Staff Reporter.
Airlink Pumas produced a strong second-half performance to power their way to a crucial 39-13 bonus-point win over DHL Western Province in their Currie Cup clash at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Veteran flyhalf Clinton Swart slotted two penalties and four conversions for a personal points haul of 14 on the night.
The home side started the match like a house on fire, with flanker Connor Evans crossing the whitewash within two minutes. Junior Springbok flyhalf Kyle Smith was successful with the conversion, as Province looked determined to claim their first win of the campaign.
Smith was successful with a penalty early in the second quarter as WP failed to capitalise on Pumas’ high error rate and their wealth of possession.
The Pumas however finally started getting into gear close to half time as replacement loose forward Andre Fouche crashed over from a rolling maul to get his team on the scoreboard.
Province turned to the sheds optimistic, holding on to a slender 10-7 lead.
But then the wheels then seemingly came off for the home side.
A Swart penalty and a try by lock Tiaan de Klerk within the first five minutes after the break, saw the Pumas take the lead for the first time in the game – a lead which they never surrendered from there.
Three more tries from centre Sango Xamlashe, winger Darren Adonis and replacement prop Junior Banda made sure Jimmy Stonehouse’s charges return to Mbombela with a full-house of points and a chance to fight for a playoff spot.
Meanwhile a 42-metre penalty six minutes after the hooter enabled the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV to edge out the Boland Kavaliers 33-31 in a thrilling Carling Currie Cup match played in front of a big and appreciative crowd at the Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday evening.
SA Rugby Mag information used in this report.