The Sharks launched a series of forward raids, twice winning penalties deep inside the Pumas 22. Eventually, Dian Bleuler worked his way over and Davids levelled the scores (41-all) with the conversion.

The Pumas conceded a penalty and Davids, from nearly 40 metres out, put the Sharks in the lead for the first time in the game – 44-41 – with a minute to go.

From the restart the Pumas won a scrum penalty – after two resets – and Clinton Swart levelled the scores up at 44-all for the second draw of the weekend.

The scorers

For the Pumas
Tries: Sobahle 3, E Swart, Braude 2
Cons: C Swart 4
Pens: C Swart 2

For the Sharks
Tries: Keyter, Williams, Bester, Potgieter, Hatton, Bleuler
Cons: Cronje 2, Davids 2
Pens: Cronje, Davids

Yellow card: Lionel Cronje (Sharks, 61 – foul play, high tackle)

Teams

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.

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Batho Hlekani, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Abraham Reyneke.
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Scott Nel.

Referee: Sean Muller
TMO: Archie Sehlako

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* Picture credit by Johan Orton photos