The Pumas became the eighth union to lift the Currie Cup trophy after they beat Griquas 26-19 in the final in Kimberley.
The Pumas clinched a maiden Currie Cup title with a stunning victory over Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday. The win underlines how the grand old dame of rugby tournaments still has life yet.
The side from Mbombela were playing in their first Currie Cup final and totally outclassed the Griquas side in all departments, to land the title in front of 11,000 roaring fans at Griqua Park.
The Pumas showed enterprise early and were rewarded when Eddie Fouche nudge over a penalty to give his side the lead.
Shortly afterwards George Whitehead answered with one of his own and the hosts started to use their kicking game to take charge.
Whitehead gave Griquas the lead but the Pumas would play the more adventurous game and poor kicking out of hand from Griquas left them under pressure.
Twice poor kicks would lead to Pumas tries, first as Devon Williams was set away into the corner after a great skip pass from livewire pivot Tinus De Beer.
Fouche and Whitehead traded penalty kicks before the Pumas maul rumbled over in the corner.
That score was set up when Whitehead kicked a restart straight into touch and two penalties allowed the Pumas to set up a lineout in the corner from whence Eduan Swart would rumble over in the boot of the maul.
Another exchange of penalties by both teams’ kickers made it 13-9, before a brilliant maul drive by the Pumas was converted into five more points by hooker Eduan Swart, as the Pumas took an 18-9 lead into the dugout at half-time.
Fouché extended the lead early in the second half with his accurate boot before another piece of dazzling rugby by the Pumas team produced a try for captain Willie Engelbrecht in the left corner, to take the score to 26-9, leaving the Griquas with a lot to do in the final stanza.
With time running out Griquas had a chance to close the gap to seven points but Whitehead kicked it into the upright, however he made amends soon after slotting from 40 metres out to give his team a sniff.
A last desperate attack ended with a penalty won by Engelbrecht and the Pumas got the job done, kicking the ball into touch. To seal their maiden title, in their first Currie Cup final.
My Goat Sports 