Although the match was tightly contested for the most part, the visitors were handed a massive advantage when the Pumas were reduced to 14 men with 30 minutes left to play. Instead of capitalising on the numerical advantage, the Cheetahs failed to take control. 

The Pumas shifted into a higher gear, and their comeback was made easier by the visitors’ poor discipline in the latter stages of the match, while their defence was also below par.

Neels Volschenk. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs opened the scoring with flanker Neels Volschenk dotting down, but the Pumas responded quickly, with their number six, Ntsika Fisanti, crossing the whitewash.

The Cheetahs regained the lead when lock Carl Wegner crashed over to round off a well-worked team try. Cohen Jasper then slotted a penalty to extend Free State’s lead to ten points, but once again, the Pumas struck back, with captain Clinton Swart strolling over for the softest of tries.

A try by centre Raegan Oranje restored the ten point cushion, but it was once again reduced when Pumas inside centre Wian van Niekerk scored. Left-winger and former Cheetahs player Darren Adonis then crossed almost immediately after to put the Pumas in the lead for the first time, just before half-time, giving them a 26-24 advantage at the break.

Carl Wegner. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs were the first to score in the second half, with captain Chucky van der Westhuizen securing the bonus-point try and regaining the lead. They extended their advantage to 12 points when Michael Annies dotted down.

In the 50th minute, Pumas hooker Jan-Henning Campher was shown a straight red card for a highly dangerous croc roll on Cheetahs eighth-man Jeandré Rudolph. The Pumas were fortunate that Swart wasn’t also shown red for a high tackle on Hencus van Wyk in the 30th minute. 

There was no sanction whatsoever, despite clear head-on-head contact with force, right in front of the referee. This raises an important question – why are there no TMOs in a tournament that serves as a qualification for the Currie Cup?

Ross Braude. Photo: Morgan Piek

Scrumhalf Ross Braude opened the scoring for the Pumas in the second half, before fullback Jaycee Nel went over for the first of his two tries. A Danrich Visagie penalty edged the Pumas in front before Nel flew over again with less than five minutes left on the clock. The Cheetahs fought hard in the dying moments, but their effort came too late.

Scorers:

Pumas: Tries – Ntsika Fisanti, Clinton Swart, Wian van Niekerk, Darren Adonis, Ross Braude, Jaycee Nel Conv. – Swart 3, Danrich Visagie Pen. – Visagie

Cheetahs: Tries – Neels Volschenk, Carl Wegner, Raegan Oranje, Chucky van der Westhuizen, Michael Annies Conv. – Cohen Jasper 5 Pen. – Jasper

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg