The Airlink Pumas secured a 45-26 win against the NovaVit Griffons, securing the fifth place on the Currie Cup log, level to the Toyota Cheetahs who are placed fourth due to a better points difference.
The Griffons dominated the early exchanges and deservedly took the lead hooker Willem van der Hever and flanker Thato Mavundla bulldozed their way over the Pumas tryline after just fifteen minutes of play to lead 12-00.
On the back of nine conceded penalties by the Griffons, the Pumas build pressure on the tryline of the hosts. The Pumas scored tries by captain Eduan Swart, and prop Deward Maritz gave the Pumas a 14-12 lead going into the second half.
The Pumas started the second half like a house on fire as flyhalf Danrich Visagie scored their third try. The Pumas got their hands on more quality ball against a thirteen-man Griffons. Tino Swanepoel cut past several defenders to score the bonus-point try for the visitors, extending the Pumas' lead to 28-12 with twenty-eight minutes still to play in the second half.
With sixteen minutes to play, David Brits scored a try off a movement that he started in the Pumas' own twenty-two to extend the Pumas lead to 37-12.
With the match opening up Kyle Syster stepped his way past several Pumas defenders to score the Griffons' second try of the match to which the Pumas replied with a try from scrumhalf Ross Braude from the back of a maul to extend the Pumas lead to 40-19.
With five minutes to go the Pumas were in complete control when they scored their sixth try off the back of a maul by hooker Llewellyn Classen. However, the Griffons' Simon Westraad scored the final points of the match, securing the Griffons' bonus point with a try.
Scorers:
NovaVit Griffons: Tries: Willem van der Hever, Thato Mavundla, Kyle Syster, Simon Westraad. Conversions: Qamani Kota (2), Duan Pretorius.
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Eduan Swart, Deward Maritz, Danrich Visagie, Tino Swanepoel, Ross Braude, Llewellyn Classen. Conversions: Clinton Swart (4).
Teams:
NovaVit Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Qamani Kota, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Dewald Human, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Matthew Gray, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Willem van der Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs. Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Moango Ngundue, 19 Wikus Niewenhuis, 20 Rian Olivier, 21 Mingo Piti, 22 Keegan Schaefer, 23 Gilroy Philander.
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Dewald Maritz, 2 Eduan Swart (c), 1 Ettiene Janekez. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Phiko Sobahle.