3 in a Row for Bulls Daisies

The Bulls Daisies once again proved they have no peers on the provincial scene by beating DHL Western Province 46-31 in a pulsating Women’s Premier Division final at Loftus Versfeld that delivered 12 tries, with the champions from Pretoria defending the title they’ve held since 2023.

But it wasn’t plain sailing after the visitors delivered a very promising first half, with the scores tied at 17-17 at the break, but once the Daisies made some adjustments in the second half, they broke clear to seal another well-deserved win.

All credit to DHL WP, who never stopped trying, as was shown by the final try of the match when all was lost already.

The Capetonians came to play, but the Daisies were also full of running early on. Ten minutes of all out action by the home side were needed to break down the DHL WP defence and when they finally found the space they needed, the impressive Faith Tshauke (No 8) crashed over.

Province’s early defence was good and they stopped a couple of lineout drives and attacks on the flanks, where dangerous wing Ayanda Malinga was given no space by WP’s alert tacklers.

However, the early composure the visitors showed was starting to disappear in the face of relentless attacks by the Bulls. They made heavy weather of basic play, like getting out of their red zone with sloppy passing, charged down kicks and lost lineout throws near their own line.

With no way to relieve the pressure, even when in possession, it was a matter of time for something to give and it did 17 minutes in when Jakkie Cilliers scored the first of her three tries from turnover ball near the WP line.

The Daisies outside centre crashed over to extend their lead to 10-0, with her second conversion attempt just missing the target despite a good strike.

That “soft try” almost refocused the visitors, who enjoyed a good couple of minutes and came within five metres of the Daisies’ line. Forcing the champions into some defensive errors reaped rewards when WP lock Mari Dalhouzie crashed over from a quick tap and a good run by Azisa Mkiva. Elme Kruger converted and the lead was down to three after 25 minutes.

The try sparked up the Daisies in turn, who kept the pressure from the restart, with no respite until Malinga was worked into space, where she scored the Daisies’ third try in just under half an hour. Cilliers added the conversion for a 17-7 lead.

DHL WP attacked well for a couple of minutes, but when these attacks were thwarted by determined Daisies defence, Kruger slotted a drop goal that dripped of class. The three points were good reward for a good spell of pressure placed on the Daisies.

That reaped more reward when Anuschka Groenewald intercepted a Byrhandre Dolf pass after the halftime hooter sounded when the Daises tried to run it from their own line after a good turnover. Kruger converted to square things up at the break.

Patience Mokone scored a peach of a try shortly after play resumed. Daisies captain Micke Gunter won a good turnover and her run created space on the outside and once the wing was fed the ball, there was no stopping the leading try scorer in the competition, who stepped inside and out to score. Cilliers converted and suddenly all the pressure was back on the visitors.

The Cape side lost fullback Donëy Filies due to a head knock early in the second half and to add more misery, Sanelisiwe Charlie finished a lovely lineout move with good variation. Lerato Makua won the ball, it was moved to the front of the lineout and there was no stopping Charlie from close range.

At 29-17 with 30 minutes left to play, things were looking ominous for the Capetonians. Cilliers scored her second on the stroke of the hour to extend the host team’s lead to 34-17 and from then on in, it was just a matter of by how much the Daisies will win by.

Voice Ndou would not have any of it though as she scored a great try on the counter-attack. The WP wing, who scored in last year’s final as well, raced in to dot down under the sticks and the conversion cut the Daisies’ lead to 10.

Malinga had a counter argument though and after some soft hands on her inside, the Bulls speedster struck and the score jumped to 39-24.

Cilliers, who had an off day with the boot, scored her third with six minutes to play after more good handling by the inside backs. She converted to push the Daisies’ lead to 46-24.

WP wing Leigh Fortuin, who had a productive afternoon with ball in hand, got the last try of the match, after the final buzzer, when she scored in the corner. Alicia Willemse kicked a lovely conversion, but the 46-31 scoreline was a fair reflection of the day’s action.

Scorers:

Bulls Daisies 46 (17) – Tries: Faith Tshauke, Jakkie Cilliers (3), Ayanda Malinga (2), Patience Mokone, Sanelisiwe Charlie. Conversions: Cilliers (3).

DHL Western Province 31 (17) – Tries: Mari Dalhouzie, Anushka Groenewald, Voice Ndou, Leigh Fortuin. Conversions Elme Kruger (2), Alicia Willemse (2). Drop goal: Kruger.