The Airlink Pumas secured a thrilling 33-31 Carling Currie Cup victory over the Vodacom Bulls XV on August 8 after a late missed conversion by the home team.

The Pumas initiated a first-quarter blitz with tries from Alfondso Isaacs, skipper Willie Engelbrecht and JJ Scheepers.

Indiscipline heavily plagued the home side, with Abongile Nonkontwana shown a red card in the 12th minute, followed by yellow cards for Siphosethu Mnebelele and Cephas van Biljon.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Bulls XV clawed back through a penalty try and a late first-half effort from Jonathan Eloff to trail 19-14 at the break.

Mnebelele, the Junior Springbok captain, scored early in the second half to briefly put the Bulls ahead 21-19, but the Pumas’ Jan-Henning Campher turned the tide, scoring two maul tries in quick succession.

Although the Bulls mounted a late rally with tries from Sandi Msengana and Hakeem Kunene, a missed conversion by Keagan Johannes in the 78th minute saw the visitors from Mpumalanga hold on for a narrow two-point win.

Pumas sit fourth on Currie Cup log

The Suzuki Griquas top the Currie Cup log with 16 points, with the Toyota Cheetahs second, also on 16, but with a smaller points difference.

The Fidelity ADT Lions are third on 12 points. The Pumas find themselves in fourth place, also on 12, but with an inferior points difference to the Lions. They are followed by the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, the DHL Stormers, the Hollywoodbets Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls.

Pumas face crucial remaining fixtures

The Pumas will have to win their remaining three round-robin matches, two against the present first- and second-placed teams, to qualify for the semi-finals. It is a tough ask. The Pumas have conceded 18 tries in four matches. Only the bottom-of-the-table Bulls have conceded more, 22.

The Pumas’ remaining fixtures are against the Stormers (home, August 15), the Griquas (away, August 21) and the Cheetahs (home, August 29).

Saturday’s match against the Stormers kicks off at 17:00 at Mbombela Stadium.