Defending champions the Pumas will face Griquas in the final of the 2019 Rugby Challenge in a repeat of last year’s final in Saldanha next Sunday.

The Pumas reached the final by defeating Boland 57-32, while Griquas outplayed Western Province 50-21 in the sem-finals played at KwaNyamazane Stadium outside Nelspruit.

The Pumas proved too slick and powerful for Boland to reach their second consecutive final in as many years. The home side scored seven well-worked tries to two by the visitors, who could not get going all afternoon.

Griquas also outplayed WP with relative ease to reach their third consecutive Rugby Challenge final. They had too much firepower in their semifinal, scoring seven tries to two in a well-deserved win over the Cape side.

The final on 23 June will not only introduce a new Festival venue next Sunday, but could also deliver a new champion, should the Griquas overcome the defending champions, Pumas.

The two sides clashed earlier during pool play in the tournament, with the Pumas winning 38-27 in Nelspruit.

Semi-final results:

WP (21) – Tries: Craig Barry, Brandon Valentyn. Conversion: Abner van Reenen. Penalties: Van Reenen (3).
Griquas (50) – Tries: Enver Brandt (2), Gideon van der Merwe (2), Eduan Keyter, Zak Burger, Anthony Volmink. Conversions: George Whitehead (6). Penalty: Whitehead.

Pumas (57) – Tries: Ruwellyn Isbell (2), Willie Engelbrecht, Chris Smith, Jeandre Rudolph, Ryan Nell, Corniel Els, Devon Williams, Marco Palvie. Conversions: Smith (6).
Boland (32) – Tries: Zandre Jordaan, Penalty Try. Conversion: Garrick Mattheus. Penalties: Mattheus (6).

Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images