Women’s Super League 1 Kicks off With a Bang

The Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 kicked off in dramatic fashion on Saturday, with a record win to the Isuzu Bulls Daisies and an unexpected victory on the road for the EP Queens the main features on a weekend that also delivered impressive victories for DHL Western Province and the Sanlam Boland Dames.

The Daisies smashed the Border Ladies 100-0, scoring 16 tries at Police Park in their biggest win over their Eastern Cape rivals ever, while the Queens shocked their hosts, the Golden Lions Women, with a four-try bonus point in their 32-12 victory in Alberton.

DHL Western Province had a great first half against the Sharks Women, scoring five unanswered tries in their 51-19 win at City Park in Cape Town, while the Sanlam Boland Dames started their campaign with a six tries to one 36-5 win over Free State Women in Wellington.

EP Queens romp home in Alberton

The EP Queens caused the first upset of the competition by outplaying the Golden Lions Women in Alberton, with a bonus point 32-12 win making the trip from Gqeberha worth their while.

The visitors can thank their industrious backs for the victory, as they showed more intent and flair on the attack, while the home side, who held their own in the pack, made too many handling errors to create real pressure on the EP side.

EP flyhalf Julene Haas opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a well-taken try and the 19-year-old certainly made an early impression. The try was converted by Siphenathi Yeko, who also kicked a penalty goal to put EP 10-0 up.

The Lions responded well with a converted try, but from the restart, a great try by wing Lukhanye Lolo extended EP’s lead to 10 points again, with that margin remaining until halftime (17-7).

Haas, who had to leave the field due to injury, was replaced by Lee-Jane Harris and the replacement flyhalf also found her way to the tryline 50 minutes in. At this time, the more adventurous approach by the Queens backline proved more efficient, but they could noy finish off the opportunities created.

Instead, it was the home side who scored 54 minutes in to edge closer, but a great finish by EP wing Joane Boesak rounded off a perfect afternoon for the visitors.

Scorers:

• Golden Lions Women 12 (7) – Tries: Sarah Mokwebo, Siphumelele Mdlalose. Conversion: Rumandi Potgieter.
• EP Queens 32 (17) – Tries: Lee-Jane Harris, Lukhanye Lolo, Julene Haas, Joanne Boesak. Conversions: Siphenathi Yeko (3). Penalty goals: Yeko (2).

Isuzu Bulls Daisies run riot against Border Ladies

It was a total rout at Police Park in East London, where the Isuzu Bulls Daisies made a telling statement of their intent for the 2026 season, scoring 16 tries on their way to a 100-0 victories, their biggest win ever over the former champions from the Eastern Cape, who were pummelled into submission by the all-out attack from the Pretoria side.

It took the visitors nine minutes to score, with the first try coming from prop Asiza Mkiva on her Daisies debut, but then it started raining five pointers.

Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Jakkie Cilliers reminded their pack that the backs came to play as well with two tries in as many minutes, before Xolelwa Diliza scored twice in quick succession.

That was followed by five pointers from Daisies wings Shaunique Alexander and Thobile Msizazwe, even though Vainah Ubisi was yellow carded at this stage. Alexander got her second and when Ubisi returned, she made amends with a try just before the break.

With a 60-0 lead at the break, the century was on the cards, especially when the Daisies unleashed their bench after 50 minutes. Another 40 points followed as Border were just overwhelmed by the class and fitness of their opponents.

Scorers:

• Isuzu Bulls Daisies 100 (60) – Tries: Zintle Mpupha (2), Yandisa Nobanda, Sizophila Solontsi, Vainah Ubisi (2), Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Lebogang Ralebona, Shaunique Alexander (2), Azisa Mkiva, Jakkie Cilliers, Thobile Msizazwe (2), Xolelwa Diliza (2). Conversions: Janse van Rensburg (6), Cilliers (4).
• Border Ladies 0

Sanlam Boland Dames too good for Free State

Sanlam Boland Dames took control early in their match against Free State Women at Boland Stadium and never released that grip throughout the 80 minutes in Wellington, sealing a 36-5 in front of their home crowd.

It was not a flawless performance by the Dames, with early season flutters like game management and handling part of their day, but overall, they proved too powerful and slick for the visitors and were full value to the crowd in this bonus point win.

Boland opened the scoring just after the 10-minute mark with wing Arthea King going over in the corner. Tereska Kabuika, on debut on the other wing, scored soon after, before another newcomer to the black and gold, fullback Chloe Adams, added a third try after 25 minutes.

The visitors responded just under the half hour mark when Sikholiwe “Sne” Mdletshe finished well to score in the left corner, but Boland secured their bonus point before the halftime buzzer when Felicia Jacobs dotted down for her first try of the season. The conversion was good for a 22-5 lead at the break.

The second half was more of a contest as the visitors got some parity with regards to possession, but when lock Marlene Adams was yellow carded, the Dames pounced with a try by flanker Buhle Sonamzi.

The home side finished strongly with centre Rufaru Tagarira crossing in the closing stages, sealing an emphatic six-try victory.

Scorers:

• Sanlam Boland Dames 36 (22) – Tries: Arthea King, Tereska Kabuika, Chloe Adams, Felicia Jacobs, Buthle Sonamzi, Rufana Tagarira. Conversions: Zintle Nonkasana (3).
• Free State Women 5 (5) – Try: Sikholiwe Mdletshe.

DHL WP off to a strong start in Coastal Derby

Western Province started like a house on fire in Cape Town, where two early tries by wing Alichia Arries and No 8 Logan Welman saw them race into a 12-0 lead before ten minutes on the clock on the City Park clock, and they went on to record a comfortable 51-19 win.

Arries scored a second try from an intercept and Luchell Hanekom from short range before Voice Ndou ran half the field to add the fifth try before the visitors could respond.

Tayla Kinsey, playing at flyhalf, sliced through from a lineout move just before the half hour mark, but Welman bagged her second shortly after to confirm the home side’s authority in the match, with a commanding 34-7 lead at the break.

The second half was more of a contest. WP scrumhalf Alicia Willemse sniped around the scrum to score before Lindelwa Gwala – back in the black and white strip following two seasons with the Ealing Trailfinders – dotted down from a lineout drive for the visitors.

WP responded with a try by captain Sinazo Mcatshulwa, but once again the Sharks came back with a try, this time by No 8 Megan Comley.

Ndou got her second in the dying stages of the game to secure the half century for the Cape side.

Scorers:

• DHL Western Province 51 (34) – Tries: Alicia Willemse, Voice Ndou (2), Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Luchell Hanekom, Logan Welman (2), Alichia Arries (2). Conversions: Elme Kruger (3).
• Sharks Women 19 (7) – Tries: Tayla Kinsey, Lindelwa Gwala, Megan Comley. Conversions: Kinsey (2).