NELSPRUIT – The Pumas downed the Lions 43-36 in Nelspruit on Sunday to prove that they will be one of the sides to beat in the Currie Cup this year.
It was first blood to the home side when flyhalf Justin van Staden nailed a fourth-minute penalty, but almost from the restart, Lions centre Stokkies Hanekom broke clean through from the halfway line and Shaun Reynolds had no problem with the conversion.
The Pumas bounced back with a try by hooker Mark Pretorius, converted by Van Staden.
In the 13th minute, Reynolds levelled the scored at 10-10 with a penalty, and then just a minute later he was on hand to take short pass near the Pumas line to dash over for a try that he converted to give his team a 17-10 lead.
The Pumas, though were never going to lie down and they scored a well-worked team try with flank Nardus van der Walt scoring out in the open after a good phase play. The conversion made it 17-17 just on 20 minutes.
And with seven minutes to the break, the Pumas avoided kicking penalties to the posts and former Sharks flank Francois Kleinhans scored from a quick tap penalty taken by his former teammate in Durban, Stefan Ungerer, converted by Van Staden, for what would be a useful 24-17 lead for the home side at the break.
The Pumas not only enjoyed a halftime lead, but would have been thrilled that they had dominance in the set-pieces.
The Lions appeared reinvigorated after the break, and two minutes of pressure from the kickoff saw fullback Bradley Thain than scramble over and Reynolds added the extra two points to again level the scores at 24-24.
Ten minutes into the half, there was a telling moment when referee Stuart Berry adjudged the Pumas wing Jerome Pretorius to have high-tackled a Lions player when his team were pressing on attack.
As the game headed into the third quarter, Ungerer took a quick tap penalty that eventually resulted in flyhalf Van Staden scoring near the uprights.
The Lions countered immediately when No 8 Ryan Kankowski threw a long pass out wide that resulted in a try by left wing Aphiwe Dyantyi.
The failed conversion did not matter when two minutes later fullback Ashlon Davids completed a try, again initiated by Kankowski, and it was 36-31 to the Lions.
The home side doubled their efforts and outside centre Hennie Skorbinski scored to level the scores at 36-36, and the conversion put them in front by two points with 15 minutes to go.
The Pumas then scored the try of the game when a kick-pass from Van Staden found Gerhard Smith on the goal-line.
Points-Scorers
Pumas 43 – Tries: Francois Kleinhans, Nardus van der Walt, Justin van Staden, Hennie Skorbinski, Gerhard Smith (2). Conversions: Van Staden (5). Penalty: Van Staden (1).
Golden Lions 36 – Tries: Shaun Reynolds, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Stokkies Hanekom, Ashlon Davids, Bradley Thain. Conversions: Reynolds (4). Penalty: Reynolds (1).
Other Results
Griquas 45 Blue Bulls 51, Free State Cheetahs 47 Sharks 12.