South Africa’s provincial Women’s teams will make their mark in domestic rugby starting on Saturday as the annual Interprovincial tournament begins following months of preparation.
The tournament, with DHL Western Province returning as the reigning champions, will be hosted over seven weekends over the next two-and-a-half months, with the final of both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ Divisions scheduled for September 21.
The Down Touch Griffons take on the Free State in the opening ‘A’ Division match in Welkom in the first of six matches countrywide – but DHL WP have a bye this weekend.
The other match-ups in the ‘A’ Division include 2012 runners-up, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, taking on Border in East London, the MTN Golden Lions meeting KwaZulu-Natal in Randfontein and SWD lining up against the EP Kings in Riversdale.
Given the Blue Bulls’ impressive structures and effective attack and defence, they will enter their clash against Border as favourites. But the home team proved last season that they could deliver fine performances under pressure. The set-piece battle, in particular, should be decisive, while both teams proved last season that they could score tries from anywhere on the park.
The Lions, meanwhile, will have to deliver a solid defensive effort to contain KwaZulu-Natal and prevent a repeat of last year’s match-up in which they suffered a disappointing 57-20 defeat. So effective was the Durban team’s attack they scored a total of 30 tries in their four pool matches and completed a full house of bonus point victories – a strength they will be determined to build on this season.
In the ‘B’ Division on Saturday the Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls take on the Pumas at the Seshego Stadium and the GWK Griquas meet the Leopards in Springbok. The Valke, meanwhile, have a bye.
The clash in Seshego should be particularly tight as the Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls topped the log last season following victories in all their pool matches and emerged as the top try scorers in the division with 31 tries. The Pumas’ defence, however, has proved one of their main strengths, which should set the scene for an exciting clash.
Women’s Interprovincial fixtures, Round One:
‘A’ DIVISION:
Down Touch Griffons v Free State
Date: July 6
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Time: 13h00
SWD v EP Kings
Date: July 6
Venue: Riverville Sports Stadium, Riversdale
Time: 15h15
Border v Vodacom Blue Bulls
Date: July 6
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Time: 15h00
MTN Golden Lions v KwaZulu-Natal
Date: July 6
Venue: Randfontein Rugby Club, Randfontein
Time: 15h00
‘B’ DIVISION:
Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls v Pumas
Date: July 6
Venue: Seshego Stadium (Seshego Township)
Time: 15h00
GWK Griquas v Leopards
Date: July 6
Venue: Nababeep Sports Grounds, Springbok
Time: 15h00