Daisies make it four in a row

The Isuzu Bulls Daisies outplayed the Sanlam Boland Dames 36-15 on a hot and sunny Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to claim the 2026 Pick n Pay Women’s Super League, making it a fourth consecutive win for the trailblazers in the provincial women’s game.

They had a 19-3 lead at the break and never looked like conceding their title to their Western Cape foes but will admit that they had to fight for every point.

The first half, played on a hot Pretoria morning, had good moments and bad moments, with the big difference being that Boland paid for theirs in points.

Twice their basics let them down in their 25-meter area and they were punished with five pointers on both occassions. The home side also enjoyed territorial dominance and most of the first 40 was played in the Dames half of the field.

The match did not start well for the Daisies as they lost flanker Sizo Solontsi due to a head-knock in the opening five minutes. Solontsi tried to tackle Dames midfielder, Rufaro Tagarira but things went south for her. She had to leave the field and did not return, with fellow international flanker, Faith Tshauke, replacing her.

The Daisies missed out on their first scoring opportunity soon after, as they forced a line-out near the Boland line, only for a skew throw and Boland could escape with a relieving kick.

Shortly after though, in a similar field position, it was the visitors turn to spill their own line-out ball and this time they paid a heavy price. The Daisies recycled the ball well through their pack and lock Vainah Ubisi forced her way over the line for the first points of the match.

It was not long before the Daisies added a second try, this time through the backs. They forced another set play and once the ball was worked wide, centre Zintle Mpupha scored after a strong burst. The try was converted and at 12-0 the home side looked ominous.

Credit to Boland who scored next though.

They got a penalty after some entertaining play forced the Daisies backline offside. Winger Chloe Adams slotted a 35-meter effort between the posts and the Dames were on the board.

The Daisies third try also came via the backs came from a good turnover in the Boland red zone, winger Shaunique Alexander ran onto a flat pass by Libbie Janse van Rensburg to score in the corner 22 minutes in and a 19-3 lead.

That turned out to be the half-time lead as well.

The Daisies scored first in the second half as they kept possession well. From the kick-off they kept the Dames under pressure in their half and when the Dames turned another ball over, the Dasies moved it wide, with Tshauke delivering a delightful chicken wing pass to set Alexander free for her second dot down.

Boland realised the score board pressure and clock time was starting to work against them and they tried a quick passing game, which started to work well. Unfortunately, a knock-on near the Daisies line robbed them of a try after a good spell of attacking rugby won them meters and meters of grass.

The home side also lost Libbie Janse van Rensburg with an injury early in the second half, with Unam Tose moving to 10 and Camelitha Malone to scrumhalf.

A second stray pass by the Dames almost cost them again but the Daisies were ruled offside. Quick as a flash, Felicia Jacobs tapped and ran - and scored. Adams converted and suddenly Boland had something to play for.

The Daisies still had their bench to use, and they made immediate impact when Lebogang Ralebona crashed over from close range. The try was converted and when winger Thobile Msizazwe added another two minutes later after a flowing backline move, it was all over, eight minutes from time.

Credit to the Dames who played till the final whistle and scored in the last play of the match from a line-out play but the class of the Daisies yet again prevailed.

Isuzu Bulls Daisies 36 (19) - Tries: Vainah Ubisi, Zintle Mpupha, Shaunique Alexander (2), Lebogang Ralebona,Thobile Msizazwe. Conversions: Libbie Janse van Rensburg (2), Jakkie Cilliers.

Sanlam Boland Dames 15 (3) - Tries: Felicia Jacobs, Maxene Valentine. Conversion: Chloe Adams. Penalty: Chloe Adams.