The win for Tafel Lager Griquas marked their second bonus-point win in as many weeks in the DirectAxis Financial Services supported competition.

The team held a narrow 10-5 halftime lead after scoring a converted try and penalty goal to only one try by the visitors in the first half, but they made good use of their chances after the break with a late penalty goal and try in the dying minutes sealing them a 37-29 victory.

The Phakisa Pumas fought with intent throughout the match and they managed to level the scores at 29-29 with 11 minutes to play, but the host managed to shut them out to secure the win, leaving them unbeaten after two rounds.

The first half was tight as the teams tried to out-muscle one another and power their way through the defence, but with the teams closely matched, both sides only managed to cross the tryline once. A timely penalty goal and conversion by Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead proved to be the difference on the scoreboard at the break after Morne Joubert (Phakisa Pumas winger) and Anthony Volmink (Tafel Lager Griquas fullback) scored in the first half.

The Tafel Lager Griquas struck first after the break as winger Eduan Keyter gathered a well-timed pass to crash over, which allowed them to extend their lead, but this was cancelled out minutes later by Phakisa Pumas prop Andrew Beerwinkel, who gathered a good pass and dived over the tryline for his team’s second try.

This was cancelled out soon after as Tafel Lager Griquas prop Ewald van der Westhuizen received the ball at pace and put his head down and forced his way over the tryline and centre Andre Swarts added another several minutes later.

The Phakisa Pumas, however, struck back strongly with tries by captain Ryan Nell and Morgan Naude, which leveled the scores at 29-29 with 11 minutes to play.

A penalty goal by Tafel Lager Griquas replacement flyhalf Tinus de Beer pushed them into a handy 32-29 lead with six minutes to play and Volmink wrapped up the victory using his raw pace to dash to the tryline for his second try with a minute and a half to play, which pushed them 37-29 ahead, and they managed to hold on for the win.

Scorers:

Tafel Lager Griquas 37 (10) – Tries: Eduan Keyter, Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, Andre Swarts, Anthony Volmink (2). Conversions: George Whitehead (3). Penalty goals: Whitehead, Tinus de Beer.

Phakisa Pumas 29 (5) – Tries: Morne Joubert, Andrew Beerwinkel, Ryan Nell, Morgan Naude. Conversions: Kobus Marais (2), Chris Smith. Penalty goal: Marais.