The Pumas retained their unbeaten record in Witbank this year, when they scored a comprehensive 40-3 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in their Currie Cup promotion-relegation game on Friday evening.

Their reward is a richly deserved promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division next year.

They scored six tries to humble an inept Boland team which looked disjointed and ineffective from the first kick-off. Indeed, it was difficult to believe that Boland had beaten the Pumas, albeit narrowly, in Wellington last Saturday.

With this crushing defeat, Boland lose their Currie Cup Premier Division status - having struggled to keep head above water all year.

Again, as so often this season, the turnovers they conceded, their inability to find continuity or rhythm on attack, and their failure to defend their tryline cost them dearly. Except for a period after half-time, they appeared less focussed and motivated against the hyped-up home team.

For the Pumas the game was the culmination of a highly successful season which had the primary goal of gaining the promotion they have now won.

Elated coach Jimmy Stonehouse enthused after the game that "the chance to go up to the Currie Cup next season is unbelievable".

"Next year will be something different," he conceded, adding: "It's going to be tough, but we deserve it."

Boland skipper Rito Hlungwane admitted that his team "just didn't pitch up".

His assessment was spot-on.

The Pumas were better organised and more committed on defence and attack, more skilful and far more purposeful in their play than their opponents. Their ability to retain possession through phases was a major factor in their win, as was their excellent support for the ball-carrier. They displayed an organisation and passion on defence which was markedly superior to that of their opponents.

Their six tries were all carefully constructed and they managed to win comfortably without having to make full use of their two most exciting attacking weapons, left wing Allister Ketteldas and fullback MJ Mentz. With fewer opportunities than they'd have liked, Ketteldas and Mentz both displayed impressive pace and skill. It'll be fascinating to see how they adapt to the tighter defences of the Premier Division next year.

The Pumas went 7-0 ahead in the second minute when flank Jaco Bouwer forced his way over the goal-line after Boland had conceded a turnover from the kick-off and the Pumas had put the visitors' defence under pressure by retaining possession through phases. Wing Braam Pretorius converted.

A late tackle by Pumas flank Pieter Meyer gave Boland fullback Justin Peach an opportunity to pull back three points, but his kick from close in hit an upright.

Showing patience on attack as they sucked in defenders, the Pumas scored again after 14 minutes to increase their lead to 12-0 when lock Marius Coetzer, standing out near the touchline, scored in the corner.

In the 19th minute the Pumas conceded a penalty close to their tryline for not staying on their feet at a ruck and Peach goaled to narrow the lead to 12-3.

But the Pumas hit back almost immediately against a hapless Boland defence when Pieter Meyer was awarded a try just inside touch-in-goal, after referee Pro Legoete had consulted TMO Michael Cupido. Pretorius converted from the touchline to give the Pumas a commanding 19-3 lead.

Boland continued to struggle under pressure and the Pumas scored their bonus point fourth try just on half-an-hour into the  first half when they moved the ball wide and the elusive Allister Ketteldas drew defenders inside before setting up a try for the classy MJ Mentz racing up on his outside. Pretorius converted (26-3).

Little was going right for Boland, who before half-time already appeared a well-beaten team.

Boland started the second half with a purpose and passion which had been distinctly lacking before the break but it was short-lived, as their attacking pressure was thwarted by yet another turnover when flank Hilton Lobberts knocked on metres from the tryline and the momentum was lost.

For 25 minutes it was a more evenly contested second half, but a superb break by Mentz, hitting the backline at pace from deep, cut the Boland defence to shreds. He off-loaded to centre Shaun Venter, who scored under the posts, and Pretorius converted to put the Pumas out of reach at 33-3.

With the Boland defence now at sixes and sevens, flyhalf Tiaan Marx scored under the posts and Pretorius converted. At 40-3 it was turning into a rout, but mercifully for Boland, the hooter sounded before further damage was inflicted.

In the end it was a happy day for the hosts and a miserable end to the season for the visitors.

Next year will provide a huge challenge for Pumas as they move into the Premier Division, and for Boland a challenge of a different kind as they endeavour to sort out administration, coaching, sponsorship, and other off-the-field woes, as well as trying on the playing field to regain promotion to Premier Division status.

Man of the Match: Jimmy Stonehouse would probably give a joint award to all in his squad of 22, and he'd have a point. Loose forwards Doppies le Roux, Jaco Bouwer, and Pieter Meyer all made enormous contributions to the team performance, but for sheer class the Man of the Match award must go to fullback MJ Mentz, who offered skill and excitement every time he handled the ball.

The scorers:

For the Pumas:
Tries: Bouwer, Coetzer, Meyer, Mentz, Venter, Marx
Cons: Pretorius 5

For the Boland Cavaliers:
Pen: Peach

Teams:

Pumas: 15 MJ Mentz, 14 Braam Pretorius, 13 Shaun Venter, 12 Hyron Thysse, 11 Allister Ketteldas, 10 Tiaan Marx, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Doppies le Roux, 7 Pieter Meyer, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Eduaan van der Walt, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Hannes Franklin (captain), 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Corn Steenkamp, 17 Dawie Steyn, 18 Dee-Jay Terblanche, 19 Savage van Heerden, 20 Martin Sithole, 21 Juan Visser, 22 Ashwin Scott.

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Hayden Groepes, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Deon Scholtz, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Danie van der Merwe, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Zandré Jordaan, 5 George Earl, 4 Rito Hlungwane (captain), 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Michael de Neuilly-Rice, 18 Angelo Brinkhuys, 19 David Hendricks, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Dewey Swartbooi, 22 Danré Gerber.

Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker, Ben Crouse
TMO: Michael Cupido

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