The Blue Bulls and Eastern Province registered important away victories in the SARU Women’s Interprovincial Series this weekend to strengthen their position in the competition as the pool stages begins to wind down.
Defending champions Border also continued their winning ways with a convincing victory against Western Province in a repeat of last year’s final in East London.
In an action-packed round on Saturday, the Blue Bulls cruised to an emphatic 61-5 victory against SWD at the Bridgton Sport Grounds in Oudtshoorn, Eastern Province held on for a narrow 13-10 victory against KwaZulu-Natal at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal, and Border thumped Western Province 34-3 at the BCM Stadium in East London.
The victories for Border and Eastern Province marked their third successive victories in the competition and extended their unbeaten runs this season.
In Oudtshoorn, the Blue Bulls scored an impressive nine tries in a largely one-sided encounter against the struggling SWD thanks to a solid performance by their forwards and backs. While the forwards laid a solid foundation up front, the backline combined well to run circles around the hosts.
Springbok Women Sevens star Vuyolwethu Vazi scored a hat-trick in the clash, with her national team-mate Shona-Leah Weston scoring twice to add to tries by Marlien Cronje, Jacqueline Kriel, Cindy Cant and Veronica Malantswane. Defending champions Border delivered an equally inspiring performance against Western Province for their 34-3 victory.
Despite a strong fight from the visitors, they stamped their authority in the first half with Nwabisa Ngxatu and Asithandile Ntoyanto scoring tries, while Siviwe Basweni converted one. This handed Border a 12-0 lead at the break.
They continued their dominance in the second half thanks to outstanding performances by Nolusindiso Booi and Lusanda Dumke and soon found their rhythm, which allowed the flood gates to open and the team to run in five more tries by Eloise Webb, Amanda Tshidi, Dumke and Thantaswa Macingwane.
In return Western Province managed only a penalty by Teresa Ruiters. Unfortunately for the Cape side the defeat dashed their hopes of celebrating lock Chantel Sieckers’ 50th cap in style.
The clash in KwaZulu-Natal, meanwhile, was tight from the outset, but two tries by Eastern Province to only one by the home team handed them the edge on the scoreboard.
