A fast start gave the Pumas just enough of a lead as they repelled a Cheetahs fightback to clinch a tense Currie Cup clash in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.
Ruan Pienaar’s milestone 50th cap for Free State was sullied when the Cheetahs captain faded a late, potentially match-winning penalty, and then stormed off the field as referee AJ Jacobs blew the final whistle on a 29-28 win for the Pumas.
Pienaar converted all four of the Cheetahs’ tries and though his Pumas counterpart Eddie Fouche only dotted the H after three of the visitors’ four tries, he struck a penalty at the start of the fourth quarter that ultimately secured the result.
The Pumas opened the scoring through fullback Devon Williams who capitalized on an erroneous Cheetahs backline move to canter away for the score. Centre Eddie Fouche kicked the conversion to put the away side into an early 7-0 lead.
Hooker Louis van der Westhuizen finished off a powerful driving maul for the home team and Ruan Pienaar slotted a pinpoint conversion to level the score as the first quarter drew to a close.
As the game came to life, Pumas flyhalf Thinus de Beer produced a world-class step to leave Cheetahs winger Daniel Kasende for dead, dotting down untouched. The Pumas maintained their 12-7 lead going into halftime following a disallowed Cheetahs maul try that left players from the home team scratching their heads – referee AJ Jacobs in consultation with the TMO ruled that a shift-drive had used lock Victor Sekekete as an obstructing blocker.
Williams scored his second of the night as the Pumas drew first blood early in the second forty, but the Cheetahs clawed back through hardworking flanker Gideon van Merwe who sored at the base of another powerful maul. Fouche and Pienaar both slotted their conversions to leave the score at 24-14 in favour of the away side.
A try from hooker Eduan Schwartz extended the Pumas’ lead but their joy was short-lived as a contentious yellow card – against flanker Phumzile Maqondwana for a head clash – opened the door for the Cheetahs to drive home Van der Westhuizen’s second of the match.
The boot of Fouche kept the scoreboard ticking but a long pass from Pienaar picked out Cheetahs flyer Kasende who scored in the corner. Pienaar slotted the subsequent conversion to make it a one-point ballgame heading into the last five minutes.
But a long-range penalty attempt with three minutes to go sailed wide right and the Pumas kept their composure to claim a 29-28 victory.
