Vodacom Cup
Pampas XV win Vodacom Cup
2011-05-13 21:16
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Hayden Groepes (Gallo Images)
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Johannesburg - The Argentine Pampas XV maintained their unbeaten run with a clinical 14-9 victory over the Blue Bulls to win the Vodacom Cup final in Potchefstroom on Friday night.
The Pampas, who failed to reach the quarter-finals on debut last season, dominated the match from the start and were never really threatened by the title holders.
The hosts took the early advantage when flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez slotted a penalty in the opening minutes to give them a 3-0 lead.
The only other points in the first half came 20 minutes later from Pampas right wing Agustin Gosio who capitalised on some team work after the hosts swung wide to storm over for his eighth try of the competition.
Pampas held an 8-0 lead at half-time, and Sanchez wasted little time in stretching the gap further with another penalty shortly after the break.
The Blue Bulls pulled three points back when flyhalf Maritz Boshoff put them on the board with a penalty in the 50th minute.
The home side fought back, however, eight minutes later with three points of their own through Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias who had replaced Sanchez 10 minutes after the break.
Boshoff struck with another penalty midway through the second period, and with three minutes remaining he added a third to put pressure on Pampas for the first time.
The Argentine side nonetheless held on to clinch the title with their 11th successive win of the competition.
Scorers:
Pampas XV: Try: Agustin Gosio. Penalties: Nicolas Sanchez (2), Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias
Blue Bulls: Penalties: Maritz Boshoff (3)