The Bulls Daisies continued their dominance over the rest of their SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division contenders by totally outplaying Border Ladies 71-8 to record a seventh straight victory in round seven of the competition. They also jumped clear of the second-placed team on the log, DHL Western Province, by 11 points with six rounds left in the 2023 tournament.
DHL Western Province meanwhile secured a tight, but crucial 17-16 win over Cell C Sharks Women in Durban and by doing so, moved into second spot on the log, moving past Border Ladies. The Durban side did collect the losing bonus point out of the clash, which helped them to keep the Mastercard Golden Lions Women out of the top four.
The Gauteng side scored a dramatic 21-15 victory over EP Queens in Despatch, scoring the match-winning try in the dying minutes of the match for their second win in the tournament.
The Daisies ran rampant, scoring 11 tries en route to their win, leading 33-0 at the break. Returning flanker Lusanda Dumke scored one against her old team, while there was no stopping wings Simamkele Namba and Jakkie Cilliers who claimed three tries between them.
The Mastercard Golden Lions Women scored a famous win away from home, their first since joining the Premier Division last year and it was well deserved. The EP Queens opted to play Springbok Women loose head incumbent, Saneliswe Charlie, at No 8 for this match and credit to them, it almost worked.
But the Lions deserve praise for their endurance. They led 10-5 at the break, only to see the home side overtake them in the second half, but two tries, one scored in the last minute, saw them home.
The Durban clash, played on Friday, was also close, but perhaps the visitors deserved the win as they outscored the home side three tries to two. One of those tries came from Asiphe Mayaba, who remains the leading try-scorer in the tournament. The Sharks will ponder this defeat, as they were leading 10-5 at the break.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Bulls Daisies 71 (33), Border Ladies 8 (0)
Daisies - Tries: Lusanda Dumke, Sizophila Solontsi, Libbie Janse van Rensburg (2), Simamkele Namba, Shiniqwa Lamprecht (2), Zintle Mpupha, Jakkie Cilliers (2), Lebogang Ralebona. Conversions: Janse van Rensburg (8).
Border - Try: Sesethu Mbodli. Penalty goal: Siphenathi Yeko.
Cell C Sharks Women 16 (10), DHL Western Province 17 (5)
Sharks - Tries: Lindelwa Gwala, Nompumelelo Mathe. Penalty goals: Mary Zulu (2).
WP - Tries: Shaunique Hess, Asiphe Mayaba, Vernique Afrika. Conversion: Chuma Qawe.
EP Queens 15 (0), Mastercard Golden Lions Women 21 (7)
Queens - Tries: Amber Oliver, Saneliswe Charlie. Conversion: Raylene Noubos. Penalty goal: Noubos.
Lions - Tries: Sinalo Honono, Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen, Sharon Baloyi. Conversions: Piwokuhle Nyanda (3).
First Division:
In Bloemfontein, the Free State Women pulled away in the second half to comprehensively beat the defending champions, SWD Eagirls 40-12. The home side held a slender 12-0 lead in the Toyota Stadium but outplayed the visitors – who had some players absent due to a national sevens camp – with winger Sne Mdhletshe bagging a hat-trick of tries.
The Leopards totally overwhelmed the travelling Pumas Women in Potchefstroom. They were up 36-0 at the break and scored another 36 points in the second half to win, 72-0. Flyhalf Lonika Maartens contributed 22 points to their effort.
The win was much needed for the Northwest team to stay in contention for the play-offs.
The Valke Women had too much power for their Welkom hosts, Griffons Women, beating them 48-17 in an entertaining encounter at Down Touch Investments Stadium. The East Rand side were pipped by Limpopo last week but continued their upwards trajectory with their first win in the competition.
Free State Women 40 (12), SWD Eagirls 0 (0)
Free State - Tries: Shandre Fouche, Sne Mdhletshe (3), Chante Olivier, Smanga Dladla. Conversions: Fouche (2), Bernice Strydom (3).
Griffons Women 17 (5), Valke Women 48 (17)
Griffons - Tries: Keabetswa Mohapi, Bianca Schutte, Nokuthula Tembe. Conversion: Tshepiso Matelile.
Valke - Tries: Sindiswa Ngwenya, Ntsako Mbombi, Noxolo Nkambule, Sibonelo Letsala (2), Tanya Shava (3). Conversions: Letsala (2), Tiarischa Maritz (2).
Leopards 72 (36), Pumas Women 0 (0)
Leopards - Tries: Onie Sihlobo (3), Lonika Maartens, Baby Plaatjies (2), Abigail de Jager (2), Vianca Boer (2), Thembakazi Fulela. Conversions: Maartens (7). Penalty goal: Maartens.