After seven rounds of the 2025 SA Cup, the Airlink Pumas remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.

Both the Pumas and the Suzuki Griquas were undefeated going into the all-important SA Cup match at Mbombela Stadium on Friday night, April 25. The home team pulled off a close-fought 39-34 win to top the standings for the first time this season.

This win, should they win their semi-final, puts the Pumas closer to hosting the final at Mbombela Stadium.
The Kimberley outfit won last year’s league encounter between the sides and were also victorious in the inaugural final in 2024.

The team from Mpumalanga took sweet revenge when they kicked on from their 25-19 half-time advantage and managed to hold on at the end. The defending champions had two clear chances to steal the game in the dying moments, but twice squandered great opportunities.

The Pumas had to dig deep to get the better of the Griquas. Both teams scored five tries.

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The Pumas had the better of the first half and their gamble of playing high-risk rugby, in the hope of high reward, paid off. Excellent decision-making and creative play were a scenario the Griquas had not yet faced this season and the Pumas were unfortunate not to have a bigger lead at half-time.

The Griquas are not a team to be bullied and they came out snorting in the second half. The Pumas’ first-half domination disappeared as the away team upped the physicality of their play and started to not just match the Pumas at their own game, but to put the home team on the back foot, something they were also not used to this season.

But when it counted, the Pumas raised their game to a higher level.

Captain Clinton Swart led by example and the Pumas stood up to be counted. This was key in the match as the Griquas, under pressure, committed unforced errors when they were in scoring positions.

It did not always look spectacular from the stands, but the grit the Pumas showed in the last 20 minutes of the match, was the determining factor in the win.

Sango Xamlashe and Lundi Msenge each bagged two tries for the Pumas, while the reliable boot of ace goalkicker, Swart, proved crucial as he slotted four conversions and two penalty goals – in addition to his try – taking his personal tally to 19 points.

Cameron Hufkie had a good game for the Griquas at fullback, and he led the charge with two tries. George Whitehead proved his worth with one try, three conversions and a penalty goal to keep the visitors in contention throughout.

The Pumas top the SA Cup log on 35 points. The Griquas are second on 32, thanks to the two bonus points they earned on Friday night.

The Toyota Cheetahs are third on 27 points. But it is the teams in fourth, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (25), and fifth, the NovaVit Griffons (25) that the Pumas will face in their last two matches.

Both matches are away and the SA Cup has reached its business end. Boland have been excellent on defence this season, and the Griffons’ home ground – the DownTouch Stadium in Welkom – is one of the most difficult grounds in South Africa to play an away match at.

The Pumas are closer to an undefeated, championship-winning SA Cup campaign, but are not there yet. They need to be at their best and not underestimate these two opponents.