Pumas edge WP in Bloem thriller
MATCH REPORT: The Currie Cup champions, the Pumas, edged Western Province 27-20 in a thrilling match in the Challenge Series in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
The Pumas got out the block the fastest, using their powerful pack to get hooker LLwellyn Classen over the line for an unconverted try.
Prop Lee-Marvin Mazibuko opened Province's account, flyhalf Kade Wolhuter adding the conversion.
Wing Sebastian de Klerk rounded off a fine movement, with De Beer adding a penalty - as the Pumas took a 13-7 lead.
Wolhuter landed a penalty to make it 13-10 for the Currie Cup champions at the half-time break.
Classen scored his second try and the Pumas' third, with the captain, De Beer, adding the conversion for a 20-10 lead.
Wolhuter added a second penalty, before a Lundi Msenge try stretched the Pumas' lead to 27-13.
Flying fullback Tristan Leyds scored a late consolation try, with centre Cornel Smit adding the conversion - making it a 27-20 win for the men from Nelspruit.
The scorers
For the Pumas
Tries: Classen 2, De Klerk, Msenge
Cons: De Beer, Willemse
Pen: De Beer
For Western Province
Tries: Mazibuko, Leyds
Cons: Wolhuter, Smit
Pens: Wolhuter 2
Teams:
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastiaan de Klerk, 13 Diego Apollis, 12 Ali Mgjima, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Tinus de Beer (captain), 9 Lucky Dlepu, 8 Khwezi Mafu, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Franna Kleinhans, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 LLwellyn Classen, 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Kwanda Dimaza, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Gene Willemse, 23 Ettienne Taljaard.
Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Duran Koevort, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Chris Hollis, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Christiaan Lamprecht, 17 Luthando Woji, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Busanda Mabena, 20 Jacques Goosen, 21 Liam Kluseman, 22 Melbert van der Spuy, 23 Rethabile Louw.
Picture credit: @CheetahsRugby