DHL Western Province Women will take on defending champions Border Ladies in a home Women’s Premier Division semifinal at City Pak on Saturday.
In what will be a repeat of last year’s final, DHL Western Province Women will square off against the defending champions in a knock-out clash which kicks off at 15h00 on Saturday.
Having finished the regular season in second place on the standings, with nine wins from their 12 matches and a positive points difference of 93, DHL Western Province Women have earned the home advantage that they will enjoy at City Park.
The Border Ladies and DHL Western Province have seen knock-out rugby before, having dominated and won the tournament over the last decade. They met in both finals post the COVID pandemic, with Border winning both (in Cape Town), while the Bulls Daisies and Boland Dames, who will contest the other semifinal, will be aiming for their first Premier Division final appearance.
DHL Western Province Women will start their match at City Park without Asiphe Mayaba – the leading try-scorer in the competition this season – as well as her fellow Springbok outside back, Shaunique Hess.
Mayaba injured her ankle in last week’s victory over the EP Queens. WP has a very able replacement in Donelle Snyders, while Veroeshka Grain, who has captained the team earlier this season, is back at outside centre.
Lock Sinazo Mcatshulwa will captain a side which features plenty of experience with the likes of centre Grain, wing Alichia Arries and No.8 Nokubonga Siko providing plenty of support in the senior leadership group.
Having finished the regular season with a commanding 49-0 win against the EP Queens, DHL Western Province Women will be aiming to take that momentum into this play-off against a competitive Border Ladies side.
DHL WP Women: 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Donelle Snyders, 13 Veroeshka Grain, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Alichia Arries, 10 Elme Kruger, 9 Alicia Willemse, 8 Nokubonga Siko, 7 Anelisiwe Mxabo, 6 Elitha Sylvester, 5 Sinazo Mcatshulwa (captain), 4 Thandile Mazwi, 3 Jordan Konnight, 2 Luchell Hanekom, 1 Anelisa Ndamase.
Replacements: 16 Onwaba Mdzanga, 17 Nomkhitha Chuba, 18 Bubele Caku-Caku, 19 Zandiswa Xozwa, 20 Cwenga Gaqa, 21 Ayakha Soga, 22 Sesethu Mtshazi, 23 Xola Masakala.
