The high-scoring trend of the 2018 Currie Cup continued in Bloemfontein on Friday evening when the Pumas beat the bottom of the log Free State Cheetahs 42-14.
It was the Cheetahs’ last match of the season as they finished their campaign winless and rooted to the bottom of the Currie Cup table.
The Pumas’ bonus-point, which was sealed before half time, keeps them alive in the semi-final hunt at fifth on the log, but they will need other results to go their way if they are to qualify.
Man of the Match Stefan Ungerer played a strong-hand in the first two tries including the first of inside centre Ryan Nell’s brace before Morné Joubert and Neil Maritz crossed the try-line finished off the bonus point.
The hosts’ only points of the first half came from captain and former Springbok Rudy Paige. The scrumhalf channeled his inner tight-forward as he powered over the line from close-range to give the Cheetahs some hope.
There were only three tries scored in the second half, opposed to five in the first 40 minutes.
The Cheethahs came out firing after the break to score through Jannes Snyman, but Marnus Schoeman and Simon Westraadt put the result beyond doubt when they scored a try each.
SCORERS
Cheetahs – Tries: Rudy Paige, Jannes Snyman. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg, Reinhardt Erwee.
Pumas – Tries: Ryan Nell (2), Morne Joubert, Neil Maritz, Marnus Schoeman, Kobus Marais. Conversions: Christopher Smith (5), Kobus Marais.