Cape Town and Gqeberha in the spotlight in WSL

PREVIEW, ROUND FOUR: The only two undefeated sides in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1, the Bulls Daisies and Western Province, collide in a fourth-round match that is most likely going to determine hosting rights for the final, which is less than a month away, on April 4.

Last year’s two finalists meet at the Rosina Paarwater Stadium in Bellville for this crucial fixture, while in Gqeberha, the EP Queens host Boland Dames in yet another significant match. Both sides have won two of their first three games, and a defeat to either could spell the end of their title aspirations, as there is no semi-final round in this single-round competition.

Elsewhere, the Golden Lions Women host the Border Ladies in Alberton, and the Free State Women welcome their Sharks counterparts to Bloemfontein.

The Lions won big last weekend, but will underestimate the winless Border side at their own peril. The Eastern Cape team has been slow to get into their stride this season, and although they are improving every week, the momentum and altitude are with the Gauteng side.

Free State also face a Sharks team that will be desperate for a first win. The visitors have enough experience in their ranks to take it all the way in Bloemfontein, but as the hosts showed against the Queens two weeks ago, they are not an easy side to face at home.

The inclusion of the elusive Anelca Hess at outside centre could prove a masterstroke by Free State coach Aschin Klein. Hess, who played at fullback for the Sanlam Boland Dames last year, is a great threat to any defence, and the Durbanites will have to keep their eyes on her.

The EP Queens won their matches against the Golden Lions and Sharks with good attacking rugby. They have a good blend of power in the pack and strike runners in the backs to make any trip to Gqeberha an uncomfortable visit.

The Dames should have the answers, though, as they also have some game breakers of their own. The threats posed by Springbok No 8 Aseza Hele are well-known,n and the Queens would have noticed the massive strike power of Tereske Kabuika out wide.

The Bellville clash will be fierce. Such is the current dominance of these two teams thus far that all six top try scorers in the competition are from their ranks.

WP wing Voice Ndou leads the charge with six tries, with Logan Welman (WP), Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Daisies), and Vainah Ubisi (Daisies) contributing four tries so far, while Sizo Solontsi (Daisies) dotted down three times.

To add to Daisies’ punch, Chumisa Qawe returns to the midfield where she pairs up with Jakkie Cilliers, the leading points’ scorer after three rounds, while up front, Fiona Cooper will start at lock after making her debut off the bench last week.

The tight phases will be fiercely contested with the expected scrum battle between two Springbok props – Daisies loosehead Sanelisiwe Charlie and WP tighthead Babalwa Latsha – is worth the trip to Bellville alone.

WP have five Springbok Women in their pack and can certainly match the visitors, while at the back, the threat of Ndou is certainly one that will keep the Daisies’ defence alert and honest.

Saturday, March 7

Golden Lions Women v Border Ladies
(Alberton Rugby Club, Alberton  – 12.00, 14.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Golden Lions by five points

Teams:

Golden Lions Women: TBC

Border Ladies: TBC

Referee: Chante Olivier

Free State Women v Sharks Women
(CUT Fields, Bloemfontein –  12.00, 14.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Free State by seven points

Free State Women: TBC

Sharks Women: 15 Mary Zulu, 14 Kwanele Zungu, 13 Nontobeko Mathupha, 12 Sisanda Ndlela, 11 Owami Zikhali, 10 Tayla Kinsey, 9 Xoliswa Mbatha, 8 Megan Comley, 7 Nobuhle Mjwara, 6 Nomonde Mbanjwa, 5 Ahlume Bentswana, 4 Sinoyolo Best, 3 Sinenhlanhla Cebekhulu, 2 Cebisa Gumede, 1 Vanessa Holmes
Replacements: 16 Sinenhlanhla Luthuli, 17 Sinothile Bhengu, 18 Amanda Mpanaza, 19 Reneilwe Masiavhula, 20 Micky Kapa, 21 Anesipho Malgas, 22 Khensani Mtshali, 23 Tiarisha Maritz, 24 Elam Zonele, 25 Sibongakonke Zuma

Referee: Yohane Tredoux

Eastern Province Queens v Boland Dames
(Otto du Plessis High School, Gqeberha – 13.00, 15.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Boland Dames by 12 points

Teams:

Eastern Province Queens: TBC

Boland Dames: 15 Zintle Nonkasana, 14 Tereska Kabuika, 13 Arthea King, 12 Rufardo Tagarira, 11 Sinalo Zi1wayi, 10 Chloe Adams, 9 Felicia Jacobs, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Ropa Madyah, 6 Buthle Sonamzi, 5 Thandi Masuku, 4 Mihlali Mgweba, 3 Yola Lunko, 2 Keishia Stuurman, 1 Ncediswa Mahijana
Replacements: 16 Maxene Valentine, 17 Zena Swart, 18 Carol Fisher, 19 Nompumelelo Mathe, 20 Ngxowa Funeka, 21 Ayaka Soga, 22 Veroeshka Grain, 23 Eloise Webb

Referee: Luvuyo Maceba

Western Province v Bulls Daisies
(Rosina Paarwater Stadium, Bellville – 13.00, 15.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Bulls Daisies by 20 points

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Donelle Snyders, 14 Alishia Arries, 13 Shaunique Hess, 12 Megan Kannemeyer, 11 Voice Ndou, 10 Elme Kruger, 9 Insaat Levy, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Anelisiwe Mxabo, 6 Anushka Groenewald, 5 Nomsa Mokwai, 4 Sinazo Mcatshulwa (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Roseline Botes, 1 Nomkhitha Chuba
Replacements: 16 Luchell Hanekom, 17 Thandile Mazwi, 18 Anelisa Ndamase, 19 Arqydia Komar, 20 Zandiswa Xozwa, 21 Alicia Willemse, 22 Anja le Roux, 23 Raeeqah Hendricks

Bulls: 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Shaunique Alexander, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Thobile Mzizaswe, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose, 8 Sophy Mashapa, 7 Anathi Qolo (captain), 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Fiona Cooper, 3 Azisa Mkiva, 2 Doreen Mkhabele, 1 Saneliswe Charlie
Replacements: 16 Karabo Lebotsa, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Lebogang Ralebona, 19 Faith Tshauke, 20 Bronishia Hess, 21 Camelitha Malone, 22 Naima Hlatshwayo, 23 Noxolo Magasela

Referee: Siyanda Pikoli