The Phakisa Pumas led the Xerox Golden Lions 17-13 at half time. They went on to lose the Carling Black Label Currie Cup match 33-25 at Mbombela Stadium this afternoon..    

The home team were clinical in the first half. It took them just 90 seconds to score a try with Willie Engelbrecht going over and Ginter Smuts converting.

The Lions hit back when Jaco Visagie went over from a maul and Elton Jantjies converted.

A penalty by Jantjies and one by Tiaan Swanepoel gave the Lions a 13-7 lead.

Smuts nailed a penalty for the Pumas to narrow the deficit.

Simon Westraad scored jus before halftime, from a maul, and Smuts added two to give the home side the lead.

The Phakisa Pumas played with intensity for the 40 minutes. Their defence was excellent. Though both teams made errors it was the Pumas that fed off the Lions’  mistakes.

But the visitors came out fighting in the second half and again the Pumas lost a match by not matching their opponents in the second 40 minutes.