The Airlink Pumas delivered one of the most ruthless displays of the SA Cup season, humiliating the Border Bulldogs 110-7 in a 16-try demolition at Mbombela Stadium. The Pumas were relentless from kickoff, racing to a 68-0 halftime lead, and never looked back as they overwhelmed their outclassed visitors.
First Half: A Blitz of Tries
The Pumas opened the floodgates early, with Marvelous Mashimbyi (2′), Tino Swanepoel (5′, 8′, 22′), and Danrich Visagie (11′) all crossing within the first 15 minutes.
Visagie converted every one of the first six tries, giving his side a commanding lead.
By the 30-minute mark, it was already one-way traffic:
- Sango Xamlashe, Carlton Banies, Lundi Msenge, and Mashimbyi (again) added their names to the scoresheet.
- Eddie Swart (39′) capped off the half with the team’s 10th try.
At halftime, the scoreline read 68-0, with Visagie slotting 9 conversions to go with his try.
Second Half: More of the Same
Despite emptying the bench and receiving a yellow card (Kwanda Dimaza, 77′), the Pumas continued their dominance:
- Andre Fouche (45′, 54′), Russwill Fredericks (61′), Darnell Osuagwu (71′), Tino Swanepoel (79′) and Kabelo Mokoena (82′) all crossed the whitewash.
- Visagie finished with an astonishing 1 try and 15 conversions, ending the game with 35 points.
The only bright moment for the Bulldogs came in the 58th minute when Sibusiso Lali scored a consolation try, converted by Maxwell Klaasen.
Total Domination
The final stats told the story:
- Airlink Pumas: 16 tries, 15 conversions
- Border Bulldogs: 1 try, 1 conversion
Despite a string of injuries and substitutions, the Pumas maintained structure and precision, showing depth and discipline in every phase.
Standout Performers
- Tino Swanepoel – Electric from the back, scored 4 tries
- Danrich Visagie – 1 try and 15 conversions, flawless game control
- Marvelous Mashimbyi & Andre Fouche – Combined for 4 tries from the forwards
Final Thoughts
This was a clinical and complete performance by the Airlink Pumas, who have now firmly established themselves as the team to beat in the 2025 SA Cup. The Border Bulldogs, meanwhile, will need a major regroup after suffering one of the heaviest defeats in recent memory.
