Pumas feel pain of one-point defeat
It was one of those games in which, had a different refereeing decision or one or two bounces of the ball favoured the one team instead of the other, the result could have been different.
This hard-fought Absa Currie Cup battle was played in Durban on Saturday.
The Cell C Sharks won 27-26 (10-13), with the Steval Pumas in with a chance of victory right up until the final whistle.
The Pumas started out poorly, losing two line-outs on their own throw and battling in the scrums.
But they soon settled down. Once the Pumas’ front row got the feel of the opponents and the conditions, their scrum got better. The line-outs improved throughout the game, with the Sharks battling late in the match on their own throw with the Pumas contesting.
Jason-Colin Fraser played the match of his life and for 70 minutes was the best loose forward on the pitch. Then he fluffed a quick throw in what could have been a good attacking ball.
Faf de Klerk was superb and was involved in so many facets of the game, at such pace, that he outshone Cobus Reinach who also played well. Marius Coetzer was like a wild bison on the pitch, charging around making tackles and challenging the defence. He scored a brilliant first-half try. But his team-mates made the try.
Uzair Cassiem and Jaco Bouwer played at a remarkable pace and put their bodies on the line. Bernardo Botha was excellent on attack and made JW Bell’s try.
Playing the Sharks in Durban is not an easy task. The Pumas were not quite where they should have been, but certainly did not disgrace themselves.
Discipline was not up to standard, but the second-half yellow shown to Jacques Momberg was harsh.
Reinach received a yellow earlier in the match, so both teams played 10 minutes with 14 men.
After the siren sounded the Pumas were attacking on the Sharks line. The forwards kept recycling possession and replacement fly half, Justin van Staden, dropped into the pocket. The attempted drop was charged down. Had he received the ball a split second earlier the Pumas could have won. Had the forwards kept possession and milked a penalty, the Steval Pumas would have won.
The scoreboard was a fair reflection of the game, the Cell C Sharks were one point better.
Coach MJ Mentz was not satisfied with the team’s performance. “Unforced errors again and not making the right decisions at the right time. We could not close the game down. We had our opportunities but did not take them. We will be working hard on set pieces this week and must sort giving away penalties at critical moments,” he said.
A few players have minor niggles but the only serious injury concerns are JC Roos and JW Bell. Both will be assessed by the medical staff before a decision will be made on their availabilty for the next match.
The Steval Pumas need to keep their discipline against Griquas on Saturday. If they continue with the positive rugby they produced against the Sharks, the Kimberley battle should be a thriller.
In the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, the away match against ORC Griquas is one of the the toughest of the season. The character that the Pumas built on Saturday at Growthpoint Kings Park, when they lost such a hard-fought, close game, might just be the X-factor that pushes them to sink Griquas.
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).
