Blue Bulls and Western Province to Contest Final of U20 Week

Defending champions, DHL Western Province delivered a masterclass of rugby at Queens High School in Johannesburg with their 57-7 win over Border confirming their place in the final of the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week on Friday where they will face the Blue Bulls. The Pretoria outfit made it to the final courtesy of a hard-fought 20-7 win over tournament hosts, the Golden Lions.

It was a day of close results and drama, with Boland and Free State playing to an exciting draw, while Griquas edged Limpopo Blue Bulls by five points and the SWD Eagles scored the only try of the match in their narrow 11-0 win over Valke.

Earlier in the day the Pumas engaged fifth gear in beating the Northern Invitational XV 33-0 for the second biggest win of the day, while KwaZulu-Natal rebounded nicely with a 26-6 win over Eastern Province.

Day Two match reviews:

Western Province started like a house on fire against Border and then got hotter and hotter. Their 57-3 win (40-0 halftime) was full value for those watching as they effortlessly combined forward power with clinical backline execution, leaving Border clutching at thin air for most of the match.

They scored the first of their nine tries in the opening minutes through winger Ronecia Gordon after good work by the forwards. No 8 Logan Welman scored soon after and then initiated a try for lock Abigail Smit as WP showed too much power and synergy on attack for a shell-shocked Border side to lead 19-0 after 12 minutes

Welman got a second three minutes later, again converted by Anja le Roux, for a 26-0 lead. Scrumhalf Nikicia Eksteen broke well and Welman was on hand to finish the move for her second before flanker Anothando Khatshwa scored their fifth and Le Roux added two more for a 33-0 lead. The duo combined soon after, this time with a Le Roux show-and-go and an inside pass handing the flanker her second in as many minutes to bring 40 points up in 30 minutes played.

Border scored first in the second half with a penalty goal, but it was not long before the blue and white hoops were in full flow again. Lock and captain Sarah Krone scored after another strong Welman burst and Le Roux again added the extras for a 47-3 lead. Prop Lithethaa Maqhude scored yet another try and from the restart WP scored again, this time with winger Saadiqah Corbett getting her name on the scoresheet.

The Blue Bulls scored first against the Golden Lions in the final match of the afternoon, dotting down for their first try after five minutes. The Lions struck back when centre Keletso Masola snatched up a loose pass by the Bulls backline and raced away to score under the sticks. The conversion was good and scores levelled.

That was not for long however as left wing Tiarisha Maritz showed her class with a well-timed run down the touchline, the conversion was made and the lead restored to seven. That margin remained until half time. It was extended to 10 points with 20 to play when Amukelani Lisenga kicked a penalty goal. At this stage it became clear that the Pretoria side were gaining the upper hand on their Gauteng rivals. A second penalty goal by the outside centre extended the lead to 13 points and that proved to be enough as the home side just could not break through, despite some desperate attacks on the blue line.

In the opening match of the day, the Pumas secured a first victory of the week with a commanding 31-0 win over the Northern Invitational side.

The Pumas scored in the opening five minutes and never looked back, chalking up two more tries for a 21-0 lead at the break. Both teams were guilty of basic errors, but the willingness of the Pumas to attack from everywhere handed them the advantage. They scored two more tries in the second half to close out the match.

The SWD Eagirls secured a 11-0 win over Valke in a tightly contested match that was dominated by defence. Both teams had a willingness to attack but did not always execute the basics accurately, resulting in a stop start affair.

The Eagirls kicked an early penalty and held onto that till the break before another tight half ensued. The SWD side showed better game management in the second half and scored the only points – a try and another penalty goal to secure their first win in the tournament.

Griquas flanker Rose Haka scored early in their match against Limpopo Blue Bulls off the back of a strong scrum and in a tight and exciting match, her team held on for a close 10-5 win. That score was the only points in the half, with both teams attacking from all over the field, only to see handling errors costing them dearly.

The second half was close as well, but the Northern Cape side played with more purpose and variation on attack and Haka scored her second out wide to secure the win. Griquas attacked through several phases before Haka received the ball out wide, brushed off two defenders to score in the corner.

Limpopo left wing Amaka Mabosi scored a great try shortly after to cut the lead to five points, but sadly for the team from up north they ran out of time and Griquas could claim a close but deserved win.

KwaZulu-Natal bounced back from their opening day defeat to DHL Western Province, outplaying Eastern Province by 26-5. Most of the hard work was done in the first half, when they scored three tries to race to a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Another try early in the second half pushed the lead to 26-0, but credit to EP, who started to come back into the game, finishing strongest. Their second half effort was rewarded when Lithalethu Nombakuse scored in the final minute of the match, with the hard running outside back proving too fast for her opponents.

Boland scored twice in the last five minutes of their match against Free State to claim a dramatic 24-24 draw. Unfortunately for the Western Cape side, the final try, scored by replacement-flyhalf Courtney Jenniker after a blistering run, was in the corner and she could not convert for a remarkable win.

An early try handed Boland the lead in the first half in a very close affair. Free State managed a try just before the halftime buzzer through flanker Neidene Solomons though and converted it for the halfway lead.

The Bloem side took control of proceedings in the second half with another try by Solomons and added two more to grab a handsome lead and look the likely winner ten minutes from time. Not so though as Boland started a comeback of note with two quickfire tries at the death and levelled scores with the final play of the match.

Scoring summaries:

Pumas 33 (21), Northern Invitational 0 (0)

Pumas – Tries: Success Leshaba, Chantelle Mtsweni, Chris Ross, Megan Guambe, Alicia Mahlalela. Conversions: Fifi Mafa, Anele Dube (3).

SWD Eagirls 11 (3), Valke 0 (0).

SWD – Try: Ashley-Anne- Williams. Penalty goals: Lukho Mpangeva (2).

Griquas 10 (5), Limpopo Blue Bulls 5 (0)

GW – Tries: Rose Haka (2).

LBB – Try: Amaka Mabosi.

KwaZulu-Natal 26 (21), Eastern Province 5 (0)

KZN – Tries: Akhona Gumede (2), Xoliswa Mbatha, Sphesihle Fihlela. Conversions: Melissa Younie (3)

EP – Try: Lithalethu Nombakuse.

Free State 24 (7), Boland 24 (5)

FS – Tries: Mpolai Lesutha, Liane Gerber, Neidene Solomons (2). Conversions: Lizelle Mitchell (2).

Boland – Tries: Shade Jackson, Keira Samuls, Tereske Kabuika, Courtney Jenniker. Conversions: Jenniker, Hayley Hardneck.

DHL Western Province 57 (40), Border 3 (0)

WP – Tries: Logan Welman (2), Abigail Smit, Ronecia Gordon, Anothando Khatshwa (2), Sarah Krone, Lithethaa Maqhude, Saadiqah Corbett. Conversions: Anja le Roux (6).

Border: Penalty goal: Kuhle Lumkwana

Golden Lions 7(7), Blue Bulls 20 (14)

Lions – Tries: Keletso Masola. Conversions: Siphumelele Mdlalose

Bulls – Tries: Tiarisha Maritz, Puseletso Tshoshane. Conversions: Amukelani Lisenga (2). Penalty goals: Lisenga (2).

The fixtures for the final round of matches at Queens High School on Friday have been confirmed:

B-field:

08h30: Northern Invitational v EP

09h40: Valke v Pumas

10h50: Free State v Limpopo Blue Bulls

A- field:

08h30: Boland v SWD

09h40: Griquas v KZN

10h50: Golden Lions v Border

12h00: Western Province v Blue Bulls (final)