The Isuzu Bulls Daisies delivered a decisive second half performance against DHL Western Province to confirm their dominance in the Pick n Pay Women's Super League 1 on Saturday, while the Sharks Women secured their very first win in round four of the competition.
The Daisies scored 24 unanswered points in the second half of their match at Rosina Paarwater Stadium in Bellville to beat WP 50-22, while the Durbanites scored a bonus point 33-19 win over the Free State Women in Bloemfontein.
The Golden Lions Women continued their upwards curve in the competition by outplaying Border Ladies 32-7 for a second consecutive win, while in Gqeberha, Aseza Hele scored a hat-trick against her former team as the Sanlam Boland Dames romped away to beat the EP Queens 41-29, with the victory keeping them in the title race.
Daisies’ power too much for WP
The Isuzu Bulls Daisies remain a notch above the rest of the teams in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1, as their power game proved too much for DHL Western Province, who are second on the log, in Cape Town.
The home side started like a house on fire, scoring two quick fire tries to jump into a 12-0 lead in the opening stanza, but once the visitors settled down, they clawed their way back into the game and past the home side.
The opening spell looked promising for WP, and they attacked well and opened holes in the Daisies’ defence to score twice in short succession. The visitors from Pretoria responded with a powerful lineout drive and a strong run by Sizo Solontsi, but WP hit back with Babalwa Latsha barging over.
Libbie Janse van Rensburg extended the Daisies’ lead again with a good burst before wing Shaunique Alexander ran a beautiful line off a Janse van Rensburg pass to score.
WP wing Alichia Arries, who looked dangerous throughout, scored just before the break to keep the hosts in striking distance.
The only shots fired in the second half were by the visitors though as they scored four times, once from a power run by replacement prop Lebogang Ralebona and a brace by wing Thobile Msizazwe.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province 22 (22) – Tries: Shaunique Hess, Anelisiwe Mxabo, Babalwa Latsha, Alichia Arries. Conversion: Elme Kruger.
Isuzu Bulls Daisies 50 (26) – Tries: Doreen Mkhabela, Sizo Solontsi, Vainah Ubisi, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Lebogang Ralebona, Shaunique Alexander, Thobile Msizazwe (2). Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (3), Janse van Rensburg (2).
Dames bounce back against Queens
The Sanlam Boland Dames stayed third on the Pick n Pay Women's Super League 1 log with a good win over the EP Queens at Otto du Plessis High School in Gqeberha.
The visitors were pushed all the way by the Queens, but a strong second half burst made the difference in an entertaining match that yielded 12 tries.
Two Tereske Kabuika tries and one from Aseza Hele gave Boland the lead at the break, with two Amber Olivier tries a good response by EP, but when Hele scored soon after the start of the second half, the momentum started to shift.
Another Hele try and another from wing Kabuika moved the Dames into a commanding position and when Eloise Webb also dotted down in the 64th minute, Boland looked locked in for a win.
Credit to the Queens, who came back with two tries in the last five minutes, but the Dames did enough to secure a third win in four matches.
Scorers:
EP Queens 29 (12) – Tries: Amber Olivier (2), Olwethu Kasibe, Hlomla Puzi, Julene Haas. Conversion: Siphenathi Yeko.
Sanlam Boland Dames 41 (17) – Tries: Aseza Hele (3), Tereske Kabuika (3), Eloise Webb. Conversions: Chloe Adams, Zintle Nonkosana (2).
Lions impress yet again in Alberton
The Golden Lions Women had a strong first half against Border Ladies, leading 22-7 at the break of their Pick n Pay Women's Super League 1 match at Alberton Rugby Club, and scored the only points in the second half as well for a 32-7 win.
The Lions’ pack laid the foundation for this one, securing quality ball, wisely used by scrumhalf Rumandi Potgieter, who showed all of her international experience. Border had not much luck on attack and ran out of steam in the second half.
With the win, the Jozi side moved up the standings and are in fifth position with three rounds left. Border are the only side who have not yet won a match.
Scorers:
Golden Lions Women 32 (22) – Tries: Kamogelo Thloloe (2), Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Rumandi Potgieter, Siyonela Macamba, Ntsako Mbombi. Conversion: Potgieter.
Border 7 (7) – Try: Zahara Makhomazi. Conversion: Khanya Ketani.
Sharks grab first win as Free State falter
The Sharks Women dropped their Pick n Pay Women's Super League 1 bogey with a solid win in Bloemfontein against a Free State Women side who just could not going.
It was close at the break, with the Sharks scoring the first two tries of the match and leading 14-7 after Anelca Hess scored, but in the second half the coastal visitors started to dominate through their pack, which opened up space in the backs.
They scored two more unanswered tries to push even further ahead and although Angy Lesele pulled one back at the hour mark, a try by Sharks wing Kwanele Zungu sealed the home side's fate.
Hess scored her second just before the final whistle, but it was too little too late for the Free State side.
Scorers:
Free State Women 19 (7) – Tries: Anelca Hess (2), Angy Lesele. Conversions: Hess (2).
Sharks Women 33 (14) – Tries: Sinenhlanhla Cebekhulu (2), Owami Zikhali, Cebisa Gumede, Kwanele Zungu. Conversions: Mary Zulu (4).