Pumas lift their game under pressure to defeat Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium
The Mpumalanga team outclassed the Free Staters in the last 20 minutes of the match.
The Airlink Pumas defeated the Toyota Cheetahs 46-38 in a thrilling SA Cup match at Mbombela Stadium on Friday night, March 21.
It was a ding-dong battle for the 80 minutes and the Pumas’ ability to handle the pressure in the final 20 minutes of the game earned them the victory.
The hosts held a slender 26-24 lead at half-time, but it was a different story in the second half.
The first 40 minutes was a thrilling affair, with the Free Staters opening the score through Neels Volschenk following a line-out maul, which was followed shortly by an almost identical try for the Pumas when Ntsika Fisanti was driven over. The visitors added another converted try through Carl Wegner, and a Cohen Jasper penalty goal.
But the hosts then started to hit their straps during which time they managed three more tries through Clinton Swart, Wian van Niekerk and Darren Adonis, with Swart adding the extras.
ALSO READ: Danie Rossouw Rugby Week set to kick off
Ali Mgijima went over for the Cheetahs’ third converted try of the half, which gave the hosts a two-point half-time lead.
The visitors started the second half very well with tries by Louis van der Westhuizen and then Michael Annies.
However, after that the home side took control as they responded with three tries, two by Jay-Cee Nel and another by Ross Braude, to hand the Airlink Pumas a comfortable victory.
The log-leading trio of Suzuki Griquas, Airlink Pumas and NovaVit Griffons maintained their unbeaten run with good victories in the third round of the SA Cup, while the Valke and Eastern Province were in good form and the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and Toyota Cheetahs lost further ground on the top four.
After three rounds, the defending champions, Suzuki Griquas, as well as the Airlink Pumas and NovaVit Griffons are still unbeaten on 15 points. The holders have a better points’ difference, meaning they are placed first and followed by the men from Mpumalanga in second and the team from Welkom in third.
The Airlink Pumas will face the Valke at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park at 15:00 on Saturday, March 29.
