Steval Pumas victorious over Vodacom Blue Bulls | Mbombela
Match: Steval Pumas vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Date: 27thMay 2017
Kick-off: 15:00
Steval Pumas win over Vodacom Blue Bulls a solid effort
The Vodacom Blue Bulls started on the front foot, placing serious pressure on the Steval Pumas, leading to a rumbled-over try in the 7th minute, 0-5.
The Steval Pumas responded immediately, with Marko Janse van Rensburg wrestling over a try 4 minutes later, 5-5.
While he missed the conversion, Kobus Marais would slot a penalty kick 4 minutes later, 8-5.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls scored a converted try 3 minutes later, 8-12.
The Blue Bulls kept up the pressure, and were rewarded with another converted try by Franco Johan Naude 8 minutes later, 8-19.
Not to be outdone, Ryan Nell and Kobus Marais would combine for another converted Pumas try in the 33rd minute, 15-19.
Marais landed a penalty kick for the home side to take them into the break at 18-19.
The second half started at break-neck pace with Hennie Skorbinski scoring a try in the 44th minute. Kobus Marais was on hand to convert, 25-19.
12 minutes later, the Vodacom Blue Bulls were awarded a penalty try to take the score to 25-26. Marais hit back with a penalty kick 2 minutes later to leave the game finely poised at 28-26, with 20 minutes to play.
A Vodacom Blue Bulls penalty, with 12 minutes to play, took the score to 28-29, before the Steval Pumas scored a converted try in the 73 minute, 35-29.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls launched some serious attacks at the Steval Pumas line, but a spirited defence, even in the 80th minute, kept the Pretoria side at bay, and the Steval Pumas would take a well-deserved 35-29 win.
Steval Pumas coach Brent Janse van Rensburg said the team delivered an exceptional performance.
“They put their bodies on the line and they had a good work ethic. Unfortunately, at times we put ourselves under pressure, we didn’t exit well from our own half and that resulted in the Bulls having a good field position to play from,” said Janse van Rensburg.
Next week however, the Steval Pumas will be focusing their attention to the Xerox Golden Lions whom they will face in Ellis Park. With this game in mind, coach Janse van Rensburg said the team poses a new threat all together.
“We have to recover well this week. We have a really short turn around now but I think today was a solid effort from the team,” said Janse van Rensburg.
Steval Pumas se soete tweede oorwinning oor die Vodacom Blue Bulls
Die Vodacom Blue Bulls het in die Laeveld opgedaag met die beslis om ernstige rugby te speel.
Dit het hulle slegs 7 minute geneem om hul eerste drie te druk, 0-5.
Die Steval Pumas kon onmidellik terugslaan met ‘n Marko Janse van Rensburg drie om die telling tot 5-5 te neem.
Kobus Marais was 4 minute later suksesvol met n strafskop, 8-5, voor die Vodacom Blue Bulls nog n verdoelde drie aangeteken het, 8-12.
Die Vodacom Blue Bulls het volgehou met die druk en Franco Johan Naude het 8 minute later ‘n verdoelde drie aangeteken, 8-19.
Ryan Nell en Kobus Marais het saamgespan vir die volgende, verdoelde, Pumas drie, 15-19, en net voor halftyd was Marais suksesvol met nog ‘n strafskop vir ‘n halftyd-telling van 18-19.
Die tweede helfte het op volle spoed begin en Hennie Skorbinski het in die 44ste minuut ‘n Marais-verdoelde drie aangeteken, 25-19.
Die skeidsregter het 12 minute later ‘n straf-drie aan die Vodacom Blue Bulls toegeken, 25-26.Slegs 2 minute later het Marais met nog ‘n strafskop geslaag, 28-26.
Met 12 minute om te speel, het die Vodacom Blue Bulls se strafskop ‘n enkele punt voordeel bewerkstelling, 28-29, totdat die Steval Pumas in die 73ste minuut nog ‘n verdoelde drie kon aanteken, 35-29.
Ten spyte van verbete aanslae op die Steval Puma lyn, kon die Vodacom Blue Bulls nie inbreuk maak nie en die Steval Pumas was sukselvol in hul poging om die tweeslag teen die Vodacom Blue Bulls aan te teken.
Steval Pumas afrigter Brent Janse Van Rensburg het gesê sy span het ‘n uitmuntende vertoning gelewer.
“Hulle was bereid om fisies betrokke te raak en het deurgaans hard gewerk. Ongelukkig het ons onsself ook onder druk geplaas deur nie altyd effektief uit one eie helfte te kon speel nie, en ons het die Bulle toegelaat om goeie veld-posisies in te neem”, het Janse van Rensburg gesê.
Volgende week sal die Steval Pumas al hul aandag op die Xerox Golden Lions moet fokus as hulle op Ellis Park gaan speel. Met ‘n oog op die wedstryd het afrigter Janse van Rensburg genoem dat die span ‘n heel nuwe bedreiging sal moet hokslaan.
“Ons gaan hierdie week moet gebruik om goed te herstel, ons het ‘n kort omkeertyd, maar vandag was ‘n baie goeie vertoning,” het Janse van Rensburg gesê.
SCORERS:
Pumas: Try: Marko Janse Van Rensburg (1), Hennie Skorbinski (1), Frank Herne (1), Ryan Nell (1)
Conversions: Kobus Marais (3)
Penalties: Kobus Marais (3)
Bulls: Try: Shaun Adendorff (2), Franco Naude (1)
Conversions: Kefentse Mahlo (1)
Penalties: Joshua Stander (1)
Photo: 1. Frank Herne scored a thrilling try in the 72 min of the match between the Steval Pumas and Vodacom Blue Bulls today at Mbombela Stadium.
2. Hennie Skorbinski scored a try in the 44-minute of the match between the Steval Pumas and Vodacom Blue Bulls today at Mbombela Stadium
Photographer: Andre Mentjies