DHL Western Province were looking to be well on their way to their first win of the season; however, the Airlink Pumas scored four unanswered tries in the second half to secure a bonus point 39-13 win, keeping their Carling Currie Cup playoff hopes alive.
It took the WP just thirty-seven seconds to score the first points of the match. A Pumas’ mistake from the kick-off led to Connor Evans running a great line next to a maul to burst over the tryline. Smith converted to secure a 07-00 lead for the hosts.
Following twenty minutes of WP dominance, Kyle Smith converted a penalty to extend WP’s lead to 10-00.
In a match that struggled to get going, the Pumas’ Andre Fouche peeled off the back of a driving maul to score the Pumas' first try. Clinton Swart converted the try to cut WP’s lead to 10-07, which was the halftime score.
Clinton Swart converted a penalty to level the scores after just two minutes of play in the second half. Four minutes later, Tiaan de Klerk scored off the back of a lineout-maul to extend the Pumas' lead 15-10 after just six minutes of play in the second half.
Four minutes later, Sango Xamlashe controlled a chicken-wing pass from Clinton Swart to crash over. Swart added the extra two points, extending the Pumas' lead to 22-10 with thirty minutes still to play in the second half.
After fifteen minutes of play in the second half, Kyle Smith converted a penalty. Clinton Swart replied after a further ten minutes of play to restore the Pumas' lead to twelfe points.
The Pumas continued to add pressure with brilliant attacks, and eventually Darren Adonis collected a grubber by Sango Xamlashe to score the Pumas’ bonus-point try. Swart converted to extend the Pumas' lead to 32-13 after thirty minutes of play in the second half.
The Pumas continued their dominance, and Junior Banda bulldozed his way over the WP tryline to extend the Pumas’ lead to 39-13, which was also the final score.
Teams
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 8 Louw Nel (c), 7 Connor Evans, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Riley Norton, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Deon Fourie, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Ronald Brown, 23 Brendan Venter.
Airlink Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Ludi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janke. Replacements: 16 Darnelle Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Tiaan Pretorius.