Rugby
Pumas to defend SA Cup title in final─── ILSE SMALBERGER 09:03 Sat, 16 May 2026
The SA Cup defending champions the Pumas, will have the opportunity to defend their title in the final of the competition, after defeating the Toyota Cheetahs 42-36 on Friday (15/5) evening at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The Cheetahs drew first blood when Clayton Blommetjies scored a converted try in the first few minutes of the match, with Tiaan Swanepoel adding a penalty for a 10-0 lead. But the Pumas hit back when Sampie Swiegers, who played in his 50th match for the home team, went over the line.
Clinton Swart converted to take the scoreboard to 10-7, but a yellow card for Swanepoel on the half-hour mark allowed Swart to level the scores to 10-10.
Swiegers scored a second converted try for the hosts just before halftime, with another penalty against the Cheetahs taking the Pumas to a 10-point lead at the break.
Poor discipline by the Cheetahs cost them another penalty only eight minutes into the second half, and the ever-dependable Swart made no mistake. But a brilliant try by the Cheetahs’ Michael Annies, converted by Cohen Jasper, kept the visitors in the game.
Yellow card
Another yellow card for the Cheetahs, this time for Chucky van der Westhuizen, proved costly, with the Pumas Gustav du Rand going over for his team’s third try. With around 20 minutes to go, Jasper brought the Cheetahs within spitting distance with his team’s third try, but could not convert to take the scoreboard to 28-22.
Four minutes later, Du Rand scored his second try of the night for the Pumas, with Swart adding the two. Cheetah captain Neels Volschenk also went over the line, with Jasper converting. At 35-29 and ten minutes to go, it was still anybody’s game.
Junior Banda then scored for the Pumas, but Cheetah number eight, Sisonke Vumazonke, had the last say. Unfortunately, it was not enough to get the Cheetahs over the line.
On Saturday (16/5), the other semifinal match between the Suzuki Griquas and Boland Kavaliers will determine who the Pumas will face in the final. If Boland beats the Griquas, the Pumas will host the final in Nelspruit.
Pumas – Tries: Sampie Swiegers (2), Willie Engelbrecht, Gustav du Rand, Junior Banda. Conv. Clinton Swart (4). Pen. Swart (3).
Cheetahs – Tries: Clayton Blommetjies, Michael Annies, Cohen Jasper, Neels Volschenk, Sisonke Vumazonke. Conv. Tiaan Swanepoel, Jasper (3). Pen. Swanepoel.
