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Pumas stun Sharks in Nelspruit

Durban - The Sharks opened their 2015 Absa Currie Cup campaign on a disappointing note after losing 33-24 to the Pumas at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.

According to the Sharks website, away matches are always tough and it was never going to be easy against the current Vodacom Cup champions. Adding to the motivation for the home side was the opportunity to get one over their more illustrious opponents. The smaller unions love nothing better.

The early exchanges were physical as to be expected as the two sides sounded each other out, but after initially keeping the visitors out, the home side struck back in the most rewarding way possible, scoring the first try of the match at the 10 minute mark.

JC Roos converted and then moments later struck a massive 55m penalty to put his team 10 points in the clear. The Pumas were lifted by being in front against the Durban side and it showed as they threw themselves into the collisions and attacked with fervour. Another penalty pushed them into a 13 point lead.

The Pumas had enjoyed some gains from turn-over ball and the visitors showed just how dangerous a team can be when they steal possession at crucial times, the Pumas losing the ball on the ground and Khaya Majola influential in Lionel Cronje’s try. Joe Pietersen’s conversion brought his team right back into the game at an important juncture when things could have fallen apart badly.

However, the Pumas were stung by the score and hit back almost immediately, the Sharks down a man with Lourens Adriaanse receiving medical attention which forced him to leave the field early.

A second Marnus Schoeman try, this time off a powerful driving maul, pushed the Pumas into a commanding 20 point lead just before half-time and they managed to hold out against a late effort from the visitors to take a 27-7 lead into the break.

If the Sharks needed to strike back, they needed to do it early and they did, within 40 seconds of the second half whistle, Thomas du Toit with a blustering run and Heimar Williams exploiting a gap on defence.

Although the Pumas added a third penalty, Daniel du Preez managed to swivel over to score the third try, on debut which reduced the gap to nine points and the momentum shift had definitely swung in their favour in most respects.

Then it was just six following a Joe Pietersen penalty, but time was not on their side with five minutes remaining to rescue the game.  Roos kicked a fourth penalty to push the lead beyond a converted try to wrap up the victory.

Scorers

Pumas
Tries: Stefan Watermeyer, Marnus Schoeman (2)
Conversions: JC Roos (3)
Penalties: Roos (4)

Sharks
Tries: Lionel Cronje, Heimar Williams, Daniel du Preez
Conversions: Joe Pietersen (3)
Penalties: Pietersen

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