Pumas to take on Leopards at Nelspruit Rugby Club after thrashing Bulldogs
In the curtain-raiser Nelspruit Rugby Club will play against Noordlikes Rugby Club.
The Airlink Pumas will play their SA Cup match against the Leopards at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday. The Pumas destroyed the Border Bulldogs 56-0 in East London on Saturday April 20.
The Bulldogs were no match for the much-changed Pumas team.
Most of the players who had been selected for the first four matches were given a rest. Considering that the SA Cup league matches are played over nine consecutive weekends and the business end of the competition lies ahead with four rounds to be played, the break for the first-choice players will hold the Pumas in good stead.
The men from Mpumalanga were already 28-0 in the lead when the two sides went off for the half-time break. Fly half Gene Willemse steered all six of his conversions through the uprights, while his kicking replacement Diego Swartz also added two conversions.
Replacement hooker Darnell Osuagwu continued his good scoring form by dotting down two of their eight tries. The Suzuki Griquas remain top of the log with 25 points. The Pumas are second, also with 25 points, but with a smaller points difference.
The NovaVit Griffons are third on the log with 20 points.
Looking at the five rounds of the SA Cup that have been played, it is likely that the Pumas will face the Griquas in the final on either May 23 or 24. The question as to which team will host the final will probably be decided on May 3, when the Griquas host the Pumas in Kimberley.
The Airlink Pumas will continue their tradition of playing at least one match a season at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday.
Their opponents will be the Leopards, who are seventh on the log with 10 points.
With the Pumas scoring 44 tries to the Leopards’ 17, and conceding three to the Leopards’ 38 in the competition to date, the Pumas should claim a comfortable victory.
The Mpumalanga lads will want to increase their points difference as much as possible. In the unlikely event of a draw against Griquas on the first weekend of May and the log points being shared, points difference will decide which team hosts the final.
It will be a festival of rugby at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday. In the curtain-raiser at 12:00, Nelspruit Rugby Club will play against Noordelikes Rugby Club from Polokwane. The Pumas’ SA Cup match will kick off at 15:00.
Tickets cost R50 per person, or fans can book a stand for R1 500 in the famous “bakkie and braai” sections on the north, east and south perimeters of the field.
A stand booking will include 10 match tickets. To book a stand or for any other information on entries to the matchday, phone Hanlie on 082 856 8525. A variety of freshly made food and beverages will be on sale.
The points scorers for the Pumas against the Bulldogs were:
Tries: Darnell Osuagwu (2), Jan-Henning Campher, Giovan Snyman, Gene Willemse, Zeilinga Strydom, De-An Ackermann and Andrew Kota. Conversions: Gene Willemse (6) and Diego Swartz (2).
