Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The Phakisa Pumas and Xerox Lions kicked off the action in Nelspruit with a great game. Although the Xerox Lions deserved the win (33-25) the Pumas could not be faulted on another brilliant effort.
The Xerox Lions disappointed as the Pumas bullied their Johannesburg visitors for most of the game. The Pumas in control of the first half with their second-half performance not good enough.
01:33 Pumas drew first blood when Willie Engelbrecht went over for his second try of the season. (07-00)
04:10 In a perfect response the Lions struck back from the kick-off. Jaco Visagie the man in control of the ball when the maul crossed the tryline of the Pumas.
The first ten minutes of the games were played at a hectic pace with both teams who were willing to let the ball do the talking. Surprisingly the Pumas "dominated" the early scrums and line-outs.
19:12 Tiaan Swanepoel converted a penalty for the Lions. The Lions decided to kick at the poles for the first time after several failed attempts to score a try from 5m line-outs. (07-10)
21:55 Tiaan Swanepoel converted his second penalty for the Lions. (07-13)
24:28 Ginter Smuts added three points for the Pumas (10-13)
37:38 Simon Westraadt scored the Pumas second try of the match to give the Pumas back the lead. (17-13)
The Pumas are at the break in control of the game. They played a direct game with Elton Jantjies being targeted at every opportunity. The Pumas in control in the scrums and line-outs. The Pumas deserved the lead (17-13) as they dominated the latter part of the first half.
43:10 Tiaan Swanepoel scored the Lions' second try of the match after some good play by the Lions from the kick-off. (17-20)
The momentum in the match slowly started to swing in favour of the Lions, however, the number of mistakes by the Lions was used by the Pumas to stay in the match.
52:54 A brilliant movement started by a turnover ball in the Lions own half ended in Tiaan Swanepoel scoring his second try of the match. (27-17)
58:02 Ginter Smuts converted his second penalty. (20-27)
64:20 Tiaan Swanepoel added another three points from the now dominant scrum of the Lions. (20-30)
66:44 Erich Cronje scored the Pumas third try after the Lions defence could not cope with the wave after wave attack from the Pumas. (25-30)
78:44 Tiaan Swanepoel sealed the victory for the Lions with his fourth penalty conversion. (25-33)
The Lions moved into the second spot on the Carling Currie Cup log as the have already their sights set on their last game against the Bulls on Wednesday 06 January.
Scorers:
Phakisa Pumas: Tries: Willie Engelbrecht, Simon Westraadt, Erich Cronje. Convertions: Ginter Smuts (2). Penalties: Ginter Smuts (2).
Xerox Lions: Tries: Jaco Visagie, Tiaan Swanepoel (2). Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3). Penalty: Tiaan Swanepoel (4).
Teams:
Phakisa Pumas – 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Darrien Landsberg, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Eduan Swart, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Tiaan Botes, 22 Alwayno Visagie, 23 Dewald Maritz.
Xerox Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Marnus Schoeman.