The Airlink Pumas have found their groove once more, rebounding in fine style from their heavy loss to the Fidelity ADT Lions by overpowering the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV.
There was a certain degree of concern doing the rounds among fans of the Pumas after the second round of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup. Having kicked off the campaign with a top win over the Suzuki Griquas, the hopes were high that the Pumas would have yet another successful Currie Cup season.
However, a second-round drubbing at the hands of the Lions seemed to cast a serious shadow of doubt over hopes for reaching a third successive semi-final in the country’s premier rugby competition. The men from the Lowveld travelled down to the coast last week, needing to rally together and put together a statement performance against the men from Durban if they were to get things back on track again.
The game kicked off at Kings Park at 19:00 on Friday July 19 and the Pumas were immediately on the hunt for points. The Lowvelders showed their claws and roared to a 24-0 lead in the first half, with the coastal outfit unable to offer up any answers for the Pumas’ fine attacking display.
Desperate to turn it around in the second stanza and try and attain their first win of the competition thus far, the Sharks battled back with 21 second-half points. But an additional Pumas try ensured that the Sharks’ efforts were futile.
The Airlinks Pumas thus emerged the 31-21 victors, securing the statement win they needed to help them get things back on track.
Clinton Swart, the Pumas’ usual fly half, played at inside centre against the Sharks and was arguably the pick of their players as he added two conversions to his try, one of five scored by the visiting team.
The bonus point victory ensured that the Pumas climbed up into fourth place with the Lions on top, the Vodacom Blue Bulls second and the Toyota Cheetahs third. The Lions and Bulls remain the only unbeaten sides in the competition at this stage.
The Pumas will take on the Griquas once again this weekend, welcoming the Northern Cape outfit to Mbombela Stadium on Sunday July 28 at 14:00.
Points scorers for the Airlink Pumas:
Tries: Clinton Swart, Eddie Swart, Darren Adonis, Phiko Sobahle, Ntsika Fisanti.
Conversions: Clinton Swart (2), Danrich Visagie.
