Kwaru made history on Friday when they won the Premier Division Final of the inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship, beating Walker Bay Babes 17-14 (half-time 12-7) at Alberton Rugby Club south of Johannesburg, to bring the curtain down on a watershed week for women’s rugby in South Africa.
To add to the significance of the occasion, SA Rugby President, Mr Mark Alexander, was present as well as Betway’s head of sponsorship, Jason Shield, and announced the inaugural Betway Dream Team, comprising the best players from the groundbreaking week-long event, which took place on the back of the Springbok Women’s quarter-final finish at the recently-held Rugby World Cup in England.
“Knowing there is a Betway Dream Team to aspire to will provide further incentive to all players in future,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer. “The official recognition of being the best player in your position may be ceremonial this year, but together with our sponsors Betway, we are already thinking about how the Betway Dream Team can help fuel the growth of women’s rugby in an even more meaningful way in the coming years.”
In an all-coastal showpiece match that will go down in South African rugby history, it was Kwaru, the pride of Eastern Province, who ultimately prevailed against the four-time defending Boland champions after a pulsating match whose result hung in the balance until the very end.
Kwaru took an early 7-0 lead, Dream Team flyhalf Yandisa Nobanda going over after seven minutes for a try she converted herself. Walker Bay Babes responded midway through the first period, right wing Sinalo Ziqwayi diving over for centre Rufaro Tagarira to convert to bring the scores level.
Kwaru struck a major blow on the stroke of half-time, when replacement Hlomla Puzi barged over to give the Eastern Cape side a five-point lead at the break.
Walker Bay Babes hit back shortly after the restart when scrumhalf Claudine Bani dived over under the posts for centre Rufaro Tagarira to convert to give the Babes a 14-12 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Kwaru, however, landed the coup de grâce from the restart, centre Unathi Mali going over after 46 minutes for what proved to be the championship-winning score.
In the First Division Final, played as a curtain-raiser to the main match, Titans beat Potchefstroom Dorp 20-19 in a nail-biting match that went down to the wire.
“The inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship will be long remembered as a landmark day in the history of women’s rugby in South Africa,” said Mr Alexander. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Betway for their support, and for all the players, coaches and spectators who made the inaugural event so memorable.
“I would also like to thank everyone associated with Alberton Rugby Club for helping SA Rugby to host a tournament that will live long in the memory.”
- Hloma Puzi (Kwaru, Eastern Province)
- Owethu Nayapi (Mqanduli Sharks, Border)
- Mmadjadja Mohalali (Welkom, Griffons)
- TJ Ngxowa (Collegians, Free State)
- Rapha Madyah (Walker Babes, Boland)
- Buthle Sonamzi (Walker Babes, Boland)
- Martha Yokwane (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)
- Teddy Gatyana (c) (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)
- Chloe Adams (Titans Knysna, SWD)
- Yandisa Nobanda (Kwaru, Eastern Province)
- Khanyisele Ntai (Raiders, Golden Lions)
- Mapula Matsimela (University of Limpopo, Limpopo)
- Klarissa van der Linden (v/c) (Pretoria Harlequins, Blue Bulls)
- Vuyelwa Mosala (Collegians Valkyries, Free State)
- Inge Sander (Collegians Valkyries, Free State).
- Maxene Valentine (Walker Babes, Boland)
- Sharon Baloyi (Pirates, Golden Lions)
- Yola Lumko (Walker Babes, Boland)
- Emihle Mayitshe (Mqanduli Sharks, Border)
- Bernice Strydom (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)
- Onie Sihlobo (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)
- Kwanene Zungu (Durban University of Technology, Kwa-Zulu-Natal)
- Alichia Arries (Van der Stel-Evergreens, Western Province).