Pumas hopeful for a spot in play-offs
The Steval Pumas squandered a healthy 28-10 lead in the last fixture at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday to forfeit a possible semi-final spot in this season's Currie Cup competition.
The Tafel Lager Griquas narrowly won the match 38-35, but remain on the foot of a congested Currie Cup log.
“It was a disappointing second half. We should have taken the three points. We played the ball side-to-side and we knew Griquas would go for the intercepts. We forced the ball impatiently. Consistency throughout the game was an issue. We’ve only got ourselves to blame. It is important that we focus on the Bulls game to end the season on a high note,” said coach Brent Janse van Rensburg.
It was the proverbial match of two halves, with the Pumas controlling the first stanza during which they scored a bonus point try, with number eight Willie Engelbrecht particularly impressive.
The shoe was on the peacock blues’ foot in the second half, with their impressive centre and Griquas player of the year, Tertius Kruger leading the fightback with a pair of tries of his own.
Kruger also started the Griquas fightback in the second half, followed by an intercept try by the winger Kyle Steyn which signalled the beginning of the end for the home side.
It did not help matters for the home side that their advantage in the scrums was neutralised with uncontested scrums.
It was Griquas’ turn to score four tries in the second 40 which included Kruger’s final nail in the Pumas’ coffin.
The Pumas will face the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Friday at 19:00 at Loftus Versfeld.
