The Isuzu Bulls Daisies and DHL Western Province retained their unbeaten status in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 this weekend, while the Golden Lions won their first game of the season, but the third round was not kind to the Sanlam Boland Dames, who came up short in Pretoria.
The Daisies outplayed Boland with ease in a match that just lasted 48 minutes, before a lightning warning halted play at Loftus Versfeld and the home side 47-8 ahead.
Western Province scored a bonus point win in East London, outplaying Border Ladies 24-7 at Police Park, while the Golden Lions Women scored eight tries in their win over Free State Women, who dotted down six times themselves, with the 48-32 victory in Alberton turning the corner for the home side, who lost their opening two matches.
The Sharks Women dropped out of contention in Gqeberha, conceding five tries as the EP Queens won 29-19.
DAISIES BRUSH DAMES ASIDE IN WEATHER AFFECTED CLASH
The Isuzu Bulls Daisies flexed some of their considerable muscle in Pretoria on Saturday and by defeating Sanlam Boland Dames 47-8 reminded everyone just who the torch bearers of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 are.
The hosts were up 40-8 at the break and scored soon after the restart, only to have the match first halted and then suspended due to inclement weather over Loftus Versfeld. It was a point a minute for the Daisies, who just had too much class across the field and they executed very well.
The Dames actually scored first when flyhalf Chloe Adams landed a well taken penalty goal three minutes in, with the ball bouncing off the crossbar and over, but it didn’t take long for the Daisies to take control.
Two quickfire tries by Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Sizophila Solontsi handed all the momentum back to the home side. They scored two more tries via Vainah Ubisi and Doreen Nkhabela as the pack took control.
Dames wing Tereske Kabuika pulled one back for the visitors in what was one of the best individual tries of the match, as she used her pace to get in space and then sprinted 70m to score in the corner.
The Daisies responded with a well-taken try by Jakkie Cilliers, who ran onto a delightful chip kick by Janse van Rensburg, before Solontsi showed pace and power for her second five-pointer of the afternoon.
The second half barely started before the weather warning came and the teams had to leave the field, but not before Dineo Ndhlovu finished a powerful drive by the pack. Cilliers kicked beautifully all afternoon and converted six tries for a personal tally of 17 points in the match.
SCORERS:
Isuzu Bulls Daisies 47 (40) – Tries: Doreen Mkhabela, Sizohila Solontsi (2), Vainah Ubisi, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Dineo Ndhlovu, Jakkie Cilliers. Conversions: Cilliers (6).
Sanlam Boland Dames 8 (8) – Try: Tereske Kabuika. Penalty goal: Chloe Adams.
EP QUEENS REIGN SUPREME IN COASTAL DERBY
The EP Queens kept their Pick n Pay WSL title aspirations alive with a well-taken 29-19 win over their coastal foes, the Sharks Women, in Gqeberha.
The win at Otto du Plessis High School came despite the home side's love affair with yellow cards in the tournament, bagging another three in this match. A strong second half overhauled the Durban side, who held sway at 14-7 at the break.
Queens centre Ruzanne George scored the opening try, only to be sent to the bin five minutes later. The Sharks took proper advantage of the extra player on the field with scrumhalf Xoliswa Mbatha dotting down twice in quick succession. Mary Zulu converted both and suddenly the visitors were up at the break.
A brace of tries by prop Hlomla Puzi pushed the home side to the right side of the result and gave them momentum as they took a 19-14 lead after an hour of play.
Despite Puzi then being yellow carded, the Queens scored two more tries, with the final one, by lock Olwethu Kasibe getting them clear of any potential comebacks by the visitors. Come back they did, but a late try by the team in black and white only slightly delayed the celebrations for the home crowd.
SCORERS:
Eastern Province Queens 29 (19) – Tries: Olwethu Kasibe, Sinoxolo Soga, Hlomla Puzi (2), Joanne Boesak. Conversions: Siphenathi Yeko (2).
Sharks Women 19 (14) – Tries: Xoliswa Mbatha (2), Sinenhlanhla Luthuli. Conversions: Mary Zulu (2).
STRONG SECOND HALF RESULTS IN BONUS POINT WIN FOR WP IN EAST LONDON
The Border Ladies started strongest in East London, where an early converted try by centre Sesethu Mbodli handed them a 7-0 lead after six minutes of their Pick n Pay WSL clash at Police Park.
The visitors did well to keep the Border attackers away from their tryline. They lost lock Sinazo Mcatshulwa to the bin just before the half hour mark, but instead of Border capitalising on the extra player, it was WP who struck. Not once, but twice.
First Voice Ndou dotted down and she was followed by fellow wing Alichia Arries just before the break, handing the Cape side a 10-7 lead at the break.
Mcatshulwa made up for her first half indiscretion soon after the start of the second half and her try extended WP’s lead to 15-7. Border lost some momentum through a couple of injuries and HIA referrals, while the Capetonians were boosted by a very strong bench all contributing well from the 60 minute mark onwards.
Ndou made merry of the increased attacking opportunities and space and got her second in the last five minutes of play, handing her side a valuable try-scoring bonus point.
SCORERS:
Border Ladies 7 (7) – Try: Sesethu Mbodli. Conversion: Zintle Holofela.
DHL Western Province 24 (10) – Tries: Voice Ndou (2), Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Alichia Arries. Conversions: Elme Kruger, Anja le Roux.
LIONS BAG FIRST WIN IN ALBERTON TRY-FEST
The Golden Lions Women secured their first win of the Pick n Pay WSL in Alberton with a hard-fought but deserved 48-32 win over Free State Women after leading by 24-10 at the break.
The Alberton Rugby Club faithful were treated to 14 tries in total and finally experienced their home team executing. It is hard to believe the Gauteng side only scored one try before this match, where they mixed up their attack in fine style.
They scored four tries in the opening 20 minutes before the Bloem side managed to crawl back into the game with two tries.
The second half was much closer with both teams taking turns to score. The Lions extended their halftime lead with a try by flanker Aretha Thomo, before the Free State pulled one back via Yanga Ndabeni.
A converted try by Siphumelele Mdlalose sealed the win, but the visitors did score two more tries in the last five minutes, but that came too late for glory.
SCORERS:
Golden Lions Women 48 (24) – Tries: Kamogelo Thloloe, Hlobisile Mbatha, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Stella Ncube (2), Khanyisile Ntai, Aretha Thomo, Siphumelele Mdlalose. Conversions: Rumandi Potgieter (4).
Free State Women 32 (10) – Tries: Yanga Ndabeni, Monique Smith, Lonele Fuzile (2), Anita Tom, Nontobeko Mohuli. Conversion: Juanine Jacobs.