Pumas and Leopards continue strong start

The Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women and Leopards Women continued with their impressive starts to the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 2, securing second consecutive victories on the road on Saturday, while the Valke Women scraped home against the Limpopo Blue Bulls Women in Polokwane.

The defending champion Pumas outplayed the Griffons by 65-13 at the Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom for a second win away from home, while the Leopards won 26-17 against the SWD Eagirls at Outeniqua Park in George. The Valke won their first game of the new season by 37-36.

Two tries in the opening 10 minutes laid the foundation for the Leopards’ win. A third try shortly before the break added more pressure on the home side in George, with the visitors leading 19-7 and the Eagirls having to play catch-up rugby in the second half.

SWD’s effort in the second half was much better, but as soon as the Leopards scored their fourth try after 50 minutes, the home crowd realised that it was not going to be their day for celebration.

The match at the University of Limpopo Stadium finished in dramatic fashion when a final conversion, that could have won the match for the home team, went wide, allowing the Valke to leave home with their first win.

The teams traded tries in the opening 20 minutes, with both sides dotting down twice, but Limpopo jumped into the lead with a try five minutes before the halftime whistle and a penalty try on the buzzer to lead 24-12.

They extended their lead to 29-12 with another try shortly after the restart, but then the Valke came back in style. Five unanswered tries over the next 30 minutes handed them a 37-31 lead, but Limpopo scored again, only for fullback Nelly Semenya to miss the last kick of the match.

The Pumas have laid down a clear marker this early in the competition as well. They were way too strong for the Griffons, who played their first match after a bye in round one.

The team from Mpumalanga scored almost at will and were leading 36-6 at half time. They continued in the second half and finished with 11 tries. Sasa Mkhabela landed five conversions and scored a brace of tries for a match tally of 20 points.

Scorers:

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 36 (24), Valke Women 37 (12)

Limpopo – Tries: Prudence Mataba, Masingita Nomvela, Thabiso Mokomane (2), Meriam Mogala, Penalty Try. Conversions: Nelly Semenya (2).

Valke – Tries: Noluthando Nkosi, Lucia Yalezwa Xosana, Noluyanda Mtshweni (2), Awethu Stonga, Johanna Kolifaya, Anele Vilakazi. Conversion: Aviwe Kaduka.

SWD Eagirls 17 (7), Leopards Women 26 (19)

SWD – Tries: Danielle Jonas, Mia-Lee Matiwane, Jerononique Chenille Murphy. Conversion: Antoneica Hannies.

Leopards – Tries: Olwethu Nkotswana (2), Portia Mariquele, Disemelo Motaung. Conversions: Amzolele Gqola (3).

Griffons Women 13 (6), Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women 65 (36)

Griffons – Try: Sebabatso Mochudi. Conversion: Pinkie Touto. Penalty goals: Tshepiso Matelile (2).

Pumas – Tries: Mbali Mzizi, Alucia Mathebula, Pauline Sianga, Jibrine Dube, Megan Guambe, Sasa Mkhabela (2), Alicia Mahlalela (2), Zandile Lukheri, Khetho Vilakazi. Conversions: Mkhabela (5).