Pumas deal second-half to defeat Bulls
The iCollege Pumas demolished the Vodacom Blue Bulls 36-18 at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday.
The home team took 50 minutes before they really started breathing fire in the SuperSport Challenge match. They shut the Blue Bulls out of the game in the final 30 minutes.
2018 Varsity Cup gold medal winner of Maties, Chris Smith, had a brilliant debut, scoring 21 points with the boot. Three of the five penalties he kicked were over 40 metres out and two conversions from close to the touchline. His tactical play was crisp and he read the play superbly.
Willie Engelbrecht was knocked out in a hard hit on an opponent late in the second half and was stretchered off the field. According to team manager, Marius van Rensburg, he will be out of action for at least two weeks. Both teams battled to shake off the off-season rust and the first half was a scrappy affair.
A poorly-contemplated quick line-out by the Pumas led to turn-over ball, with Bulls winger Xolisa Guma claiming the five-pointer.
iCollege Pumas wing, JP Lewis, finished off a textbook backline attack and Smith converted to take the score to 7-7.
The teams traded tries, and Smith and the Blue Bulls Francois Brummer’s each slotted two penalties for a 20-18 half-time score. A missed Earll Douwrie conversion was all that separated the sides. Ten minutes into the second half the Blue Bulls ran out of steam and the Pumas took control.
Five penalties and a conversion from the boot of Smith and a try by loose forward, Nardus van der Walt gave the Pumas 16 second-half points. The Blue Bulls were scoreless in the second 40 minutes.
Among the Pumas’ other outstanding performers were Devon Williams, Stefan Ungerer and Cameron Lindsay.
Hilton Lobberts put his body on the line when he came on as a substitute. He scrummed down on the blindside flank and made a huge impact in his time on the pitch. His reputation as a hard man left its impression on the ribcages of the young Blue Bulls players.
The Pumas will face the Golden Lions at Wits Stadium on Saturday at 13:00.
Scorers
iCollege Pumas
Tries: JP Lewis; Stefan Ungerer, Nardus van der Walt
Conversions: Chris Smith (2)
Penalties: Smith (5)
Vodacom Blue Bulls
Tries: Xoliswa Guma; Earll Douwrie
Conversions: Douwrie
Penalties: Douwrie (2)
Other results
EP Elephants 12 – Western Province 59
Boland Kavaliers 49 – Border Bulldogs 24
Welwitschias 7 – Valke 39
Leopards 21 – Griffons 47
Griquas 50 – Sharks 33.
