The top two teams in the Women's Premier Division, DHL Western Province and Border Ladies, tackle each other head-on in Cape Town in what promises to be another great battle between the two rivals.
This big clash, which kicks off at 15h00 at the Brackenfell Rugby Club, is a repeat of the 2021 final between these sides, which was won by Border at Newlands last year.
In the weekend’s other action, the Boland Dames host the Blue Bulls Women from 13h00 at the Boland Stadium in Wellington, while the Cell C Sharks Women and EP Queens clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, in a coastal derby which also starts at 13h00.
The Mastercard Golden Lions Women have a bye this weekend and matches will again be streamed live on www.springboks.rugby.
Following the outcome of last weekend’s results, DHL Western Province, the Border Ladies and the Blue Bulls Women took command of the log as the competition passed the halfway stage, with all three teams scoring important victories to stay in the top three positions on the log.
Last weekend saw the Blue Bulls Women won 21-13 against Cell C Sharks in Pretoria to remain unbeaten after three matches, as did DHL WP, who outplayed the Mastercard Golden Lions Women 55-10 in Johannesburg. On Sunday, the Border Ladies beat the Boland Dames 32-15 in Mdantsane.
Only points difference separates DHL WP and Border at the top of the standings, with both teams on 14 log points, however, the Cape Town outfit have played three matches to date and Border four.
The round’s feature game in the Cape sees a repeat of last year’s final, when Border defeated hosts DHL WP 24-15 to lift the 2021 crown.
In the corresponding fixture last year, the team in the blue and white hooped jerseys recorded a comprehensive 30-5 victory over the women from the Eastern Cape, and DHL WP will be hoping that home ground advantage will again be their ally this time around, but their defence will especially be tested by the strength of the formidable Border pack.
Going into their away game against Boland Dames, the Blue Bulls Women are lying third at the moment courtesy of winning all three of their games to date for league tally of 12 league points.
On the basis of the current league positions, the visiting team from Pretoria would fancy a win against fifth-placed Boland Dames, who have managed only one win out of four matches so far this season.
However, a look at last year’s two fixtures between the sides suggest it won’t be so easy for the women in light blue, who will not have forgotten that Boland did the double over them in 2021, winning by 23-19 in Pretoria and 21-0 in Wellington.
The remaining fixture will be contested by the Cell C Sharks Women (sixth) and EP Queens (fourth) in Durban.
The Eastern Cape side is a traditional powerhouse in the competition, however, they could only manage to win one from three to date for their six points, with the Dubanites one point and two places adrift. The Cell C Sharks Women have played one more fixture than the EP side.
Last year, the Eastern Cape team won both fixtures between these sides – 13-5 in Durban and 15-10 in Nelson Mandela Bay – and another close-fought battle is predicted between these two coastal opponents.
Women's Premier Division round five match information:
Boland Dames vs Blue Bulls Women
Date: Saturday, 21 May 2022
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Maria Mabote
Cell C Sharks Women vs EP Queens
Date: Saturday, 21 May 2022
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park 2, Durban
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
DHL Western Province vs Border Ladies
Date: Saturday, 21 May 2022
Venue: Brackenfell Rugby Club, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli
