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Newcastle - The Pumas remain third on the overall points log of the new Currie Cup qualifiers after convincingly beating the Sharks XV 35-13 (half-time 21-6) at Arbor Park in Newcastle on Saturday evening.
A dominating performance in the first half by the visitors, that included a brace of tries by Pumas eighthman Carel Greeff, was more than enough to clinch the game against a lacklustre Sharks outfit that has struggled to maintain the success of its Super Rugby counterpart.
Two penalties by Sharks flyhalf Tristan Tedder were the only say that the hosts had in the first 40 minutes, with the Pumas simply dominating on the attack and even running the ball from deep in their own half.
Centre and captain, Hoffman Maritz, opened the Pumas account as early as the 11th minute with his try, which flyhalf and kicking ace Justin van Staden converted with ease. What followed was some exciting rugby as eighthman Greeff put his stamp on the game, scoring converted tries in both the 14th and 28th minutes of the game.
With the half-time score 21-6 in favour of a visibly stronger visiting side, the Sharks had few answers in the second stanza. Wing Nkululeko Marwana scored his side’s only try in the 48th minute and Tedder converted to reduce the deficit to eight points with little more than half an hour of play left.
But it was to be the Sharks last points of the evening as a class Pumas outfit just picked up where it left off in the first half. Flank Lamber Groenewald’s converted try in the 69th minute meant a bonus point for the visitors, while replacement prop Jacques Kotze scored his side’s fifth five pointer of the evening two minutes from full-time to send the Sharks side packing back to Durban with their tail fins between their legs.
Scorers:
Pumas
Tries: Carel Greeff (2), Hoffman Maritz, Jacques Kotze, Lambert Groenewald
Conversions: Justin van Staden (5)
Sharks XV
Try: Nkululeko Marwana
Conversion: Tristan Tedder
Penalties: Tedder (2)
