The DHL Western Province Women’s team will be looking to defend their national title when they take on Border Women in the final in East London on Saturday.
Having claimed the title at the same venue and against the same opposition last year, DHL Western Province Women are looking to make it back-to-back titles.
They will be up against the only team that was able to beat them this season – a tough 19-10 defeat in East London.
Having started the season with a comfortable 77-3 victory against Blue Bulls at City Park, the DHL Western Province Women backed that up with a 61-0 win against the Sharks at home before going down to Border.
Since that defeat Head Coach Jongi Nokwe’s team beat Free State 101-0 before securing their place in the final with a 47-5 win against Eastern Province at Brookside.
The final between Border and DHL Western Province will mark the third in a row at the BCM Stadium in East London, with each team claiming a title each in the last two years.
Given the close nature of the encounters between the sides in the last two seasons, neither team will give an inch.
DHL Western Province’s narrow 17-15 victory in last year’s final will fuel their motivation for a victory, but they can expect a determined Border team out for revenge.
The home team will also draw inspiration from the fact that they are only unbeaten team in the A Section this season and the only team to have beaten DHL Western Province. They also boast an impressive track record of four victories in their last five finals at the BCM Stadium.
Interestingly, only one of the last five matches between the sides have been won by more than nine points, which sets the scene for a nail-biting encounter.
DHL Western Province have been superior on attack and defence this season, with 50 tries scored and four conceded, to Border’s 27 scored and eight conceded, but their victory over the Capetonians in their pool match proved decisive in finishing at the top of the log.
DHL Western Province Women: 15 Vuyolwethu Maqholo, 14 Shaunique Hess, 13 Veroeshka Grain, 12 Selladean Petersen, 11 Alana-lee Horne, 10 Kirsten Conrad, 9 Felicia Jacobs, 8 Charmaine Kayser, 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 6 Lihle Mzimkhulu, 5 Cindy Booi, 4 Amy-kay Klaasen, 3 Liyabona Dudumashe, 2 Annique Geswind, 1 Babalwa Latsha.
Replacements: 16 Asanda Majombozi, 17 Bubele Caku-Caku, 18 Demi Nel, 19 Roseline Botes, 20 Alicia Willemse, 21 Sesethu Mtshazi, 22 Courtney Groener.