It was do-or-die time when the NNC Pumas took on DHL Western Province in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon.

In a match that yielded 12 tries, each team earned three points on the log following a 40-40 draw at Newlands in the 11th round of the Carling Currie Cup.

The Pumas gained one place on the log and are now in third position after a massive performance against a seasoned, visibly stronger WP team.

It was a dog fight in which WP drew first blood with a try by Edwill van der Merwe, converted by Tim Swiel, in the third minute of the match.

Eddie Fouché, the top scorer of the Currie Cup so far, added seven points to the scoreboard for the Pumas after a well-worked try by the team, and a two-point conversion.

Dan du Plessis answered with a beautiful try following a well-timed kick by Swiel, who put the cherry on the cake with a successful conversion.

Not long after, Seabelo Senatla found a massive gap in the Pumas’ defence and took the WP to 12-point lead.

This marked the start of the Pumas’ struggle to gain momentum in the first half, and whenever they did, WP’s rock solid defence stopped them in their tracks, often resulting in handling errors under pressure.

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But, by the 30th minute of the game, the momentum changed as WP took their foot off the pedal. The Pumas dominated territory, which they turned into a try for Simon Westraadt, converted by Fouché.

Shortly before half time, Sazi Sandi of WP bulldozed his way over the try line with Swiel converting, before the Pumas answered with a try by Daniel Maartens. Fouché missed his only kick of the match.

With the score now 26-19, the Pumas misread the ball from restart which resulted in another handling error and them being under pressure.

They, however, stood their ground and fought off an attack by WP.

An abrasive try by Senatla, in true Blitzbok style, followed with an easy conversion by Swiel, extending their lead to 14 points.

After a long absence, Marne Coetzee and Morgan Naude were brought onto the field 10 minutes into the half, and their presence could be felt immediately.

The WP scrum, which up to this point was stronger, was tamed, resulting in a turnover ball on their own try line and a try by Shane Kirkwood which Fouché converted.

Again seven points separated the two teams.

WP extended their lead to 14 points following a try by Tristan Leyds and another successful conversion by Swiel.

With seven minutes left on the clock, Erich Cronje, who has been a real asset to the Pumas this year, rounded off the Pumas’ unstoppable maul, with the convertion by Fouché.

In the most vital moment of the game, WP lost the ball from a line out and conceded a penalty off an attack from Eddie Swart.

Swart finished what he started with a try, converted by Fouché.

A counter-attack followed but the Pumas stood their ground and the WP conceded a penalty. With the time that had already run out, the Pumas decided to settle for a 40-40 draw and three points on the log.