Pumas defeat plucky Valke to remain unbeaten
The Airlink Pumas continued their impressive run in the competition with another dominant display, as they secured a well-earned 50-35 victory over the Valke at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. This win extended the Pumas’ unbeaten streak, keeping them firmly at the top of the standings alongside the Suzuki Griquas, both teams sitting on a perfect 20 points.
In a thrilling contest, the Valke, despite their defeat, fought valiantly in the first half. The game saw several lead changes, with the home team from the East Rand holding a slender 22-19 advantage at the break. However, the second half was all about the Pumas’ superior fitness, tactical execution, and clinical finishing. The men from Mpumalanga scored four tries after the break, outscoring their opponents by four tries to two.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with early dominance from the Pumas, thanks to a try from Sampie Swiegers right after the kickoff. The Valke quickly responded with Mbembe Payi scoring their opening try, and Keagan Fortune added a penalty goal. However, Musa Tshabalala soon extended the Valke’s lead, before Darren Adonis’ try brought the Pumas back into the game. Just before halftime, Jay Cee Nel scored another try, which saw the Pumas narrow the gap to just three points going into the break.
But the second half was where the Pumas really imposed themselves. Adonis grabbed his second try, and Swiegers and Llewellyn Classen also crossed the line to give the Pumas a commanding lead. Clinton Swart was pivotal, kicking five conversions, ensuring the Pumas maintained their perfect start to the season. With this victory, the Pumas firmly cemented their position as title contenders in the SA Cup.
The Suzuki Griquas also showcased their might in the competition, defeating the NovaVit Griffons 52-33 in Welkom. It was another exciting contest, with the Griffons scoring five tries of their own. However, the physicality and pace of the Griquas were too much for the hosts to handle. The Griquas had a standout performance from right wing Dylan Maart, who scored an impressive four tries. Alongside him, Cameron Hufke added a brace, and George Whitehead added his kicking prowess, converting six tries. Despite the Griffons’ brave fight, led by tries from Keanu Vers and Mingo Piti, the Griquas cruised to victory, extending their unbeaten run to stay on top of the standings, albeit slightly behind on points differential compared to the Pumas.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Cheetahs registered a hard-fought 47-35 victory over Eastern Province in Gqeberha. The Free Staters had to dig deep, fighting from behind after EP led 22-21 at the break. The second half saw the experience of the Cheetahs shine through, as they scored seven tries to four, with the tactical kicking of Clayton Blommetjies providing vital direction. It was a morale-boosting win for the Cheetahs, but one that showed the resilience required to stay in the race for a top-four finish.
The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers earned their first win since the opening round, trouncing the Phangela SWD Eagles 71-21 in Wellington. The Kavaliers were clinical in the first half, scoring 50-7 by halftime, with a standout performance from outside centre Lunathi Nxele, who completed his hat-trick. The Eagles never recovered, and the Kavaliers registered 11 tries in total to secure an emphatic victory.
The Leopards also earned their first win of the season with a 28-25 victory over the Border Bulldogs in East London. Despite trailing 17-12 at halftime, the Leopards mounted a strong second-half comeback. Charles Williams was the standout player, contributing a try, two conversions, and three penalty goals for a personal tally of 18 points. Despite the strong showing from Maxwell Klaasen, who contributed ten points for Border, it was the Leopards’ late surge that saw them edge out their opponents.
As the competition moves closer to the halfway mark, the Pumas and Griquas are leading the charge with perfect records. The Griffons remain third despite their loss, while the Kavaliers and Cheetahs are positioned fourth and fifth, respectively. The Valke, who have struggled in recent weeks, now find themselves slipping down the standings.
Looking ahead to the fifth round, the Pumas will face the Bulldogs in an important clash, while the Leopards will square off against Province in Gqeberha. Other key fixtures include the Griquas against the Kavaliers in Kimberley, while the Cheetahs will host the Griffons in Bloemfontein.
With the competition heating up, the Pumas and Griquas will continue to battle for supremacy at the top of the standings, but with several teams in hot pursuit, every game from here on out promises to be a crucial step towards qualifying for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division. The Pumas are in the driving seat, but with teams like the Cheetahs and Griquas chasing hard, the competition is far from decided.
For now, the Pumas can look forward to maintaining their unbeaten record, while their rivals will be hoping to close the gap in the coming rounds. With both attacking flair and defensive discipline, the Pumas look poised to be one of the teams to beat this season.
