Carling Currie Cup action resumed today after a break of two weeks with the first match between hosts Tafel Lager Griquas and Airlink Pumas were played in Kimberley. The host secured their first win of the 2022 Carling Currie Cup against an ill-disciplined Airlink Pumas side with 41-20.
The Pumas had the stronger start of the two teams and with their scrum dominating everybody expected them to establish an early lead. Griquas came back strongly in the second quarter on the back of a powerful maul close to the visitors tryline. Griquas deservedly in the lead at this stage with 21-13.
Tafel Lager Griquas were happy in the second half to convert penalties that resulted from pressure on the ill-disciplined Pumas that struggled to absorb the pressure from the hosts. Five yellow cards definitely not helpful to the Pumas efforts.
02:20 Zander du Plessis converted a penalty for the Griquas. Griquas attacked from the word kick-off to draw first blood. (03-00)
05:15 Pumas hooker Corne Fourie scored the Pumas first try to put their first points on the board. A swift reply from the Pumas from the kick-off. (05-03)
10:02 Zander du Plessis converted his second penalty for Griquas. (06-05)
19:09 Tinus de Beer converted a penalty for the Pumas. The Pumas scrum is dominating the host earning them several penalties. (06-08)
20:00 The first quarter was a stop-start affair while both sides fought to dominate. The Pumas scrum started to take control during the latter part of the first quarter and should give them the edge they wanted for the rest of the match.
26:04 Griquas were awarded a penalty try after the Pumas illegally collapsed a driving maul. The penalty was due to a big scrum from the hosts. (13-08)
26:04 Daniel Maartens (Pumas) was shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul that led to the penalty try.
28:18 Jade Stighling scored the Pumas first try after a patient build-up from the kick-off (13-13)
36:16 Zander du Plessis converted his third penalty for Griquas. (16-13)
39:15 Ignatius Prinsloo (Pumas) was shown his side's second yellow card for illegally stopping the Griquas' maul.
39:24 Alandre van Rooyen scored Griquas' second try of the match from the back of a 5m lineout-maul. (21-13)
40:00 The Pumas had the stronger start of the two teams and with their scrum dominating everybody expected them to establish an early lead. Griquas came back strongly in the second quarter on the back of a powerful maul close to the visitors tryline. Griquas deservedly in the lead at this stage with 21-13.
43:56: Zander du Plessis converted his fourth penalty for Griquas after the Pumas scrum was penalised. (24-13)
50:28 Zander du Plessis converted his fifth penalty for Griquas. (27-13)
56:17 Simon Raw scored the Pumas' third try after a great maul from a lineout ten meters from the hosts try line. (27-20)
59:20 Brandon Valentyne (Pumas) was sent off with a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
59:54 Zander du Plessis converted his sixth penalty for Griquas. (30-20)
60:00 The hosts controlled the game for most of the third quarter however the three yellow cards shown to Pumas players did make it easy for Griquas. Griquas at this stage happy to kick for possession followed by pressure from great defence that ultimately led to convertible penalties.
65:06 Zander du Plessis converted his seventh penalty for Griquas. (33-20)
66:58 Munier Hartzenberg scored the hosts third try after collecting a perfect kick from flyhalf Boshoff in the Pumas' in-goal area. (38-20)
69:48 Zander du Plessis slotted a sixty-odd meter penalty for the hosts. (41-20)
76:46 Ali Mgijima (Pumas) was shown a yellow card.
80:13 Daniel Maartens (Pumas) was shown his second yellow card that automatically was turned into a red card.
Scorers:
Tafel Lager Griquas: Tries: Penalty Try, Ignatius Prinsloo, Munier Hartzenberg. Penalties: Zander du Plessis (8).
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Corne Fourie, Jade Stighling, Simon Raw. Conversion: Eddie Fouche. Penalty: Tinus de Beer.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15. Rynhardt Jonker, 14. Munier Hartzenberg, 13. Christopher Hollis, 12. Zander du Plessis, 11. Luther Obi, 10. Theo Boshoff, 9. Reegan Oranje, 8. Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7. Siba Qoma, 6. Niel Otto, 5. Derik Pretorius, 4. Mzwanele Zito, 3. Janu Botha, 2. Alandre van Rooyen, 1. Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16. Janco Uys, 17. Kudzwai Dube, 18. Justin Forwood, 19. Johan Retief, 20. Michael Amiras, 21. Hanru Sirgel, 22. Johan Mulder, 23. Sango Xamlashe.
Airlink Pumas: 15. Devon Williams, 14. Tapiwa Mafura, 13. Sebastian de Klerk, 12. Ali Mgijima, 11. Jade Stighling, 10. Thinus de Beer, 9. Lucky Dlepu, 8. Kwanda Dimaza, 7. Phumzile Maqondwana (c), 6. Daniel Maartens, 5. Darrien Landsberg, 4. Malembe Mpofu, 3. Ignatius Prinsloo, 2. Corne Fourie, 1. Ruan Kramer. Replacements: 16. Llewellyn Classen, 17. Dewald Maritz, 18. Simon Raw, 19. Brandon Valentyne, 20. Khwezi Mafu, 21. Giovan Snyman, 22. Eddie Fouche, 23. Alwayno Vidagie.