Pumas dig deep for a victory at Windhoek Draught Park

The Airlink Pumas practically relived last year’s Currie Cup final in Kimberley today, June 9.

Like last year, the Pumas again managed a superb victory in this encounter, adding points to the board when it counted the most.

Both teams came into this one hungry for the win, eager to cement their place in the semi-final play-offs.

ALSO READ: Local swimmer makes waves in Thailand

The game was off to a flying start, with each team conceding penalties early on. The Griquas’ full back, George Whitehead, and his counterpart, Tinus de Beer, in turn each added three points to the scoreboard.

The determined home outfit jogged over the try line for the first try of the encounter. Lubabalo Dobela side-stepped his way to the try line, Whitehead adding the extras.

Just before the half-time whistle blew, the applied pressure by Jimmy Stonehouse’s troops paid off as Deon Slabbert planted the ball firmly for his team’s first five points of the match. De Beer levelled the scoreline going into the break.

ALSO READ: Jukskei is in dié Laevelder se bloed

At the start of the second half, it was a matter of who was going to break through the others’ defence first.

Thabo Ndimande broke through early in the half and Whitehead converted to put the Griquas ahead by seven.

The Mpumalanga team soon replied with their own attacking effort. They drove forward with an attacking maul, allowing Francois Kleinhans to pull five points back for his side. De Beer split the uprights once more, levelling the scoreboard.

ALSO READ: Barberton pedestrian accident: Mother mourns son (10)

The pressure was on! Neither team wanted to give anything away and contested every ball, hoping for a turnover to come. Patience paid off for the men in pink and they converted a penalty goal to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Despite a fighting effort, the Griquas struggled to break through the tight Pumas defence. A try through replacement centre Wian van Niekerk and conversion by De Beer sealed the deal for the visitors.

After clenching a 27-17 victory, the Pumas round off the top three on the log with 40 points behind their name. They join the likes of the Cell C Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs in this year’s semi-final.

ALSO READ: Dubbele moord by Eggo-grotte, verdagtes steeds op vrye voet

The fourth and final spot will be decided tomorrow, June 10, when the Vodacom Bulls take on the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The Bulls and ADT Fidelity Lions are currently tied on the log at 36 points apiece, with the Lions already having played their last round-robin fixture against the NovaVit Griffons on June 9.