By Ross Roche.
The Griquas for the second game in a row battled back to steal a 45-44 win at the death, this time over the Pumas in their Currie Cup match against the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday evening.
The result didn’t really matter, as the Sharks’ loss earlier in the day had confirmed that the Pumas would make the semis regardless, but the home side were extremely unlucky not to get the win, with a penalty to Griquas replacement flyhalf Theo Boshoff after the hooter sealing the win.
In the match both teams got off to a bright start, but it was the Griquas that held a 7-6 lead after 18 minutes after scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer scored the opening try of the match either side two penalties from the boot of inside centre Eddie Fouche.
The Griquas went further ahead in the 25th minute, as first Pumas flank Phumzile Maqondwana was yellow carded after numerous team offences, with Griquas flank Hanru Sirgel then taking a quick tap and diving over, with the extras from flyhalf George Whitehead making it 14-6.
A crazy final 10 minutes of the half saw the Pumas come roaring back to take an unexpected lead into halftime.
First Tapiwa Mafura dotted down a grubber, then a drop goal from flyhalf Tinus de Beer put the Pumas ahead 16-14 after 34 minutes.
In the final three minutes of the half Pumas prop IG Prinsloo crashed over and scrumhalf Chriswill September sniped through to score, with both converted by Fouche as they held a comfortable lead at the break.
A breathtaking second half then took centre stage which saw both teams give it their all.
The Griquas were first to score in the second half with another quick tap working for them, with replacement scrumhalf Johan Mulder going over.
However, Mafura went in for his second, seizing on a loose ball and outstripping the defence to give the Pumas a 37-21 lead after 55 minutes.
Griquas wing Munier Hartzenberg spun his way over the tryline three minutes later, with the extras from Boshoff making it 37-28.
An exciting double score in two minutes saw the Griquas cut the deficit to two points as inside centre Rynhardt Jonker scored a converted try, only for their forwards to miss the kick-off and Pumas wing Jade Stighling to catch the ball and run in their own converted score with it 44-35 after 66 minutes.
With time winding down the Griquas scored a messy try to replacement forward Werner Gouws with less than two minutes left, before going back the other end from the kick-off and earning the winning penalty with Boshoff being the hero.
SCORERS
Griquas 45 – Tries: Stefan Ungerer, Hanru Sirgel, Johan Mulder, Munier Hartzenberg, Rynhardt Jonker, Werner Gouws. Conversions: George Whitehead (2), Theo Boshoff (4). Penalty: Theo Boshoff
Pumas 44 – Tries: Tapiwa Mafura (2), IG Prinsloo, Chriswill September, Jade Stighling. Conversions: Eddie Fouche (5). Penalties: Eddie Fouche (2). Drop Goal: Tinus de Beer.