Pumas through to semis, Sharks await

They will host the Cell C Sharks XV in the semi-finals this Friday.

The Tafel Lager Griquas will host the Toyota Free State XV in Kimberley, to determine the other finalist of the SSRC.

Earll Douwrie dotted down for the visitors in the eighth minute of the encounter. Fiela Boshoff did not convert the try, which saw the Bulls lead 5-0.

An intercept try minutes later by left winger, Xolisa Guma, and Boshoff adding the necessary two points, gave the Bulls a 12-point lead.

“I thought that the players showed a lot of character coming back from 12-0. Willpower and resilience brought the game back which was really good. We did put ourselves under a lot of pressure. We need to get the basics right. I feel that if we executed the game plan more on the day in general we would have been able to put the Bulls away earlier in the game. But lessons were learned,” said head coach of the Pumas, Brent Janse van Rensburg.

The Pumas led by only one point going into half time, 20-19.

Smith widened the gap with a penalty kick early in the second half.

Captain Hennie Skorbinski was also sent to the sin bin in the 47th minute for a deliberate knock down.

The Bulls’ Tier Schoeman also had to watch from the sidelines due to a dangerous tackle. With only 10 minutes to go, reserve Frank Herne scored a five pointer, with Justin van Staden converting the try.

Douwrie scored a consolation try for his side to see the visitors losing the game by six points.

“We were not at our best. A lot of individual mistakes did put us under pressure. Although we did not play well, the result is a true reflection of the game. Each individual will have to be at his best in the playoffs and simple errors can change the outcome of the game. The Sharks do have a great side with experience, but I believe that we have enough to put this one away,” said director of rugby of the Pumas, Jimmy Stonehouse.

The Pumas lost 43-32 to the Lions in last year’s quarter-final at Emirates Airline Park.

The eventual winner will become the new champion, after the Toyota Free State XV knocked out defending champions, DHL Western Province, on Sunday with their 26-20 victory in the fourth quarter-final match of the weekend.

iCollege Pumas vs Cell C Sharks XV
Kick-off: 19:00
Gates open: 16:00
Ticket prices: R40 adults | R10 Children.

Photos: Hennie Homann / www.hhphotoxpress.co.za