The Border Ladies continued their dominance over arch-rivals DHL Western Province with a nail-biting 19-11 win in their Women’s Premier Division clash at the Brackenfell Rugby Club on Saturday afternoon, with the team from the Eastern Cape moving to the top of the standings.
Going into the match the two teams were equal on league points (14 points each), but the defending champions came out top against a very determined DHL WP side, although they had to dig deep for this very important away victory.
Border’s victory – a repeat of the result in last season’s Women’s Premier Division final – saw them move to pole position as they increased their points tally to 18 points. They outscored their hosts by three tries to one.
In the weekend’s other match staged at the Boland Stadium in Wellington, the visiting Blue Bulls Women’s outfit proved too strong for the Boland Dames, who had good support from their passionate fans.
The team from Pretoria won 24-5 with a game based on their strong forward pack and fast-paced backline. The home team tried valiantly, especially during the opening period of the first half and during the latter stages of the second stanza.
However, the Blue Bulls Women kept their composure and made the most of their scoring opportunities to register another well-deserved win on the road, with Springbok Women flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg contributing 13 of their points
The win was the Blue Bulls Women’s fourth in a row of the campaign, allowing them to jump over the DHL WP side into second on the log with 16 league points as they remain the only unbeaten side in the competition.
The third match of the weekend, scheduled in Durban between the Cell C Sharks Women and EP Queens, was called off during the first half with heavy rains forcing the two teams off the field. As the first half could not be completed, the game will have to be rescheduled.
The Mastercard Golden Lions Women had a bye this weekend.
Scorers:
Boland Dames 5 (0), Blue Bulls Women 24 (13)
Boland Dames – Try: Lulu Tyibilika.
Blue Bulls Women – Tries: Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Nontuthuko Shongwe. Conversion: Janse van Rensburg. Penalty goals: Janse van Rensburg (2), Rumandi Potgieter.
DHL Western Province 11 (6), Border Ladies 19 (14)
DHL WP – Try: Thando Hena. Penalty goals: Kirsten Conrad (2).
Border Ladies – Tries: Khanya Ketani, Nqatyiswa Lufutha, Mophy Ngwevu. Conversions: Yandisa Nobanda (2).
