Staff Reporter.
The Pumas’ play-off hopes suffered a blow when they went down 17-23 to Western Province in a Currie Cup Round 11 clash in Nelspruit on Friday.
Both teams scored three tries in a scrappy match at the Mbombela Stadium.
The Cape side managed to gain only their second win in nine games in the campaign so far and this away win also ended their run of seven consecutive losses.
The win sees Western Province cut the gap on the Pumas to just seven points, but more influentially deals a blow to the home side’s playoff hopes. While fourth-placed Griquas do not play this weekend, the Kimberley-based side will know that their fate is in their own hands when they start their final three games of the season next weekend.
Western Province got off to a cracking start, opening up a 12-0 lead in the first 15 minutes through tries from scrumhalf Godlen Masimla and tighthead prop Neethling Fouche.
Neither side consolidated possession from the kick-offs well at all, which contributed to a blow-for-blow feel to the match. However, it was Province that were able to take a 20-10 lead into the break when Sergeal Petersen pounced on a loose ball to mark his landmark Currie Cup game with an important try.
The Pumas came out guns blazing in the second half and piled on the pressure, notably turning the tide in the battle of the two packs and started to dominate the scrums. It was from the set-piece that scrumhalf Chriswill September managed to snipe his way over for a try to cut the deficit to just three points.
However, Tim Swiel held his nerve to punish Pumas for a couple of moments of poor discipline and give Western Province enough of a buffer to defend and see out the win.