Pumas finally end their long wait for silverware

PUMAS fans were crying tears of joy at the fulltime whistle as their long wait for their first major trophy finally ended with a 26-19 win over the Griquas in the Currie Cup final.

Pumas full-back Japie Kleinhans was delighted to end his side’s trophyless hoodoo and said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game playing away from home, but we’ve been working hard for the final and today was three years in the making.”

In a cagey opening 20 minutes, kickers George Whitehead and Eddie Fouche traded penalties before Whitehead scored his second three-pointer to put the Griquas in front.

But the Pumas then scored the opening try as off a well-executed restart, and a wonderful passing move by the backline allowed Devon Williams the space to finish out wide.

Fouche made no mistake with the conversion as the Pumas regained their lead.

The kicking dual continued as the two tens traded penalties once more as ill-discipline continued to cost both sides.

On the stroke of halftime, Balie Swart went over off a formidable driving maul to score the Pumas second try and silence the home crowd.

Fouche slotted another penalty from straight in front and the Pumas’ lead was stretched even further when JJ Engelbrecht rounded off a great piece of play, featuring slick hands and great offloads.

However, Munier Etzenberg hit back and sparked life into the partisan crowd as his direct line skinned two defenders to bring the Griquas within 10.

The Pumas replied by stringing together 15 phases before they were held up over the line by a resilient Griquas defence.

But Whitehead missed a routine three points as his kick cannoned off the post that would have made it a one score game late on.

Whitehead did score a late 79th minute penalty, but it came too little, too late and the Pumas began the celebrations.