Daisies, WP into Premier Division final
WRAP: The Bulls Daisies and Western Province will contest the Women’s Premier Division final on Saturday in Pretoria after winning their respective semifinals against Border Ladies and Boland Dames.
The final is a rematch of the 2023 edition, which the Daisies won comfortably.
On Saturday, the Pretoria hosts had too many weapons in their arsenal for Border, winning 43-12 after leading 24-0 at the break.
The home side’s pack of forwards were totally dominant in the game and their line-out drives worked to a tee. Hooker Xolelwa Diliza scored three tries off the back of those and in total, six of their seven tries were scored by the pack.
The Daisies took control early on and kept Border on the back foot throughout the match. The visitors managed to score twice in the second half, including a neat five-pointer by Eloise Webb but were no match for the Daisies on the day.
Western Province replacement wing, Asiphe Mayaba, was the toast of the fans when she scored the match-winning try for her side at the death of their semifinal against the Dames. The try edged them to a 20-17 victory and into the finals in Pretoria next weekend.
It was a close match throughout, with both sides enjoying good spells.
Boland will look at their scrum dominance, question why that did not yield better results, and ponder some weak defence on the perimeters, which not only allowed Mayaba her match-winner but also got Voice Ndou her five-pointer.
Scores were even at the break, but when Boland scored twice via Nompumelelo Mathe and Nomawethu Mabenge and took the lead with ten minutes left, they looked set for a trip up North.
Still, it was not to be as WP responded with two scores of their own and Mayaba’s at the end being the match’s decisive moment.
Bulls Daisies 43-12 Border Ladies
Scorers:
Daisies:
Tries: Xolelwa Diliza 3, Vainah Ubisi, Faith Tshauke, Jakkie Cilliers, Lebogang Ralebona
Cons: Cilliers 4
Border:
Tries: Eloise Webb, Owethu Nayiphi
Cons: Webb
Western Province 20-17 Boland Dames
Scorers:
WP:
Tries: Shaunique Hess, Voice Ndou, Asiphe Mayaba
Con: Alicia Willemse
Pen: Willemse
Boland Dames:
Tries: Nompumelelo Mathe, Nomawethu Mabenge, Chuma Qawe
Con: Qawe