Smit steers Puma to grand victory
On a great day for the Pumas’ debutants, firstly their new sponsor on their chest, iCOLLEGE, and flyhalf Christopher Smit, they started their SuperSport Challenge campaign with a 36-18 victory over the Blue Bulls at the Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday.
Smith had a dream debut for his new team, scoring 21 points on debut with a perfect kicking display which included five penalties and the conversion of all three tries.
The teams were slow out of the blocks and it was the Bulls who scored the first try as they worked an overlap on the right flank for winger Xolisa Guma to dot down.
Puma flyer JP Lewis equaled matters soon after with clever play on the blind-side and Smit converted for his first points in a Puma jersey.
Bulls fullback Earl Dowrie, who impressed on the day, soon afterwards scored an easy try as Embrose Papier worked him into space after a scrum.
Pumas scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer then crossed the try-line with guts and strength and with Smit’s second conversion they enjoyed a narrow lead.
Then Dowrie and Smith exchanged two penalty goals each before half-time with the teams changing the lead every time.
Smith scored the first points after play resumed with put the Pumas five points clear with the score on 23-18.
Devon Williams dotted down after a sweeping move for the best “try” of the game but referee Jaco Pretorius called the Pumas back for a scrum on the halfway line.
But two penalty goals by Smith gave the Pumas an unassailable lead and with the score on 29-18 they had the victory in the bag.
A late try by the hard-working Puma flanker Nardus van der Walt was the last scoring action for the home-side to get their season off on a winning start.
Scorers:
iCOLLEGE Pumas: Tries: Stefan Ungerer, JP Lewis, Nardus van der Walt. Conversions: Christopher Smit (3). Penalties: Smit (5).
Blue Bulls: Tries: Xolisa Guma. Earl Dowrie. Conversion: Douwrie. Penalties: Dowrie (2).
Op ‘n voortreflike dag vir die Pumas se debutante, eerstens met hul nuwe borg iCOLLEGE op hul bors en tweedens met hul losskakel-aanwins Christopher Smit, het hulle hul SuperSport Uitdaagtoernooi Saterdag by die Nelspruit-rugbyklub met ‘n pragoorwinning van 36-18 oor die Blou Bulle afgeskop.
Smith het ‘n droombuiging gehad vir sy nuwe span en het 21 punte in ‘n perfekte skopvertoning gelewer wat vyf straf- en drie doelskoppe ingesluit het.
Die spanne was stadig uit die blokke en dit was die besoekers wat eerste die doellyn met die vleuel Xolisa Guma oorgesteek het.
Die Puma spoedvraat JP Lewis het sake gou gelykgemaak met ‘n blink drie aan die steelkant en Smit het sy eerste punte in die Puma-trui met die doelskop aangeteken.
Die Bulle se heelagter Earl Dowrie, wat beindruk het op die dag, het dit opgevolg met ‘n maklike drie nadat Embrose Papier spasie geskep het na ‘n skrum.
Die Puma-skrumskakel Stefan Ungerer het homself oor die lyn geboelie met brute krag en met Smith se doelskop suksesvol het die Pumas voorgeloop.
Met vier strafdoele, twee elk deur Dowrie en Smith het die voorloper kort-kort verander.
Nog drie punte aan Smith kort na halftyd het die Pumas ‘n klein voorsprong van 23-18 gegee. Kort hierna is die ‘pragdrie’ deur Devon Williams nie toegeken nie en die Pumas in vir ‘n skrum op die halflyn teruggeroep.
Twee Smith-strafdoele later het die Pumas se voorsprong vergroot en die gaping tot 29-18 gerek en die wen was in die sakkie.
‘n Laat drie deur die hardwerkende Pumaflank Nardus van der Walt was die laaste aksie van die wedstryd om hul seisoen op ‘n wennoot af te skop.
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