The Vodacom Bulls had to hang on for their lives when the Airlink Pumas scored four tries in ten minutes to reduce the Bulls' lead to 26-24 with thirty minutes to play. The Bulls added two tries in the final thirty minutes to secure a 40-24 bonus point win and remain unbeaten.
It was a helter-skelter start to the match with the ball spread wide at every opportunity. After seven minutes of madness, the Pumas made a mistake in their 22m which was quickly pounced on by Chris Smit, who strolled over the tryline for the Vodacom Bulls' first try.
Three minutes later, Sibongile Novuka added the Bulls' second try to extend their lead to 12-03. Novuka's try was quickly followed by a try from Joe van Zyl off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul.
Despite the Pumas getting their hands on some ball, the Bulls clinically forged forward and scored their bonus-point try when Joe van Zyl scored his second try from the back of a lineout-maul to extend their lead to 26-00 after twenty-five minutes of play in the first half.
The hosts spent the final minutes of the first half on the attack, and with time up on the clock, their patience on the attack was rewarded when captain Eduan Swart scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-mall. The Vodacom Bulls led 26-05 at the halftime break.
The Pumas started like a house on fire in the second half, patiently building the pressure on the Bulls' defence. With three minutes played in the second half, Ross Braude sent a long skip pass to Darren Adonis, who strolled over the Bulls tryline to cut the Bulls' lead with seven points.
Four minutes later, the Pumas were again on the attack, and it was again Braude with a great pass, putting Clinton Swart in a gap to score the Pumas third try. Three minutes later, Tino Swanepoel outsprints the Bulls defenders to score the hosts' bonus point try, to trail 24-26 with thirty minutes still to play in the second half.
The Bulls' reply was a long-distance team try with Devon Williams diving like a swallow to extend the Bulls' lead to 33-24. With fourteen minutes still to play, Chris Smith scored the Bulls' sixth try to extend their lead to 40-24, which was the final score.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Eduan Swart, Darren Adonis, Clinton Swart, Tino Swanepoel. Conversions: Clinton Swart (2).
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Chris Smit, Sibongile Novuka, Joe van Zyl (2), Devon Williams, Chris Smith. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (4), Jaco van der Walt.
Teams:
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Shane Kirkwood (c), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart (c), 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Darnell Usuagwu, 17 Deward Maritz, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Phiko Sobahle.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Nizaam Carr (c), 7 Merwe Olivier, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Jannes Kirsten, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Juan Else, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Khuthazani Mchunu, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Celimpilo Gumede, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Katlego Letebele.