Undefeated Griquas lie in wait for Pumas in Kimberley
The top two teams on the SA Cup log will play in the final at 12:30 on Saturday May 25.
The inaugural SA Cup final will be contested between the Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas at Suzuki Park in Kimberley at 12:30 on Saturday.
The Airlink Pumas secured their place in the final courtesy of their 43-14 win over the NovaVit Griffons at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday.
The Griquas maintained their unbeaten SA Cup season with a 39-17 victory against the Toyota Cheetahs at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein, also on Friday.
On Friday night against the Griffons, the Pumas were certainly not the well-drilled outfit they have been since their SA Cup campaign started on March 22. Despite a scoreline that might suggest otherwise, the Mpumalanga outfit battled to stamp their authority on their opponents.
They were rusty in the set pieces and made too many unforced errors.
The Griffons came to Mbombela to prove a point and gave the Pumas a tough time for much of the 80 minutes.
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The Pumas led 17-7 at half-time and the final score of 43-14 flattered the home side somewhat.
The Lowvelders scored five tries, a penalty try, four conversions and a penalty goal, while the Northern Free Staters replied with two converted tries. Hooker Darnell Osuagwu dotted down twice for the Pumas, while fly half Clinton Swart slotted three conversions and a penalty goal.
Eighth man Ludio Williams and left wing Randy Fillies were the Griffons’ try scorers, with fly half Danrich Visagie succeeding with both conversions.
The Griquas topped the log with 45 points, the maximum that could possibly be attained in a season, earning the right to host the final.
The Pumas finished second on the log with 41 points.
The Suzuki Griquas will be difficult to beat at home. They have been the best and most consistent team of the round-robin stage of the SA Cup.
The Northern Cape team scored 577 points in nine matches, an average of 64 points per match. They scored 85 tries, 15 more than the Pumas.
The Pumas do, however, have the better defensive record over nine games – conceding 11 tries to the Griquas’ 20.
