The Airlink Pumas secured a nine-try to the four for the Suzuki Griquas (66-26) win at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was evident from the start of the match that the crowds would be "entertained" with Gqriuas' Cameron Hufke scoring a try after just two minutes of play. The Pumas answered with two storming tries by lock Dean Slabbert. With ten minutes played, Griquas scrumhalf Thomas Bursey levelled the scores 14-14 when he scored a "cheeky" try from behind a collapsed ruck.
The teams returned to a more structured gameplan with Pumas just dominating a bit. The Pumas set up camp in the Griquas' red zone and following wave after wave of attacks Clinton Swart bulldozed his way over the tryline to reclaim a 21-14 lead with ten minutes still to play in the first half.
The Pumas continued their pressure on the tryline of Griquas and winger
Phiko Sobahle scored the Pumas' bonus point try with just one minute of play left on the clock. The Pumas led 28-14 at the halftime break.
The Pumas added ten points to their lead with a try by Darren Adonis and a converted penalty by Clinton Swart before Griquas winger Sako Makata scored a long-distance try to decrease the Pumas' lead to 38-21 and twenty-five minutes to play in the second half.
Stefan Coetzee, Clinton Swart and Darren Adonis scored tries for the Pumas to extend their lead to 59-26 before replacement Conner Mahoney scored in the corner for the Griquas with eight minutes to play. However, the Pumas had the final say with winger Lundi Msenge scoring their ninth try of the match to win 66-26.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Deon Slabbert (2), Clinton Swart (2), Phiko Sobahle, Darren Adonis (2), Stefan Coetzee, Lundi Msenge. Conversions: Clinton Swart (9). Penalty: Clinton Swart
Suzuki Griquas: Tries: Cameron Hufke, Thomas Bursey, Sako Makata, Conner Mahoney. Conversions: Zinedine Robinson.
Teams:
Airlink Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Phiko Sobahle, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart (c), 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Lundi Msenge.
Suzuki Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Zinedine Robinson, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Stephan Smit (c), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Leon Lyons. Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Njabulo Gumede, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Gusdtav Erlank, 22 Bobby Alexander, 23 C Mahoney.