Pumas' win puts pressure on Cheetahs

MATCH REPORT: The Pumas kept their play-off hopes alive and piled the pressure on the Cheetahs with a 45-26 win over the Griffons in Welkom on Sunday.

The Pumas are fifth in the standings, just one point behind the defending champions the Cheetahs.

The Pumas will take on Western Province next week, while Cheetahs travel to Kimberley to take on Griquas as the Currie Cup season heads into the business end of the tournament.

*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!

The Pumas scored seven tries after overcoming a very scrappy start which saw them trailing 0-12.

Jimmy Stonehouse’s men struggled in the opening minutes and Griffons enjoyed much of the possession in dry and windy conditions.

The Griffons managed to claim a losing bonus point after scoring four tries.

Willem van der Hever bagged Griffon’s first try when he powered over the line at the back of a maul. Qamani Kota added the extra for the 7-0 lead.

Minutes later the Griffons had their second try after a snipe by the nippy scrumhalf Dewald Human was rounded off by  flank Thato Mavundla, who scored the five-pointer.

With a 12-point lead, the first 20 minutes firmly belonged to Jacques Juries’ men in purple.

The Pumas made four unforced errors and just failed to gain any momentum.

In the 25th minute, the Pumas finally had possession and were inside the Griffons’ 22.

And after try-scorer Mavundla was handed a yellow card, Pumas broke their duck when Deward Maritz bulldozed over the line. Danrich Visagie narrowed the deficit to five points with a solid conversion.

The Pumas gradually worked their way into the match and captain Eduan Swart levelled matters when he dotted down at the back of a rolling maul.

Clinton Swart slotted the conversion and handed Pumas a narrow 14-12 lead at the break.

The Pumas started the second half in the same fashion. David Brits made a break before Danrich Visagie cruised over for the 21-12 lead.

It went from bad to worse for the Griffons as ill-discipline overshadowed their efforts. They went down to 13 men when Duan Pretorius and Calla Pienaar were sent to the sin bin.

With a numeral advantage, the Pumas took full advantage, and the lethal backline produced a great counterattack before Tino Swanepoel sidestepped his way over the line for the bonus-point try.

In the last 15 minutes, David Brits produced a moment of class as he collected his grubber for the Pumas’ fifth try.

Griffons pulled one back when Kyle Cyster scored his team’s try. Kota added the extra.

Pumas did not lay low they scored tries via replacements Ross Braude and Darnell Usuagwu.

However, the Griffons had the say as Simon Westraadt scored his first Currie Cup try and secured the hosts the losing bonus point.

The scorers:

For Griffons:
Tries: Van den Hever, Mavundla, Cyster, Westraadt
Cons: Kota 2

For Pumas:
Tries: Maritz, E. Swart, Visagie, Swanepoel, Brits, Braude, Usuagwu,
Cons: C Swart 5

Yellow cards: Thato Mavundla (Griffons, 26 – repeated infringements), Duan Pretorius (Griffons, 47 – repeated infringement), Calla Pienaar (Griffons, 48 – cynical foul)

Teams

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Qamani Kota, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Dewald Human, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Matthew Gray, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Willem van der Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Moango Ngundue, 19 Wikus Niewenhuis, 20 Rian Olivier, 21 Mingo Piti, 22 Keegan Schaefer, 23 Gilroy Philander.

Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart (captain), 1 Deward Maritz.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Usuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Phiko Sobahle.

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
TMO: Quinton Immelman