The top three sides in the Women’s First Division all recorded big victories in the sixth round of the competition this weekend, while the Valke Women also scored an important win away from home.
The East Rand side had to work hard to beat Pumas Women 38-10, but all of Free State Women, Leopards Women and SWD Eagirls registered big scores to confirm their dominance in the competition.
The log leaders from the Free State made their intentions very clear by running fourth-placed Limpopo Blue Bulls Women ragged in Bloemfontein, winning 79-0. The Leopards Women outgunned the Griffons Women by 76-7 and the Eagirls came away from Kimberley with a 69-15 win over Griquas Women.
The rampant Free State held a 36-0 lead at the break at the Toyota Stadium and just kept going in the second half. Their backline scored no less than 10 of their 13 tries, with fullback Sne Mdletshe bagging a second hat-trick in as many weeks.
She has now scored 17 tries in six matches. Mdletshe’s good form has been noticed and she was called up to a national sevens development camp in Stellenbosch this week.
The Leopards Women delivered their most convincing win of the season in Welkom, running in 12 tries in a in a 76-7 rout over the Griffons Women.
The team from North West’s backline scored 11 of their tries, with fullback Vianca Boer crossing for five. The former Griquas Under-18 player has been in good form recently and dotted down nine times for the Leopards this season.
The Valke Women proved too strong for their neighbours to the east, beating the Pumas Women 38-10 in Middelburg. The visitors took control early on and never allowed the home side to get any momentum. Valke outside centre Tanya Shava scored her eighth try in the tournament thus far.
The Griquas Women found defending champions, SWD Eagirls too hot to handle in Kimberley. Eagirls wing Shannon-Lee Windvogel scored yet another hat-trick and her 18 tries thus far in the tournament is the leading mark amongst try-scorers.
Credit to the home side, who despite being 38-0 down at the break, came back with gusto in the second half, scoring three tries of their own.
Scorers:
Free State Women 79 (36), Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 0 (0)
Free State – Tries: Elizna Fortuin, Kamohelo Makoele, Bonolo Tladi, Bernice Strydom, Ruby Thlapane, Nomfundo Pampiri (3), Sne Mdletshe (3), Anele Dumela. Conversions: Strydom (7).
Griffons Women 7 (0), Leopards Women 76 (38)
Griffons – Try: Bianca Schutte. Conversion: Blessing Lira.
Leopards – Tries: Vianca Boer (5), Marli George (2), Teddy Gatyana (2), Baby Plaatjies (2), Nadine van Reenen. Conversions: Lonika Martens (8).
Pumas Women 10 (5), Valke Women 38 (19)
Pumas – Tries: Percygen Mnguni, Mandisa Skosana.
Valke – Tries: Matshediso Bojosi, Sindiswa Ngwenya, Noxolo Nkambule, Sibonelo Letsela (2), Tanya Shava. Conversions: Bojosi (4).
Griquas Women 15 (0), SWD Eagirls 69 (36)
Griquas – Tries: Beatriz Canchibato, Jaunine Jacobs, Charmell Visagie.
SWD – Tries: Nicole-kay Flandorf, Leceta Cornelius, Shannon-Lee Windvogel (3), Chante Jonck (2), Siviwe Basweni, Britney Williams, Amanda Klassen (2). Conversions: Antonecia Hannies (7).
Alpha
The first rugby team to perform the Haka did so 1888 – The Haka, a traditional dance of Maori People, was first performed by New Zealand Rugby Team The Natives in 1888 to demonstrate their pride, strength, and unity. It has been performed before games ever since and has become a symbol of rugby for New Zealand. Whether you’re a Kiwi or not, it’s one of those spine-tingling moments when you know a big game is about to be played. The Haka is one of the most iconic moments in rugby
Esquire
The England Cricket Team is the only team in ODI history to lose a 60 over ODI Final (1979 World Cup), a 50 over ODI Final (1992 World Cup and 2004 Champions Trophy) and a 20 over ODI Final (2013 Champions Trophy) in ICC tournaments.