The Women’s Premier Division will have a playoff feel this weekend when the top four sides in the tournament clash in Pretoria and Durban respectively, while the only two undefeated sides in the Women’s First Division will meet for the first time.
Women’s Premier Division:
On Friday, third-placed DHL Western Province will take on fourth-placed Cell C Sharks Women in Durban, and on Saturday, second-placed Border Ladies will travel to Pretoria for their match against the Bulls Daisies at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The EP Queens welcome Mastercard Golden Lions Women to Despatch on Saturday, while the Boland Dames will have a bye this weekend.
The second half of tournament starts this weekend and looking at their first-round clash, the Queens will be confident of repeating their only win so far in the tournament, achieved in Johannesburg.
EP have failed to win another match, but they looked in decent form against DHL Western Province last weekend and will fancy their chances. The Jozi side are improving weekly, but they need to get some composure back into their game after their big loss to the Daisies last weekend.
The Cell C Sharks sit in fourth spot on the log, but they lead EP by only two points and if the Queens win on Saturday and the Durbanites don’t, there could be a change in fortunes for the Eastern Cape team.
The Sharks are a top four side, no doubt, but will have to start ticking the win boxes if they want to build up some steam towards the playoffs. They have an ideal opportunity on Friday against DHL Western Province, who are on the road again this weekend.
The Capetonians will travel without both their Springbok hookers, which could even things out up front, but the real battle will be amongst the backs, where there will be a number of international players on both sides in good form.
The match between the Daisies and Border will be much closer than the team from Pretoria’s 31-0 win in round one, as the Ladies have really found some form and momentum since then.
The Daisies have such a strong squad though, that it will be a huge upset if they do not get another full house of log points out of this game.
Match information:
Cell C Sharks Women v DHL Western Province
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park 2, Durban
Date: Friday, 23 June
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Sinesipho Foloti
TV: SuperSport Rugby (211)
Bulls Daisies v Border Ladies
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Date: Saturday, 24 June
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Bulela Qwane
EP Queens v Mastercard Golden Lions Women
Venue: De Wet Stadium, Despatch
Date: Saturday, 24 June
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Lulutho Matomela
Livestream: SuperSport Schools App
Women’s First Division:
The two undefeated sides in the tournament, Free State Women and SWD Eagirls, will face off at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Both teams looked imperious so far and seem to be the favourites to contest the final this year, so this clash could be a highly entertaining one.
The Free Staters will be spurred on by playing their first home game this season, but could find the SWD defence more demanding than their previous two opponents, who leaked 30 tries.
The Eagirls, last season’s champions, only conceded two tries in two matches, but will have to contain Bernice Strydom in the midfield, as the Free State centre has scored 10 tries in the two outings already.
The Leopards Women are playing a third match at home in as many weeks and will be licking their wounds after their defeat to SWD last weekend. The Pumas will not travel all the way from Mpumalanga to North West to roll over though, especially after their good win last weekend.
The match between Griffons Women and Valke Women in Welkom will be between the two teams who are still looking for their first win of 2023, so both will be desperate to bring some good news into their season. Based on results so far, the Valke can be judged favourites, but to write off the Griffons will be a mistake.
The match between the Limpopo Blue Bulls Women and Griquas Women has been cancelled upon request from the team from the Northern Cape, who indicated they are not in a position to travel to Polokwane this weekend. As a result, the Limpopo side will be awarded five log points.
Match information:
Free State Women v SWD Eagirls
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Date: Saturday, 24 June
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Aneka Fick
Leopards Women v Pumas Women
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Date: Saturday, 24 June
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Zoe Naude
Griffons Women v Valke Women
Venue: Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom
Date: Saturday, 24 June
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Giana Viljoen
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
