A missed conversion at City Park in Athlone saw DHL Western Province trail Sanlam Boland Women 27-25, while at Alberton Rugby Club a try in the final game of the match helped Golden Lions Women get past Sharks Women with a dramatic 34-33 victory.
The result in the Cape means DHL moved Western Province into second spot on the table, while Boland dropped to third, while the much-needed win in Alberton kept the Lions’ play-off hopes alive as they moved closer to the Sharks came in fifth place. Border Ladies, who won their Eastern Cape derby against EP Queens, are in fourth place.
The city park clash was highly entertaining and a classic tale of two halves.
Boland scored early for a 5-0 lead with Aseza Hele heading over the corner, but the half hour proved disastrous for the visitors. Under pressure from a dangerous WP backline, they received two yellow cards within two minutes and in the chaos, left wing Voice Ndou scored a hat-trick. That gave WP control and a 22-5 lead at halftime.
Ndou’s fourth-place finish early in the second half, with the Ladies once again short a player, extended the lead to 27-5. A dramatic comeback was in store, with Hele scoring twice in the final quarter.
Amanda Klassen scored with the last action of the match, but Thanie Yeko could not convert in the stormy conditions to secure an unlikely draw.
Meanwhile, the Golden Lions scored on the final play of their match against the Sharks Women, securing a dramatic one-point victory over their coastal foes. The Sharks, who led 33-29 at the time, were penalized near their own line and with no time left on the clock, the home team opted for a tap penalty. That worked out perfectly for them when Stella Ncube crashed in the corner.
The home side dominated the first half, with a brace from Piwokuhle Nyanda setting the tone, but the visitors came back well in the second half to take the lead twice in the final quarter, but could not prevent a desperate home side from winning.
The Border Ladies repeated their first round victory over EP Queens with a solid 42-3 win in East London, scoring six tries and remaining in the hunt for a play-off spot.
The home side had good value for money, especially in the second half where they scored five unanswered tries.
The Queens held firm in the first half and Border scored just one try and two penalties for an 11-0 lead, but the slow poison struck soon after the restart and the Border team romped away.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province 27 (22), Sanlam Boland Women 25 (5)
W.P – Tries: Stem Ndou (4), Sinazo Mcatshulwa. Conversion: Alicia Willemse.
Boland – Tries: Thanie Yeko, Aseza Hele (3), Amanda Klassen.
Bulls Daisies 80 (42), Free State Ladies 0 (0)
Bulls – Tries: Doreen Mkhabela, Lusanda Dumke (3), Sinelitha Noxeke (2), Faith Tshauke (2), Patience Mokone (2), Relebohile Motaung, Yonela Ngxingolo. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (9), Zintle Nonkasana
Grensdames 43 (11), EP Queens 3 (0)
Border – Tries: Chuma Delubom, Mado Mdliki, Esethu Mbongisa, Zahara Makhomazi, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Zintle Holofela. Conversions: Pinkie Touto (3). Penalty goals: Yandisa Nobanda (2).
EP – Penalty goal: Zaza Nojoko.
Golden Lions Women 34 (17), Sharks Women 33 (12)
Lions – Tries: Piwokuhle Nyanda (2), Provia Mashiane, Sarah Mokwebo, Ncebakazi Lutuli, Stella Ncube. Conversions: Nyanda, Mashiane.
Sharks – Tries: Sinenhlanhla Luthuli, Tayla Kinsey, Zinhle Ndawonde, Ulender Khumalo (2). Conversions: Mary Zulu (4).
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