The Ford Pumas overturned a half-time deficit before storming to a thumping 67-34 (half-time 24-26) win over the Griffons in their Absa Currie Cup First Division match at the North West Stadium in Welkom.

The visitors ran in nine tries to five with outside centre JW Jonker running in a hat-trick while flank Uzair Cassiem and left wing Carl Bezuidenhout both grabbing a brace of five-pointers.

Griffons outside centre Werner Griesel scored two tries for the hosts who have now lost three matches on the trot after starting the season with four consecutive wins.

The home team made a fast start to the match as Griesel went over for his first try in just the third minute of the contest.

But the Pumas fought back almost immediately when loosehead prop Corne Fourie rumbled over for a converted try before the visitor extended their lead with try from Bezuidenhout.

The Griffons levelled the match in the 30th minute when Griesel completed his double but the Pumas pulled ahead once again when Cassiem dotted down.

However, the hosts made sure of a half-time lead thanks to two tries in the space of four minutes with right wing Hansie Graaf and loosehead prop Sarel Louw both scoring converted tries.

The Pumas made sure that they went into half-time with some momentum behind them when Jonker crossed for his first try in the dying seconds of the half.

The first 18 minutes of the second half saw the two teams continue to enjoy a tight contest in very windy conditions.

The Pumas regained the lead almost immediately after the restart when Jonker scythed his way over for his second try before Pumas fullback JC Roos and Griffons flyhalf Tiaan van Wyk traded penalties.

Lock Eduan van der Walt barged his way over for a try before the Griffons made the score 39-34 in the visitors favour with a five-pointer from left-wing Shane Hancke.

But the Pumas then stepped up a gear as they blew their opponents away by scoring 28 points in the space of 16 minutes with tries from Cassiem, Jonker and Bezuidenhout as well as a penalty try in the 67 minute.

SCORERS

Griffons – Tries: Werner Griesel (2), Hansie Graaf, Sarel Louw, Shane Hancke; Conversions: Tiaan van Wyk (3); Penalty: Van Wyk

Ford Pumas – Tries: Corne Fourie, Carl Bezuidenhout (2), Uzair Cassiem (2), JW Jonker (3), Eduan van der Walt, Penalty Try; Conversions: JC Roos (6); Penalty: Roos