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Cape Town - Defending SuperSport Rugby Challenge champions, Pumas, will meet Griquas in the final of the 2019 showpiece at the Saldanha Sports Ground next Sunday. The two sides were also finalists in 2018.
The Pumas reached the final by defeating Boland 57-32, while Griquas outplayed Western Province 50-21 in the penultimate festival of the 2019 tournament, played at KwaNyamazane Stadium outside Nelspruit.
The Pumas proved too slick and powerful for Boland to reach their second consecutive final in as many years. The home side scored seven well-worked tries to two by the visitors, who could not get going all afternoon.
Griquas also outplayed Western Province with relative ease to reach their third consecutive SuperSport Rugby Challenge final. They had too much firepower in their semi-final, scoring seven tries to two in a well-deserved win over the Cape side.
The final on June 23 will not only introduce a new festival venue next Sunday, but could also deliver a new champion, should Griquas overcome the Pumas.
The two sides clashed earlier during pool play in the tournament, with the Pumas winning 38-27 in Nelspruit.
Scorers:
Western Province 21 (11), Griquas 50 (15)
Western Province
Tries: Craig Barry, Brandon Valentyn
Conversion: Abner van Reenen
Penalties: Van Reenen (3)
Griquas
Tries: Enver Brandt (2), Gideon van der Merwe (2), Eduan Keyter, Zak Burger, Anthony Volmink
Conversions: George Whitehead (6)
Penalty: Whitehead
Pumas
Tries: Ruwellyn Isbell (2), Willie Engelbrecht, Chris Smith, Jeandre Rudolph, Ryan Nell, Corniel Els, Devon Williams, Marco Palvie
Conversions: Smith (6)
Boland
Tries: Zandre Jordaan, Penalty Try
Conversion: Garrick Mattheus
Penalties: Mattheus (6)
