The Women’s Premier Division resumes on Saturday after a short break and all three encounters will be crucial for the teams involved, with the race to the final spot in the semi-finals becoming more contested as the sides reach the business end of the competition.
As things stand, the Bulls Daisies comfortably top the standings as the only undefeated team, while the Border Ladies and DHL Western Province are in a tight tussle for the second spot. All four remaining teams – the Mastercard Golden Lions Women, Cell C Sharks Women, Boland Dames and EP Queens, who are on a bye this weekend – can still clinch the fourth spot.
On Saturday, the Daisies host the Sharks; the Dames travel to East London to face Border; and the Lions will host Western Province.
The Mastercard Golden Lions Women will be very aware of the significance of another victory in their campaign. They are already enjoying their best season ever and are improving at every outing.
This weekend though, the team from Johannesburg will have to defend like never before as their visitors from Cape Town will field a potent backline. Elme Kruger is back from injury and will start at flyhalf, with the Springbok Women midfield pairing of Chumisa Qawe and Shaunique Hess reunited to provide space for international wings Alichia Arries and Asipe Mayaba.
The clash at Police Park in East London could be a similar clash of styles, with the home side’s backline holding the key. If the Dames manage to make more of their expectant dominance in the scrums, they could surprise the defending champions.
Boland’s scrum has been unmatched this year and if their lineouts and general attacking compliment their scrumming power, Border could be in for a surprise.
The Daises welcome the Cell C Sharks to Loftus Versfeld and given the way the home side have treated visitors to Pretoria this season, the visitors from KZN will be in for a long afternoon.
The Sharks will try to halt their slide down the log though and will have an eye on results elsewhere in the competition, so their mindset should be to deliver the biggest upset of the year on Saturday in a match that will be broadcast live on SuperSport’s Rugby channel (211).
Match information – Women’s Premier Division:
Mastercard Golden Lions Women v DHL Western Province
Venue: Alberton Rugby Club, Alberton
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 13h00
Border Ladies v Boland Dames
Venue: Police Park, East London
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 13h30
Bulls Daisies v Cell C Sharks Women
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 14h00
Women’s First Division:
As is the case with the Daisies in the Premier Division, the Free State Women are dominating in the First Division, with last year’s two finalists, the SWD Eagirls and Leopards, just managing to hang on to the team from Bloemfontein.
The Limpopo Blue Bulls Women are still in with a shout but will meet the well-travelled Eagirls in Polokwane and that result could make or break their chances.
Free State travel to Middelburg, where they will be hosted by the Pumas Women at the Kees Taljaard Stadium, a venue utilised by the home side for the first time. It is hard to see the Pumas stopping the scoring spree the Bloemfontein side are currently enjoying.
The Leopards face a tricky trip to Kempton Park, where the Valke Women have tasted success earlier in the season. The Leopards seemed to have found their attacking flair and if they continue in that vein, the result could be a good one for them. But the Valke will feel they have at least one more win left in them.
In Kimberley, the Griquas Women will fancy their chances against the Griffons Women, who are the only team without a win so far. Griquas had a strong second half against the Eagirls last weekend and if they can maintain that momentum, a win will be on the cards.
Match information – Women’s First Division:
Limpopo Blue Bulls Women v SWD Eagirls
Venue: University of Limpopo, Polokwane
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 12h00
Griquas Women v Griffons Women
Venue: Windhoek Draught Park, Kimberley
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 12h30
Pumas Women v Free State Women
Venue: Kees Taljaard Stadium, Middelburg
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 13h00
Valke Women v Leopards Women
Venue: Barnard Stadion, Kempton Park
Date: Saturday, 22 July
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout