The Pumas picked up their first win of the Currie Cup season, entrenching Griquas further down the bottom half of the log with a narrow 34-31 victory in Kimberley on Saturday.

Flank Marnus Schoeman got the hosts off to a good start with a try in the 16th minute, converted by flyhalf Earl Rose.

Fighting to stay in touch, however, the Pumas hit back with three penalties by their flyhalf Ricardo Croy.

Rose missed a penalty kick in the dying stages of the first half, giving away an opportunity for Griquas to take a lead into the half-time break, with the Pumas heading into the tunnel holding a 9-7 advantage.

Rose regained the lead for the hosts, however, almost immediately after they returned, with his first successful penalty.

Five minutes after temporarily replacing Croy, who went off to the blood bin, Carl Bezuidenhout added a three-pointer for the visitors, who again took the advantage.

Returning to the field, Croy went over and converted his own try to give the Pumas a nine-point gap with half an hour left.

Griquas stayed in touch, though, with Schoeman scoring his brace two minutes later, and Rudi Vogt adding the conversion to bring the hosts within three points.

Both sides pushed forward in the last 30 minutes, with Hendrik van der Nest and Marthinus van der Westhuizen dotting down for the Pumas before Rocco Jansen and Riaan Viljoen struck back for the home side.

Replacement Carl Bezuidenhout, who came on seven minutes before the end, went over shortly before the final whistle, and converted his own try to secure the hosts a much-needed win.

The scorers:

For Griquas:
Tries: Jansen, Schoeman 2, Viljoen
Cons: Rose, Vogt 3
Pen: Rose

For the Pumas:
Tries: Croy, Van der Nest, Van der Westhuizen, Bezuidenhout
Con: Bezuidenhout
Pens: Bezuidenhout, Croy 3

The teams:

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Leon Karemaker, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Rudi Vogt.

Pumas: 15 MJ Mentz, 14 Johan Jackson, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Wilhelm Looch, 10 Ricardo Croy, 9 Hendrik van der Nest, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corné Steenkamp (captain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Rudi Matthee, 3 Brett Nel, 2 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Michael de Neuilly-Rice, 18 Willem Serfontein, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Carl Bezuidenhout, 21 Dawid Pretorius, 22 Deon Scholtz.

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez, Linston Manuels