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DHL WP Women book final spot

PUBLISHED: August 3, 2024


DHL Western Province Women booked their place in the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division Final with a dramatic 20-17 win against Sanlam Boland Dames in their semifinal at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

The home side were forced to come from behind, scoring two late tries to secure a place in the final against the Bulls Daisies next week.

The visitors made a strong start and tested the DHL WP defence early on. The pressure finally told as fullback Chuma Qawe finished the opening try in the corner.

While the Boland Dames had the ascendency in the scrums, the DHL WP line-out and maul was proving equally effective and they used it to get into opposition territory.

From there the backline was able to strike, with wing Voice Ndou flying over out wide after finding some space on the outside.

Scrumhalf Alicia Willemse managed to convert the try from near the touchline, giving the home side a narrow 7-5 advantage at the half-time break.

The hosts extended their lead early in the second half through a Willemse penalty, but Boland were back in front when flank Nompumelelo Mathe scored, with the conversion from Qawe making it 12-10.

DHL WP had a chance to go in front, but Willemse pulled her attempt on goal wide and they were dealt a further blow when Ndou was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.

Boland struck again as they took advantage of the extra player, with right wing Nomawethu Mabenye scoring.

At 17-10 with less than 10 minutes remaining it seemed as though the visitors had booked a place in the final, but DHL WP refused to give in and struck back with a try from outside centre Shaunique Hess to bring them right back into it.

The final blow was struck in the 78th minute, when replacement winger Asiphe Mayaba finished off a flowing move to secure a place in the final next week.

The scorers:

For DHL WP Women:
Tries:
Ndou, Hess, Mayaba
Con: Willemse
Pen: Willemse

For Sanlam Boland Dames:
Tries:
Qawe, Mathe, Mabenge
Con: Qawe