Pumas fall short by one point
The Steval Pumas came within a whisker of beating the Xerox Golden Lions for a third time at Emirates Airline Park this century when they went down by a single point, 28-29.
This Pumas arrived and nearly followed in the footsteps of the teams of 2004 and 2010 – the only Pumas to be victorious in a Currie Cup game in Johannesburg.
It was a proverbial tit-for-tat game with the teams taking turns to score and the Lions could never rest on their laurels.
Springbok Ryan Kankowski opened the scoring for the Lions, but the Pumas immediately hit back and at one stage led 14-10. The Lions, however, controlled the scoring in the rest of the first half, leading 22-14 at the break.
The Pumas soon scored after the break which was the start of the see-saw battle. The score changed to 22-21, 29-21 and finally 29-28.
The introduction of Chris Cloete at half-time made a huge difference, and the Lions forwards could not compete at the break-down.
Pumas scrumhalf, Stefan Ungerer, who scored one try after a quick tap, kept the Lions defence honest and his tactical kicking was pin-point.
The Pumas will face the Currie Cup log-leaders, the Cell C Sharks, Friday evening at Mbombela Stadium. Kick-off: 17:00.
