The Mastercard Golden Lions Women, Cell C Sharks Women, EP Queens and Boland Dames will be in a mad scramble for the fourth spot on the Women’s Premier Division log and a potential semi-final position as the action continues this weekend, with the playoffs moving into view.
All the teams will enjoy a two week break before the competition resumes on 27 July, and they will be desperate to finish in the best possible position with the semi-finals only a few weeks away, on the weekend of 19 August.
The Bulls Daisies return to action after last weekend’s bye and will host EP Queens at LC De Villiers Stadium in Pretoria. The undefeated Daisies top the log on 35 points and have already secured a home semi-final. They are clear favourites to continue their dominance.
EP Queens (sixth on the log on eight points) boast an international front row in Sanelisiwe Charlie, Monica Mazibukwana and Amahle Nyoba, but it is rather due to changes to their backline where the Daisies will have to be on high alert.
Veteran Zaza Nojoko will play off the bench, with Raylene Noubos starting at flyhalf, and if she gets the speedy Shaunique Alexander and Johnerecia Booysen going, EP will be dangerous.
The Lions are fourth on the log (14 points), their best log position ever since joining the topflight last season, but they have an uncomfortable trip to Western Cape, where the Boland Dames (seventh on the log on eight points) await them at Boland Park in Worcester.
The Dames must still be wondering how they did not topple DHL Western Province last weekend, they but will look at the same recipe of scrum and set piece domination to bring the visitors from Johannesburg to their knees.
Border Ladies (third on 27 points) welcome back Eloise Webb for the first time this season when they travel to Durban to take on the Cell C Sharks Women (fifth on 11 points).
Webb, who has played in two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments as well as the fifteens showpiece in New Zealand last year, will start at fullback and her vast experience could be telling in Durban, as could her interplay with fellow sevens internationals, Felicia Jacobs and Snenhlanhla Shozi.
Border have already secured a semi-final spot as well and a win will move them past DHL WP (second on 28 points), as the team from Cape Town enjoy a bye.
The Durbanites seemed to have lost their ability to close out wins from promising positions and will know full well that another defeat could end their dreams of reaching the playoffs.
Women’s Premier Division fixtures:
Bulls Daisies vs EP Queens
Venue: LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Sinesipho Foloti
Boland Dames vs Mastercard Golden Lions Women
Venue: Boland Park, Worcester
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 13h30
Referee: Bulela Qwane
Livestream: SuperSport Schools App
Cell C Sharks Women vs Border Ladies
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park 2, Durban
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 14h00
Referee: Siyanda Ketse
Livestream: SuperSport Schools App
Women’s First Division
In the First Division, Free State Women have dominated from the word go. The Bloemfontein side have moved captain Bernice Strydom to flyhalf for their encounter against the Valke Women and will start with Goitseone Nche at tighthead prop.
Nche – whose nickname is ‘Fox’ – is the sister of Springbok front ranker Ox Nche, while remarkably, Strydom will play in her seventh of 10 positions on the rugby field at provincial level – she is yet to play prop, hooker and scrumhalf, but has played provincial rugby in every other position as well as Test rugby for South Africa as a lock and loose forward.
The Leopards Women will host Griquas Women in Potchefstroom and are favourites to win. Griquas showed good improvement against the Valke last weekend but will have to play exceptionally well to topple the home side.
The same goes for the Pumas Women, who travel to Oudtshoorn to face SWD Eagirls. The defending champions from the Southern Cape have scored 34 tries in four matches and their attacking abilities will be a tough assignment for the Pumas defence.
In Welkom, the Griffons Women are still in search of a first win, and they are finding it tough against faster paced teams, such as the Limpopo Blue Bulls Women. If they can stop the momentum of Faith Mkhari’s troops, they have a chance to get that elusive win, but it is going to need a momentous effort.
Women’s First Division fixtures:
Free State Women vs Valke Women
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Aneka Fick
Leopards Women vs Griquas Women
Venue: Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Cameron Dyers
SWD Eagirls vs Pumas Women
Venue: Bridgton Sports Stadium, Oudtshoorn
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 14h00
Referee: JD de Meyer
Griffons Women vs Limpopo Blue Bulls Women
Venue: Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom
Date: Saturday, 8 July
Kick-off: 14h00
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
