Pumas still in with a chance of semi-final spot after victory over Griffons

The Airlink Pumas’ hopes of qualifying for a third consecutive 2024 Carling Currie Cup semi-final are hanging on a thread, despite a 45-26 victory over the NovaVit Griffons in Welkom on Sunday, August 25.

The Pumas got off to a shocking start at the Down Touch Investments Stadium. Playing into a blistering wind on a hard, dusty pitch, the visitors made a range of unforced errors and conceded penalties to hand the home side the initiative and possession, which they grabbed with both hands.

The Griffons did not take long to score two tries by Willem van den Heever and Thato Mavundla, and a conversion by Andrew Kota for a 12-0 lead. With the Pumas looking lost at sea, it seemed an upset might be on the cards.

It took until the 28th minute for the Pumas to score. Mavundla was yellow-carded and the resulting tap penalty saw Dewald Maritz barging over. Clinton Swart converted.

Eduan Swart then scored from a driving maul and Clinton’s conversion gave the Pumas a 14-12 half-time lead.

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The Pumas were better value for money in the second half. They adapted to the conditions and with the wind behind their backs, started pressuring the Griffons.

The Pumas’ dominance changed the status quo of the match with the Griffons’ discipline letting them down as the visitors upped their game and neutralised their opponents’ first-half dominance.

The Mbombela team scored within 30 seconds of the restart with Danrich Visagie going over in the right corner.

The Griffons’s Duan Pretorius received a yellow card and shortly afterwards, teammate Calla Pienaar was also yellow-carded, and the team were down to 13 players.

After initially battling to take advantage of their numerical advantage, Tino Swanepoel scored for the Pumas.

David Brits scored next for the Pumas, before the Griffons got one back through Kyle Cyster.

In the last 10 minutes, the Pumas dotted down two more times, with Ross Braude and Llewellyn Classen claiming the tries.

Swart added three conversions in the second half.

A try in the last minute of the match by Simon Westraadt converted by Duan Pretorius was enjoyed by the home fans, but was too little, too late for the Griffons.

With two rounds of the league stage of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup to be played, the Airlink Pumas will have to rely on other results going the way to claim a place in the semis. It is mathematically possible for the Pumas to finish third or fourth, but the key to their fate lies in this coming weekend and hinges on two matches.

The Free Staters and Mpumalangans both have 24 log points. The Cheetahs have a superior points difference of 81 and hold fourth place on the log, with the Pumas in fifth.

The Pumas will face DHL Western Province in Stellenbosch on Sunday, September 1. The Cheetahs will play the Suzuki Griquas in Kimberley 48 hours earlier, Friday, August 30.

There are various permutations for the Pumas and their semi-final hopes this weekend, but simply put they need to ensure they beat Western Province.

This will ensure the Pumas are still in contention for the semis, pending the match against the Cheetahs next weekend. If the Pumas can ensure they fall no more than one point behind the Cheetahs, they will have a chance of leapfrogging them next week.