Vodacom Bulls started the match playing a brutal forward-orientated gameplan which was met by a physical defence by the Pumas. The Vodacom Bulls scored two tries in the first half to lead 14-09 at the halftime break. The hosts did not give up and only a second try by David Kriel sealed the 24-17 win for the Vodacom Bulls with eight minutes to go.
Tinus de Beer opened the scoring with two early penalties for the Pumas to lead 06-00.
The Vodacom Bulls dominated the collisions during the first twenty minutes, however, several mistakes on the attack cost them momentum. The Vodacom Bulls launched wave after wave of attacks until the space out wide opened up for David Kriel to stroll over for the Vodacom Bulls' first try, giving them a 07-06 lead after twenty minutes of play.
It took the Vodacom Bulls another ten minutes to score their second try. The Airlink Pumas absorbed the pressure and physicality of the Vodacom Bulls, however, following a 5m lineout the Vodacom Bulls mercilessly attacked until the space opened out wide for Johan Grobbelaar to score their second try to lead 14-06.
A converted penalty by Tinus de Beer with the time already up reduced the Vodacom Bulls' lead to 14-09 going into the second half.
No points were scored, until the fifteenth minute in the second half, after which the teams converted a penalty each with the Vodacom Bulls still leading 17-12.
The Airlink Pumas started an attack from within their half, from which Devon Williams scored an exceptional individual try breaking through several tackles to level the scores with sixteen minutes left to play in the second half.
The Vodacom Bulls started to attack from the resulting kickoff and eventually, David Kriel scored his second try in the corner following a great pass by Keagan Johannes. The Vodacom Bulls led 24-17 with eight minutes to play.
The Airlink Pumas threw everything they had left in the tank at the Vodacom Bull during the final minutes of the match, however, they just could not score the much-needed points.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Conversions: Try: Devon Williams. Penalties: Tinus de Beer (4)
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: David Kriel (2), Johan Grobbelaar. Conversion: Johan Goosen (3). Penalty: Johan Goosen.
Teams:
Airlink Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Andrew Kota, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Franna Kleinhans, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (c), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Ettienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Franna Kleinhans, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Etienne Taljaard.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.