The Bulls Daisies registered a 34-10 bonus-point victory over the EP Queens, in round 3 of the 2023 SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division competition. The ladies out of Tshwane ran home six first-half tries at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay, securing their second, successive victory of the campaign.
Hayden Groepes’ herd got off to a cracking start as they opened their points account with two successive tries before the hosts made a break to pull one back. The visitors responded immediately, looking to stretch their lead once more as they found another two successive tries. The EP Queens were on the back foot, defending their line as they looked to remain in the game and through a stroke of genius, they were able to add another five points on the board as captain, RayleneNoubos finished off a brilliant team try.
The Bulls Daisies would have none of that, sending Ayanda Malinga over the line for her second of the match and the team’s sixth; restoring
Shortly before the break, Ziyanda Ngohlekana was shown yellow for a number of team infractions, and that took the sting out of the team’s endeavours going into the break and the opening nine minutes of the second half.
Both sides returned for what would be a ferocious second stanza, pushing each other to the limits, with no one breaking the mould throughout the 40 minutes. Despite the Bulls Daisies enjoying much of the possession on attack and visiting their hosts 22m several times in the half, they were kept out of adding more points to their tally.
In the end, Groepes applauded his team and said there were a few things to focus on in the coming as they prepare to take on the Sharks in Durban.
“We had a very good, fast start to the game, managing to build some scoreboard pressure at the beginning of the game and we did well in getting through the game,”
“Today was a great opportunity for this squad to put up their hands, especially moving forward into the next couple of games, we will be relying on them to be pulling through with these performances,”
“Luckily we do not have any serious injuries and we will have our full assessment by Monday and hit the ground running as we prepare for the weekend in Durban.”
BULLS DAISIES SCORERS:
Tries: Ayanda Malinga x2, Unathi Mali x2, Maria Tshiremba x1, Zintle Nonkasana x1
Conversions: Shiniqwa Lamprecht x2
BULLS DAISIES vs EP QUEENS STARTING XV: 1. Doreen Mkhabela, 2. Micke Günter, 3. Xolelwa Diliza, 4. Ziyanda Ngohlekana, 5. Anathi Qolo (c), 6. Kat de Vries, 7. Sinelitha Noxeke, 8. Sophy Mashapa, 9. Mahlatse ‘Lucky’ Nkumishe, 10. Lynn Subke, 11. Ayanda Malinga, 12. Shiniqwa Lamprecht (vc), 13. Unathi Mali, 14. Maria Tshiremba, 15. Zintle Nonkasana
BULLS DAISIES IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Sinenhlanhla Kwinana, 17. Ralebona Lebogang, 18. Rachelle du Plessis, 19. Oratile Mabuza, 20. Boitumelo Phakane, 21. Chantel Dikgale, 22. Marelize de Bruin, 23. Patience Gontse Mokone, 24. Thulisile Bukula, 25. Anele Mgwazela
MANAGEMENT: Hayden Groepes – Head Coach, Mandisa Williams – Assistant Coach, Dr. Sbu Ntuli – Team Doctor, Claudette Eckard – Senior Physiotherapist, Lenel Allison – Physiotherapist, Tayla Chidrawi – Strength & Conditioning, Nokuthula Nene – Technical Analyst, Luyolo Tandani – Logistic Manager, Swazi Bisset – Partnerships Manager, Thando Manana – Women’s High-Performance Manager
