Pumas claim top spot, stamp authority in Currie Cup
MATCH REPORT: Defending Currie Cup champions the Pumas have jumped to the top of the log after a narrow win over Western Province in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
Showing their intent to defend their title successfully, the Pumas showed resilience and patience to grind out the win, moving to the top of the log with 29 points, followed by the Cheetahs' 26.
Western Province got out of the blocks like a house on fire in front of a vocal crowd, scoring the first try within the first five minutes of the game. Jean-Luc du Plessis sent a stab kick behind the Pumas' defense line and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu followed up brilliantly, fumbled the ball a couple of times but recollected and scored.
Barely two minutes later the home side responded with a well worked maul which was stopped short by good WP defence, but a couple of phases later Corne Fourie dots down next to the posts.
As the game is played at a frenetic pace, the Pumas fail to clear from the restart as Devon Williams' kick is charged down by Jarrod Taylor who manages to collect it again and scores and the visitors take the lead again by 14-7.
The men in pink however showcased their never-say-die attitude while a couple of kicks were exchanged from both teams looking for territory. As the clock hit the 30 minute mark, the Pumas backed their maul technique which saw the experienced Fourie go over for his second try in the match.
With the score at 14-14 and WP on the attack, De Beer hoofed the ball into space. Stefan Coetzee brilliantly followed up and collected the ball, catching the lazy WP runners unawares, showing heels to score a great individual try.
Just before half-time, WP managed to win a penalty in front of the goal and they opted for the three points before the half-time whistle ended the first half with the Pumas leading 19-17.
The early part of the second half saw both teams throw the kitchen sink at each other, but mistakes on both sides prevented either team from getting points on the board.
Eventually, in the 65th minute, De Beer grabbed three points via a penalty kick to stretch their lead after first contemplating to kick for touch.
With eight minutes to go, the visitors kicked for the corner to put them in a position to attack. It proved successful as a brilliant kick over the top was caught by Luke Burger for his first Currie Cup try.
With the conversion successful, the visitors claimed back the lead by only points, 24-22, but it was short-lived as their substitute Louw Nel was sent of for a high tackle on the Pumas’ Chriswill September.
The penalty kick was sent through the uprights by Brandon Thomson and the Pumas were back in front by 25-24. They managed to close out the match as deserved victors.
The scorers
For Pumas:
Tries: Fourie 2, Dawson
Con: De Beer 2
Pen: De Beer
For Western Province:
Tries: Mngomezulu, Taylor
Con: Mngomezulu 2
Pen: Mngomezulu
Yellow cards: Stefan Coetzee (Pumas, 54’ for cynical foul), Louw Nel (WP, 76’ for high tackle)
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Deon Slabbert, 6 Franna Kleinhans, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Cameron Dawson
Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Andre Fouche, 20 Ruwald vd Merwe, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Lundi Msenge
Western Province: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Luke Burger.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: AM Jacobs