The Daisies were way too strong for the Cell C Sharks’ defence at Loftus Versfeld and scored 17 tries, with dual Springbok Rights Mkhari bagging a hat-trick which included a magnificent solo effort in the variety of skills displayed by the team from Pretoria. Every set piece looked like a potential try-scoring opportunity for the home side, who dismissed their opponents from Durban with ease to win by 107-3.
The other two matches played on Saturday delivered much tighter affairs. The Border Ladies had to erase a deficit on the score board to beat Boland Dames 31-18 in East London and in Alberton, only a try by Chuma Qawe separated DHL Western Province from the Mastercard Golden Lions Women, with the visitors winning by 15-10.
Border scored first at Police Park and held a slender 7-5 lead at the break before Boland rallied in the second half, taking the lead after two good tries, one of which was scored by Theresa Ruiters in her 58th match for the Dames.
The home side refused to stop playing though and that attitude earned them the win as they overhauled Boland in the last 20 minutes.
The match to the south of Johannesburg was tightly contested and the Cape side had to work very hard for this win. Their pack of forwards were under pressure and it was left to their speedy backs to save the day.
Sinazo Mcatshulwa on the attack for DHL WP.
Asiphe Mayaba got her 12th try of the season to hand the visitors a 5-0 lead, before the Lions equalled matters with their first try.
A try shortly before the break by Sinazo Mcatshulwa, from a strong burst, gave WP the lead at half-time, but the Lions again levelled matters in the second half. It was all to play for until fullback Qawe finished off a good backline move in what proved to be the decisive score of the match.
Meanwhile, the Border Ladies were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in their match against the Boland Dames in Vredenburg on 27 May, following an independent investigation into the matter. The penalty for this infringement of the competition rules is that they have forfeited the five log points they got from the match. The Dames received one log point for scoring four tries, which remains unchanged.
Premier Division standings (after 10 rounds):
1 Bulls Daisies – 45 points (after 9 matches)
2 DHL WP – 32 (9 matches)
3 Border Ladies – 32 (10 matches)
4 Mastercard Golden Lions Women – 16 (10 matches)
5 Boland Dames – 12 (8 matches)
6 Cell C Sharks Women – 11 (8 matches)
7 EP Queens – 8 (9 matches)
Scorers:
Bulls Daisies 107 (57), Cell C Sharks Women 3 (3)
Bulls – Tries: Lusanda Dumke, Rights Mkhari (3), Asithandile Ntoyanto (3), Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Jakkie Cilliers (2), Marlize de Bruin, Zintle Mpupha, Patience Mokone (2), Lebogang Ralebona (2), Lerato Makua. Conversions: Janse van Rensburg (8), Cilliers (3).
Sharks – Penalty goal: Mary Zulu.
Border Ladies 31 (7), Boland Dames 18 (5)
Border – Tries: Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Felica Jacobs (2), Snenhlanhla Shozi, Yandisa Nobanda. Conversions: Nobanda (2), Siphenathi Yeko.
Boland – Tries: Buhle Sonamzi, Theresa Ruiters, Gaamiela Josephs. Penalty goal: Tarren Munodaani.
Mastercard Golden Lions Women 10 (5), DHL Western Province 15 (10)
Lions – Tries: Sinalo Honono, Sarah Mokwebo.
WP – Tries: Asiphe Mayaba, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Chuma Qawe.
All smiles after another big win for the Free State Women.
Women’s First Division
The Free State Women completed the league phase of the competition with an unblemished record on Saturday, running riot in Middelburg to beat the Pumas Women by 135-0. The visitors were regarded as favourites, and the win cemented top spot on the log and hosting rights in of one of two semi-finals to be played next weekend.
Free State captain Bernice Strydom – the tournament’s leading points’ scorer before the last round – scored 52 points against the Pumas, with eight tries and six conversions in what is a new record for the most points scored by a women’s player in a first-class match in South Africa.
The Bloemfontein side will meet Limpopo Blue Bulls Women, who despite a 36-10 defeat to the SWD Eagirls, hung onto fourth spot, which means a trip to Bloemfontein next weekend.
The Eagirls will host the Leopards Women in the other semi-final in George after finishing second on the log. The Leopards, runners up last year after losing in the final to the Eagirls, finished third thanks to a 60-12 victory over the Valke Women in Kempton Park, with fullback Vianca Boer bagging three tries.
Griquas Women finished their season on a high note as they outplayed neighbours, Griffons Women 37-15 in Kimberley.
Scorers:
Valke Women 12 (7), Leopards Women 60 (31)
Valke – Tries: Matshediso Bojosi, Tanya Shava. Conversion: Sima Kaulela.
Leopards – Tries: Khumo Sefako, Thembakazi Fulela, Lonika Maartens, Baby Plaatjies (2), Vianca Boer (3), Mpho Tsima, Abigail de Jager. Conversions: Maartens (5).
Pumas Women 0 (0), Free State Women 135 (61)
Free State – Tries: Welmarie Fouche (4), Natasha Motlomelo, Afika Mbengo, Kamohelp Makoele (3), Bernice Strydom (8), Nomfundo Pampiri, Sne Mdletshe, Goitseone Nche, Natz Makhubela. Conversions: Strydom (6), Shandre Fouche (8), Makoele.
Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 10 (5), SWD Eagirls 36 (24)
Limpopo – Tries: Nokuthula Mahaole, Delsy Mkansi.
SWD – Tries: Shannon-Lee Windvogel, Andisiwe Goniwe, Antonecia Hannies, Thereza Roberts, Nicole-kay Flandorf, Yolandi Simpson. Conversions: Hannies (3).
Griquas Women 37 (20), Griffons Women 15 (5)
Griquas – Tries: Nelly Skosana, Nomvila Sekosana, Vee Mosala, Wiandra Onke, Antoinette Kotze (2), Lana Hendricks. Conversion: Lauren Januarie.
Griffons – Tries: Tshepiso Matelile, Pinkie Touto. Conversion: Touto. Penalty goal: Touto.
Final standings after seven leagues games (with log points):
1 Free State Women – 35 points
2 SWD Eagirls – 30
3 Leopards Women – 24
4 Limpopo Blue Bulls Women – 20
5 Valke Women – 17
6 Griquas Women – 11
7 Pumas Women – 5
8 Griffons Women – 0
