Pumas squeeze in victory against rivals Griquas at Mbombela Stadium
The defending Currie Cup champions displayed grit on the field to have the upper hand after the full 80 minutes.
It was a repeat of last year’s final at Mbombela Stadium when the defending champions, the Airlink Pumas, and the runners-up from last year’s Currie Cup campaign, the Windhoek Draught Griquas, met each other in their round three fixture on Friday March 24.
The Pumas and Griquas faced off twice in the league round during last year’s championship. The latter managed victories on each occasion.
But when it counted most, the Pumas executed their game plan to a tee to lift the trophy.
Even before the first whistle blew on Friday, it was evident that it would be a tight encounter. The ball swung from side to side, each team putting up their hands on several occasions, defending and attacking in turn.
Two TMO referrals were asked early on. Tries from Griquas lock Derik Pretorius and Pumas left wing Lundi Msenge were overturned, leaving the scoreboard squared up at zero apiece.
Now, it was a question of who would break through first.
The defending champions showed precisely why they are the title holders after Etienne Taljaard dived in under the posts to score the first try of the game.
Tinus de Beer, who had sat out on last week’s match against the Fidelity ADT Lions due to an injury, added the extras.
Not wanting to go into the half-time break with no points to their name, Griquas fly half Lubabalo Dobela pulled three points back, successfully converting a penalty kick.
A few minutes into the second half, the Pumas played with one man fewer after De Beer got sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after a tip tackle on Griquas winger Luther Obi.
De Beer’s absence did not bother the home side too much. Brandon Thompson slotted over a penalty, and shortly after, on his return, De Beer did the same.
Thompson dove over for a try shortly afterwards, the conversion good from De Beer.
Griquas eighthman Carl Els added some consolation points to the board for his side, and with the kicking effort from Dobela, the lead narrowed down to seven points.
The visitors’ hope for more points and potential revenge on the Pumas was short-lived, however, when De Beer spilt the uprights once again followed by an attack and try through himself and André Fouché.
The Pumas managed to remain unbeaten, defeating the side from the Northern Cape 28-13.
The home team will play their second away game of the season against the Free State Cheetahs at Toyota Stadium on Friday March 31.
