Daisies and Dames Top of the Crop

The Isuzu Bulls Daises finished top of the log in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League yet again as the 2026 version of the tournament finished in style on Saturday, while the Sanlam Boland Dames finished in second place.

The two dies will meet at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday for the 2026 final – Boland’s first appearance in the top tier provincial decider.

The Daisies almost clocked another century of points as they dismissed their Gauteng rivals, the Golden Lions Women, with a 95-5 win, while the Dames had a much tougher fight on their hands in Durban, where they outplayed the Sharks Women 33-22 in a tight match at KP2.

The Free State Women finished their season strongly by beating the Border Ladies 41-24 in East London, while in Gqeberha, DHL Western Province scored eight tries to close out their season with a 42-17 win over the EP Queens, who finished fourth on the overall standings.

Daisies way too slick for Gauteng rivals

The Isuzu Bulls Daisies scored 16 tries in a commanding display of transitional play in their 95-5 victory over the Golden Lions Women in Pretoria, where the biggest disappointment for the home side was not getting another 100 on the board as they held a 53-0 lead at the break.

The Daisies dominated from the start, scoring almost at will and showed to all what standards of rugby will be needed if you want to beat the current champions.

They scored from good lineout variations, with Sizophila Solontsi diving over after such a move, while slick backline play resulted in Thobile Msizazwe dotting down four times to become the leading try scorer in the competition. The Daisies pounced on any Lions mistake, as Camelitha Malone showed when she intercepted to race away for one of her two tries.

The Daisies are laden with Springbok Women players and when all of them are on form, there is not much else the opponents can do but look on from behind their posts. Several capped players showed great form on the day and Zintle Mpupha – who missed four matches due to a suspension – came back in style, scoring a try and converting some as well.

The Golden Lions could not do much. They had some moments in the scrum and got a couple of penalties there, while their fighting spirit also earned them their only try in the second half, but the day was highlighted by the standard bearers in the competition.

Scorers:

• Isuzu Bulls Daisies 95 (53) – Tries: Zintle Mpupha, Doreen Mkhabela, Faith Tshauke, Sizophila Solontsi, Vainah Ubisi, Lebogang Ralebona, Camelitha Malone (2), Shaunique Alexander (2), Naima Hlatshwayo, Thobile Msizazwe (4), Xolelwa Diliza. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (4), Zintle Mpupha (3).
• Golden Lions Women 5 (0) – Try: Xoliswa Khuzwayo.

Dames too good for brave Sharks

The Sanlam Boland Dames outscored their Sharks Women hosts by five tries to four in an exciting 32-22 victory in Durban on Friday for their sixth win in seven games, earning second spot on the log and booking their place to next weekend’s final.

It was not easy at KP2 though. The Sharks Women opened the scoring with a good lineout maul, before the visitors jumped into the lead with two tries. Good interplay between the forwards and backs cracked the code to the Sharks’ defence and the Dames did not look back after taking the lead 18 minutes in.

The home side’s tactical kicking worked well and from that pressure, Cebisa Gumede scored their second try before the Dames responded with a five pointer by Asesa Hele, her sixth of the tournament.

Dames centre Rufaro Tagarira got her second of the day soon after the restart, while the home crowd was entertained by a brilliant solo effort by wing Kwanele Zungu, who stepped past at least six Bolanders on her way to the tryline.

Boland, with the bonus point try in the bag, kept their composure in the final minutes when the home side attacked from all fronts and the reward was their best season finish ever.

Scorers:

• Sharks Women 22 (10) – Tries: Cebisa Gumede, Kwanele Zungu (2), Reneilwe Masiavhula. Conversion: Mary Zulu.
• Sanlam Boland Dames 32 (19) – Tries: Rufaro Tagarira (2), Chloe Adams, Aseza Hele, Sinalo Ziqwayi. Conversions: Adams (2), Penalty goal: Adams.

Strong second half performance eases Free State past Border

The Free State Women finished their season with a strong second half surge in East London, beating the Border Ladies 41-24 at Police Park on Saturday. Scores were tied 17-17 at the break, but the visitors romped away in the second half with four tries.

The first half was tight. Free State scored first when wing Sikholiwe Mdletshe celebrated her return to the game following an injury sustained in round one, but Border replied with two tries by hard-running Springbok centre Aphiwe Ngwevu to take a 12-5 lead.

The visitors scored next, but again Border responded and at the break, scores were even. The Ladies then edged ahead after the restart when prop Nombuyekezo Mdliki crashed over, but then the visitors kicked into another gear, scoring four tries without conceding any more points.

The results means that Free State finished seventh on the log, with Border in last place after failing to secure any wins. The former champions from the Eastern Cape only scored 11 tries in what turned out to be a very underwhelming season for them.

Scorers:

• Border Ladies 24 (17) – Tries: Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Aphiwe Ngwevu (2), Zintle Holofela. Conversions: Holofela (2).
• Free State Women 41 (17) – Tries: Natasha Motlomelo, Sikholiwe Mdletshe, Bernice Strydom, Anelca Hess (2), Anita Tom, Vuyelwa Mosala. Conversions: Hess (3).

WP topple Queens in Gqeberha

DHL Western Province scored eight tries in their final match of the season, pulling away from the EP Queens at the Otto du Plessis High School fields to win by 42-17 (halftime 20-5).

Knowing that they could not qualify for next weekend’s final, the Cape side still played with passion and commitment and it paid dividends.

Three of the eight tries were scored by flanker Anelisiwe Mxabo, but as usual, it was the backs who caught the eye, with some good tries scored out wide.

Alichia Arries continued her good form with a five pointer, while Logan Welman celebrated her first try as a wing at this level, having scored her previous five this season playing at No 8.

The Queens scored once in the first half and added two more tries in the second and although outplayed will look back at the season with satisfaction, finishing fourth on the log.

Scorers:

• EP Queens 17 (5) – Tries: Yolanda Ntibane, Lithalethu Nombakuse, Ruzanne George. Conversion: Julene Haas.
• DHL Western Province 42 (20) – Tries: Anelisiwe Mxabo (3), Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Raeeqah Hendricks, Alichia Arries, Logan Welman, Faith Gosling. Conversion: Donelle Snyders.