Pumas execute game plan perfectly to lift cup

The Steval Pumas won their third consecutive away knockout match to win the 2015 Vodacom Cup 24-7 at Newlands this afternoon. The Pumas won their first Vodacom Cup and defeated the 2014, 2013 and 2012 champions in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

The Pumas dominated to match with well-executed, intelligent rugby. They showed intense passion and determination and were in control of their destiny for the entire 80 minutes.

WP simply had no answer to the level of rugby produced by the visitors. Everything the Pumas did on the field they did faster and better than Western Province.

In the second half when Western Province tried to get back into the game, the Pumas countered by wining turnover ball and forcing their opponents into errors. JC Roos also contributed with his brilliant tactical kicking.

After a scrappy first few minutes the Pumas stamped their authority on the game. Most of the first 20 minutes was played in the Province half.

Marnus Schoeman, who had a fantastic game claimed to first try when the Pumas mauled over.

Rudi Mathee put his team further in the lead and finished off a great team try. The Pumas won turnover ball in the Province half, Renier van Rooyen and JC Roos broke the defensive line and Mathee finished the move. Khwezi Mona also scored from a maul in the final ten minutes of the half. Two JC Roos conversions gave the Steval Pumas a 19-0 half time lead.

The Pumas dominated totally in the 40 minutes. Western Province seemed shell-shocked by the dominant display by the boys from Mpumalanga.

Province came out snorting in the second half. It was evident in the first ten minutes of the half that the Pumas were up for the challenge. They defended superbly, turned over possession and used the centimetre-perfect tactical kicking of Roos to keep the Province boys on the back foot.

The character of the Pumas was tested after Western Province were awarded a penalty try due to the visitors collapsing the scrum on the try line. With 12 points separating the teams Marnus Schoeman was singled out for the transgression and received a yellow card. The 14-man Pumas did not budge. Defensive lines were kept, players kept their cool and the home team were frustrated into errors.

Western Province did lift their game in the second half but the Pumas were always a gear higher.

The visitors were solid in the scrums and brilliant in the lineouts, competing almost every Province lineout.

Schoeman returned to the field to claim another try in the 80^th minute of the match.

Rudi Mathee was the man of the match.