The Bulls Daisies confirmed their right to host the Women’s Premier Division final on 29 March by claiming a sixth consecutive win in the competition on Saturday, while their main rivals, Sanlam Boland Dames and DHL Western Province, also scored emphatic wins to remain in the race to the title decider.
Border Ladies claimed the scalp of Free State Women in Bloemfontein in the final match of the round, beating them 26-14, but they’ve fallen too far behind on the standings to push for a spot in the final.
The Daisies totally outplayed their Gauteng neighbours, the Golden Lions Women, in Johannesburg, winning 71-5; the Dames took the Sharks Women to task with a 59-10 win in Wellington; and DHL Western Province smashed EP Queens 69-5.
With one round left, to be played on 22 March, the match between WP and Boland, in Cape Town, can now be regarded as an unofficial semi-final.
The Dames, second on the log, took no prisoners in Wellington and were all over their KZN visitors, leading 24-5 at the break as they yet again finished with a flurry in the second half.
The Sharks got their opening try in the second minute for an unexpected 5-0 lead, but it was not long before the home side struck back. Dames flanker Buhle Sonamzi scored a brace in the opening 40, while their hard-running Springbok No 8 Aseza Hele got her hattrick in the second half. In all, Boland scored nine tries to two.
DHL Western Province totally overwhelmed EP Queens at City Park in Cape Town, outscoring them 11 tries to one. WP wing Shaunique Hess bounced back to form in spectacular fashion, scoring four tries, including the opening two of the encounter, played in hot and windy conditions.
The younger Hess sibling, Bronishia, who played at hooker, also dotted down, making it a memorable weekend for the family, while livewire flanker Anelisiwe Mxabo also got a double and was prominent for the entire match.
The Queens had some early opportunities, but never really got going on an afternoon where the home side were just too skillful and clinical.
It was another runaway win for the Bulls Daisies, this time in their Gauteng derby against the Lions at Wits Rugby Stadium. The visitors from Pretoria scored 11 tries to one, held a 35-0 lead at the break and never looked threatened by the home side.
The defending champions made several changes to their line-up for this match, but it did not break their stride. They have now scored 416 points in six matches and conceded only 37, a clear indication of their dominance in this competition.
Sadly for the Lions, they remain rooted at the bottom of the log with one match, against the Sharks, remaining.
The Border side outplayed their hosts in a entertaining clash at Toyota Stadium. Their decision to move Eloise Webb to flyhalf was a success, as the dual Springbok dictated play nicely.
Webb opened the scoring with a well-taken try and found Aphiwe Ngwevu in space for a 14-0 lead.
The home side’s Sne Mdletshe pulled one back just before the break, but two quick tries by the visitors soon after the resumption of play pushed them into a 26-7 lead.
Mdletshe scored her second in the 66th minute to give her side a sniff, but that was too little too late.
Scorers:
Free State Women 12 (7), Border Ladies 26 (14)
Free State – Tries: Sikholiwe Mdletshe (2). Conversion: Thamie Yako.
Border – Tries: Sindisiwe Mbonja, Eloise Webb, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Zintle Holofela. Conversions: Holofela (3).
Golden Lions Women 5 (0), Bulls Daisies 71 (35)
Lions – Try: Ratidzo Gurajena.
Bulls – Tries: Anathi Qolo, Faith Tshauke (2), Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Chuma Qawe, Zintle Nonkasana, Byrhandre Dolf, Shaunique Alexander, Micke Gunter, Jakkie Cilliers (2). Conversions: Janse van Rensburg (6), Cilliers (2).
DHL Western Province 69 (38), EP Queens 5 (0)
WP – Tries: Shaunique Hess (4), Voice Ndou, Anelisiwe Mxabo (2), Bronishia Hess, Elme Kruger (2), Mari Dalhouzie. Conversions: Kruger (7).
EP – Try: Ruzanne George.
Sanlam Boland Dames 59 (24), Sharks Women 10 (5)
Boland – Tries: Nomawethu Mabenge, Buhle Sonamzi (2), Aseza Hele (3), Lulu Tyibilika, Yola Lumko (2). Conversions; Lara Schats (6), Theresa Ruiters.
Sharks – Tries: Mbali Bukhosini, Silindile Dladla.
Saturnalia
The original cricket wickets used only two stumps over which a bail is attached. This design was changed in 1775 after an English cricketer, Lumpy Stevens, was able to bowl three consecutive balls that shot clear between the stumps. This is why modern wickets have three stumps instead of just two.
Indestructible Potato
South Africa’s triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa, was a symbol of unity for the nation, with the iconic image of Nelson Mandela wearing a Springbok jersey while handing the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar. This event was immortalized in the 2009 film “Invictus.”