The Pumas clinched an exciting 34-27 (halftime 17-3) bonus level win over the Lions of their Currie Cup conflict at a boisterous Mbombela Stadium on Friday night time.
The defending champions first dwelling match of the season lived as much as the hype, as they needed to present super character to outlive a Lions fightback that drew the scores stage with 4 minutes to play, with the Pumas then sneaking in on the demise to safe a high outcome.
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A gradual begin to the match lastly noticed the guests first on the board with a fifteenth minute penalty from flyhalf Vaughen Isaacs.
4 minutes later the house facet struck, attacking from a scrum in their very own half, as inside centre Ali Mgijima fed proper wing Jade Stighling to interrupt downfield and discover exterior centre Diego Appollis to go over untouched for the seven pointer.
Within the twenty ninth minute the Lions have been punished for sloppy play as they tried to assault from a scrum close to the midway however a free go allowed Mgijima to pop the ball fullback Devon Williams to run in an opportunistic rating, with flyhalf Brandon Thomson including the extras for a 14-3 lead.
A thirty fourth minute penalty from the boot of Thomson gave the Pumas a cushty lead on the break.
The Lions got here out for the second half all weapons blazing and within the 51st minute they attacked from a lineout within the Pumas 22m, with the ball slung out to wing Boldwin Hansen to go over within the nook for his third strive of the season, transformed by Isaacs to make it 17-10.
The Pumas hit straight again within the fifty fifth minute as they setup their very own lineout within the Lions 22m, with a robust maul then splintering and flank Andre Fouche coming via the center to dive over for an unconverted strive.
Duelling mauls
The duelling mauls continued to dominate with the Lions this time powering over within the 63rd minute, with flank Jarod Cairns dotting down the 5 pointer to convey them again into the sport at 22-15.
The forwards and backwards second half continued as Pumas prop Corne Fourie pressured himself over from shut vary, whereas Isaacs ran in to attain with the conversion making it 27-22 after 70 minutes.
An outstanding intercept attempt to Hansen within the 76th minute then drew the scores stage, and the Lions ought to have taken the lead, however Isaacs who had nailed a lot more durable kicks already within the match missed the conversion.
This proved massively pricey as one other mistake from Isaacs, knocking on in his personal 22m with simply a few minutes left, gave the Pumas possession from which they attacked and Appollis stepped over for his second to seal an exciting win.
SCORERS
Pumas: Tries – Diego Appollis (2), Devon Williams, Andre Fouche, Corne Fourie; Conversions – Brandon Thomson (3); Penalty – Thomson
Lions: Tries – Boldwin Hansen (2), Jarod Cairns, Vaughen Isaacs; Conversions – Isaacs (2); Penalty – Isaacs
