Pumas thump WP to stay in play-off hunt
MATCH REPORT: The Pumas kept their play-off hopes alive with a crucial 39-13 bonus-point win over Western Province in Cape Town.
After Saturday’s result, the Pumas are fifth in the standings with 20 points ahead of their final-round clash against the Sharks in Durban next weekend.
They are one point behind the Cheetahs (in fourth place) and the Lions (in third place), and three points behind Boland (in second place). Griquas lead the standings with 25 points.
After weathering a storm in the first half, the visitors completely outplayed Province in the second half to ensure that they will head to Kings Park with some momentum on their side.
For Province, it was their sixth defeat in a row in a bleak Currie Cup campaign, and they have already secured the wooden spoon ahead of their final clash against Boland.
Province opened the scoring after just 37 seconds when they pounced on a Pumas’ error moments after the kick-off. Loose forward Connor Evans finished off a series of powerful runs when he crashed over the tryline
The home side proceeded to dominate all facets of the game for the rest of the first quarter, but they lacked that killer instinct in the strike zone.
However, they did manage to extend their lead in the 26th minute with a three-pointer from Kyle Smith after sustained pressure in the Pumas’ half.
After being on the back foot for most of the half, the Pumas fought back in the final minutes leading up to half-time, and Andre Fouche scored a try in the 38th minute via a powerful driving maul.
Clinton Swart landed a difficult conversion, and at half-time it was 10-7 to Province.
The Pumas applied the early pressure in the second half, and they levelled the scores in the 43rd minute with a Swart penalty goal.
It got better for them a few minutes later with Tiaan de Klerk putting his team in front with a try from another maul.
The momentum was fully on the Pumas’ side after that, and a brilliant offload from Swart in a tackle allowed Sango Xamlashe to run in for his team’s third try in the 50th minute.
Province reduced the Pumas’ lead to nine points with a penalty goal in the 55th minute before Swart cancelled it with a three-pointer of his own in the 64th minute.
The visitors then secured the bonus point in the 69th minute when Darren Adonis collected the ball after a clever grubber by Xamlashe to sprint in for a five-pointer.
The Pumas rubbed salt into WP’s wounds in the 79th minute when replacement prop Junior Banda powered over for his team’s fifth try.
Man of the match: The award goes to Clinton Swart for his dominant display in the flyhalf role. He provided his team with direction, and he had a big hand in one of the tries with a neat offload. He also contributed 14 points with the boot.
The scorers:
For Western Province:
Try: Evans
Con: Smith
Pens: Smith 2
For Pumas:
Tries: Fouche, De Klerk, Xamlashe, Adonis, Banda
Cons: Swart 4
Pens: Swart 2
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 8 Louw Nel (captain), 7 Connor Evans, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Alex Groves, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 De Wet Marais, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Ronald Brown, 23 Brendan Venter.
Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Ludi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janke.
Replacements: 16 Darnelle Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Andrew Kota.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Lulutho Matomela
TMO: Archie Moko
