Photo Credit: Facebook Griquas Rugby
Tafel Lager Griquas hosted the Phakisa Pumas in a Round two match of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked Series. After a very physical battle, it was the visiting Pumas who deservedly won 27-21 in Kimberley.
The Pumas weathered the initial onslaught by the Griquas and clawed their way back into the game on the back of a powerful scrum. The Griquas lead 3-0 after an early penalty in the first quarter. A converted try by the Pumas after their forwards dominated in the red zone of Griquas gave the Pumas a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
During the second quarter, it was evident that the heat in Kimberley was taking its toll on the players, with both teams opting to kick for territory a lot more than in the first quarter. A penalty each had the Pumas still in the lead with 10-6 just before the half-time break. The last five minutes of the first half had more action than the rest of the second quarter. The Pumas was the first to score a try followed by the Griquas first try of the match after a maul from a line-out, with time regular already time finished. The first half ended with the Pumas in the lead with 17-11 in an even match.
As the second half continued the Pumas slowly started to take control of the match, helped on by the Griquas' struggle in line-outs and scrums as well as their ill-discipline. However, the Griquas' substitutions provided the spark needed just before the end of the third quarter. A second try from a maul by the Griquas narrowed the gap to 18-20 with 20 minutes to go.
Ten minutes of aimless rugby ended in a try by Devon Williams after some great interplay between the Pumas' backs which saw the Pumas extend their lead to 27-18. A decision by Griquas captain to take the three points misfired as the defence of the Pumas kept the Griquas from scoring that vital converted try in the last minutes of the match. The Pumas earned their first win of the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked series with 27-21.
Scorers:
Tafel Laker Griquas: Tries: Victor Sekekete, Adre Smith. Conversion: George Whitehead. Penalties: George Whitehead (3)
Pumas: Tries: Ginter Smuts, Neil Maritz, Devon Williams. Conversions: Eddie Fouche (3). Penalties: Eddie Fouche (2).
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 André Swarts, 11 James Verity-Amm, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Carl Els, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): Alandre van Rooyen, Andrew Beerwinkel, Madot Mabokela, Adre Smith, Zandre Jordaan, Gideon van der Merwe, Ashon Davids, Berton Klaasen, Mzwanele Zito, Ewan Coetzee, Bjorn Basson.
Phakisa Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Darrien Landsburg, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Heath Backhouse, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Neil Marais, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Dewald Maritz.