Away teams rule opening weekend of Pick n Pay WSL 2

All three travelling teams returned home victorious after an explosive start to the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 2 competition on Saturday, with 36 tries scored in the three encounters.

The Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women started the defence of their title on a winning note by outplaying Avbob Griquas Women 67-29 (36-10 half-time) in Kimberley; the Leopards Women outplayed Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 57-19 (38-5 half-time) in Polokwane; and the SWD Eagirls registered a strong 37-12 (27-0 half-time) win over the Valke Women in Kempton Park.

The Leopards Women made their trip to Polokwane worth it by scoring seven tries in their win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls Women at the University of Limpopo.

Leopards flyhalf Amzolele Gqola had a productive day, scoring a try and adding six conversions and a penalty to the score for a personal tally of 20 points.

The home side started best with the first try of the match to take a 5-0 lead after six minutes but then the Leopards took control, scoring four times, while they were also awarded a penalty try just before the break for a 38-5 lead at half-time.

The home side’s discipline was not great and they had two players sin-binned in the opening half.

Limpopo’s second half start was much better, with two unanswered tries cutting into the Leopards’ lead but the visitors then pulled away again with three tries to secure an impressive win.

At the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, the SWD Eagirls showed they will once again be a force in this year's competition with a strong win over the Valke.

The visitors scored seven tries to two and had Eagirls flyhalf Lukho Mpangeva packed her kicking boots, the winning margin could have been bigger.

Five tries in the opening 25 minutes laid the foundation for the visitors as they were all over their hosts, scoring several well-worked tries for a deserved 27-0 lead at the break.

The Valke would look back at their second half effort with much more satisfaction as they managed to tighten their defensive effort, while also getting their attacking play right. That resulted in the first two tries of the half but the Eagirls returned the favour with the last two tries of the match.

For the Valke though, outscoring their opponents in the second half, would have been good motivation going into round two.

A hat-trick by winger Megan Guambe helped the Pumas to a comfortable win over Griquas at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley, while flanker Sam Ngcobo and fullback Alicia Mahlalela bot dotted down twice in a match where the visitors just had too much cohesion in their play for the host team to cope with.

The first 20 minutes were fairly even, with both teams scoring two tries, but thereafter two tries in quick succession by Guambe opened the taps for the Pumas. The speedster completed her hat-trick just before the break, resulting in a comfortable lead going into half-time.

The second half was much closer, but two more tries by the Pumas pushed their winning margin close to the 40 points mark.

Scores

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 19 (5), Leopards Women 57 (38)

Limpopo – Tries: Prudence Mataba (2), Masingita Nomvela. Conversions: Tetelo Kobe (2).

Leopards – Tries: Abrinah Matshoga, China Ntlhaeng, Amzolele Gqola, Portia Mariquele, Mamello Lenka, Tsholofelo Ralehike, Siziwe Mlaza, Penalty try. Conversions: Gqola (6). Penalty: Gqola.

Valke Women 12 (0), SWD Eagirls 37 (27)

Valke – Tries: Mellisa Thobela, Asanda Mbhense. Conversion: Aviwe Kaduka.

Eagirls – Tries: Leceta Cornelius, Mia-Lee Matiwane (2), Amy Haker, Ashlin Manho, Antoneica Hannies, Ekleshia Marishae Leo. Conversion: Lukho Mpangeva.

Avbob Griquas Women 29 (10), Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women 67 (36)

Griquas – Tries: Theresa Ruiter (2), Leilani Januarie, Nicole van Wyk (2). Conversions: Donishea Cloete (2).

Pumas – Tries: Bathabile Hlatshwayo, Sam Ngcobo (2), Jibrine Dube, Sesihle Maguga, Megan Guambe (3), Alicia Mahlalela (2), Zanele Mthembu. Conversions: Guambe (2), Mahlalela, Sandisile Mkhabela (3).