Pumas throw it away in second half
The Steval Pumas held their own for much of the match against the Cell C Sharks in the second round of the Currie Cup match at Growthpoint King's Park on Friday night, holding the lead until the 41st minute.
But when the Sharks stepped up a gear, the Pumas had no answers and the home team ran in four tries in the final 30 minutes to win the match 34-17.
Once again the Steval Pumas robbed themselves of possession with their line-outs in a shambles. If the Pumas want to qualify for a semi-final spot then this vital set piece will have to improve drastically.
There were positives, with the Pumas defending exceptionally well. The first-half tackles were particularly impressive. They held their own in the scrum and the loose forwards were in the face of the Sharks, attacking ball and lightning fast to the breakdown.
The Pumas started out well with Frikkie Spies claiming a try from a maul in the third minute. Justin van Staden converted.
Two Fred Zeilinga penalties were all the Sharks had to show at half-time.
This was not due to lack of effort. They ran the ball hard at the Pumas, who were up for the challenge.
Pumas prop Vincent Koch put in a try-saving tackle on Odwa Ndungane in the seventh minute and his teammates upheld the standard set. With the score at 7-6 to the Pumas at half-time, it seemed an upset might be on the cards.
The Cell C Sharks came out snorting in the second half. SP Marais went over in the left corner 45 seconds after kick-off with two Pumas defenders hanging on his shoulders. Marco Wentzel was yellow-carded in the 46th minute.
Renaldo Bothma found himself on the right wing minutes later and scored an excellent team try. The earlier penalty kick and this conversion by JC Roos gave the Pumas a four-point lead.
But from here it was the Sharks’ game.
Read the full story in today’s edition of Lowvelder.
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