Pumas fight to the final minute for victory
Morné Joubert scored the match defining try to give the Pumas the win
The ISG Pumas claimed the number one spot on the North Section log of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday afternoon.
It was a hard-fought win in a game that could have gone either way with ten minutes left on the clock.
The Pumas outscored the Griquas by five tries to four in a high-tempo match to win 37-28.
The Griquas drew first blood when winger Anthony Volmink broke through some poor defence to score. George Whitehead gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.
The Pumas soon hit back through a penalty from Chris Smith and a try from Reynier van Rooyen which Smith converted.
The Pumas led 17-7 after a Jeandre Rudolph try was converted by Smith.
The battle continued with Griquas’ Ederies Arendse weaving through poor tackling and Whitehead adding the two points.
A Smith penalty was followed by a try by wing, Morné Joubert which Smith converted for a 27-14 half time lead.
The ISG Pumas played high risk, high paced rugby in the first half and deserved the lead.
The Griquas came out firing in the second half, running anything and everything at the Pumas.
It was the home side’s hooker, Corniel Els who claimed a try off a maul and despite the missed conversion from the left touch line, with the 32-14 lead it seemed the Pumas were on track for victory.
The Griquas had other ideas and Enver Brand and Andre Swarts scored, both tries created from fast-paced running rugby. Whitehead’s boot took the score to 32-27 with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
The home side either had to score next or keep Griquas from scoring to win the match.
The ISG Pumas’ guts and determination came though and after multiple phases on attack in the Griquas 22, Joubert claimed his second try in the left corner.
The conversion from the touchline was not successful but it did not matter.
The siren sounded minutes later and the Pumas had won 37-28.
The ISG Pumas fought hard for this one.
They were excellent on the turnover ball and quick on the counter-attack.
Their set-pieces were brilliant and they scrummed particularly well in the second half.
The Tafel Lager Griquas came prepared for the battle and can hold their heads high after a brave effort.
It came down to the Pumas absorbing the pressure and making the most of their opportunities.
