Table toppers dig deep to remain on top

THE Bulls scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to grind out a 31-26 win over the Pumas at Loftus on Friday night and extend their lead at the top of the table.

Pumas winger Sebastian de Klerk scored a hat-trick in the first half and, despite a red card to Thinus de Beer, the Pumas went into halftime 26-12 in front, only to be overhauled in the second half.

Jano Vermaak, James Verity-Amm and David Kriel crossed in the second period to edge the Pumas in a feisty contest that saw four cards shown in total.

The Pumas finished with two bonus points which leaves them in fourth.

In yesterday’s early game, the Griquas thrashed the Cheetahs 4618 to swap places with the Pumas and move up to third.

The home side were ahead at the interval 24-8 through tries by Sango Xamlashe, Johan Mulder, Janco Uys and Luther Obi, with the Cheetahs only able to hit back through Ruan Pienaar’s penalty and Mihlali Mosi’s try.

Obi secured his brace in the second stanza before Andries Schutte and a penalty try rounded off an emphatic seven-try win, despite consolation scores by Jeandre Rudolph and Louis van der Westhuizen.

In the round’s final game, fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel scored 18 points as the Lions won their first game of the season, comfortably seeing off Western Province 33-10 at Ellis Park.

The Lions raced into a 20-3 lead courtesy of first half tries by Morne Brandon, Stean Pienaar and Quarn Horn before WP scored their first try through Nama Xaba.

Swanepoel put the result beyond doubt as he scored back-to-back penalties and a converted try to finally give the Lions fans something to cheer about in what has been a miserable season for the Johannesburg side in the Currie Cup and URC.