A place in the final of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 will be at stake in Wellington on Saturday when the Sanlam Boland Dames host DHL Western Province in round six of the tournament, the penultimate round of the provincial showpiece.
The Western Cape neighbours are the only two sides still in with a realistic chance to finish second on the log and book their golden ticket to the final, where the Bulls Daisies all but secured hosting rights in Pretoria in two weekends’ time.
The remaining sides all having something to play for, although for different reasons.
The Border Ladies, who travel to Gqeberha for their annual Eastern Cape derby with the EP Queens, will be desperate to break their five-game losing streak, while the home side have a rare opportunity to run out to local support at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Serious bragging rights are at stake.
Aphiwe Ngwevu looms large in the visiting midfield and with former sevens international Unathi Mali on her outside, the Ladies’ backline will be a threat all afternoon.
The Sharks Women host the Golden Lions Women at KP2 in Durban, looking for three wins in a row, with their late resurgence after a slow start will give some meaning to their season.
The women from Jozi are also looking for a third win, which should secure them fourth place on the log and a more respectable placing amongst the top eight sides contesting the annual league.
The Durban shoot out will be interesting. Lions coach Timmy Goodwin moved regular scrumhalf Rumandi Potgieter to flyhalf for this clash, no doubt to tactically keep his strong pack of forwards on the front foot.
The Sharks are on a roll, and their pack of forwards look ominous to say the least. Tayla Kinsey is also back for the black and white jerseys and their home ground advantage could swing things their way.
The Daisies will be in Bloemfontein, where the Free State Women will be up against it. The home side had their moments this year, but consistency in execution and high intensity rugby lacked at times and those will be costly against the rampant Daisies, who won their previous five matches with an average score of 63-8. The hosts have an average score of 20-33.
The team from Pretoria will travel with seven capped Springbok Women forwards and three in the starting backline, while Yonela Ngxingolo, Sizophila Solontsi and Chumisa Qawe will add to the second half punch from the bench.
There will be a special touch to this match as the hosts will celebrate the lives of former Bok Women centre and Free State player, Daphne Scheepers, alongside former national captain, Lusanda Dumke, both of whom passed away last year. Scheepers also played for the Daisies earlier in her career.
The Western Cape derby in Wellington will be fierce and exciting, as two of the best finishers in the competition, Voice Ndou and Thereske Kabuika, will be full of running.
Some of the “international duals” will also be good value for money, with Aseza Hele taking on the likes of Sinazo Mcatshulwa and Babalwa Latsha. There will be many massive collisions, but spectators are also in for an exciting afternoon of fast backs running into space.
Match information:
Sharks Women v Golden Lions Women
Venue: KP2, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Kick-off: 11h30
Referee: Yohane Tredoux
Eastern Province Queens v Border Ladies
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Ayanda Ngombane
Sanlam Boland Dames v DHL Western Province
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Kick-off: 12h30
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli
TV: SuperSport channel 247
Free State Women v Isuzu Bulls Daisies
Venue: Field 2, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Chante Olivier
Livestream: YouTube
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