A 75^th minute penalty by Cell C Sharks full back Joe Pietersen gave the home team a 27-26 win over the Steval Pumas at Growthpoint Kings Park this afternoon. The lead changed hands numerous times during the Absa Currie Cup match.

Both teams produced spectacular rugby at times, but also made too many errors.

The Pumas were in with a chance of winning right up until the final whistle. Justin van Staden missed a long-range penalty from a difficult angle in the 77^th minute and his attempted drop goal was charged down after the siren had sounded. The pass from a Faf de Klerk should have come much earlier and when it did it simply did not allow Van Staden enough time to nail the tree-pointer which would have given the Pumas victory.

The Pumas performance was an improvement on the one against the Xerox Lions the week before, but discipline and poor decision making once again cost them.

The Pumas took a while to get going after the kick-off. After losing two early line outs on their throw, the Steval Pumas were strong in the set pieces. The visitors scrummed better and better as the match progressed.

At half time the Pumas held a 13-10 lead.

The Sharks were far from clinical. They faded late in the first half and looked jaded and rattled in the early stages of the second.

The Pumas kicked for territory but also played a hard brand of keep-possession-and-bash-it-up-rugby. They defended well.

Jacques Momberg received a debatable yellow card early in the second half. Momberg’s boot was a bit too close to Cobus Reinach’s face in a messy and busy ruck. His offence was certainly penalisable but the yellow was harsh.

Two minutes later the Sharks hooked a tighthead on the five metre-line and Paul Jordaan scored a try which was converted by JP Pietersen.

An excellent try scored by JW Bell, but created by Bernardo Botha, and a conversion and 50 metre penalty by Justin van Staden put the Pumas in a 27-17 lead with 15 minutes left.

The Sharks showed plenty of character and outscored the Pumas by 10 points to none in the last 15 minutes.

It was a hard-fought and well-deserved victory.

The Pumas players did not disgrace themselves but too many crucial errors were made.

Jason-Colin Fraser was brilliant on attack and defence but fluffed a quick throw-in that could have given the Pumas attacking possession late in the match. The forwards and Faf de Klerk could not give Van Staden the quick quality ball needed to slot what should have been a straight-forward goal.

It was so close. Although there were positives to take out the game The Pumas need to improve if they want that top-four end of round-robin log place.

Scorers

Sharks

Tries: Wandile Mjekevu (2), Paul Jordaan

Conversions: JP Pietersen (3)

Penalties: JP Pietersen (2)

Pumas

Tries: Marius Coetzer, JW Bell

Conversions: JC Roos, Justin van Staden

Penalties: JC Roos (2), Justin van Staden (2)