Making home ground advantage count in Pick n Pay WSL 2

The Leopards Women, Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women and Limpopo Blue Bulls Women will bank on home ground advantage in round five of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 2 on Saturday when they host AVBOB Griquas Women, the SWD Eagirls and Griffons Women, while the Valke enjoy a bye.

Victories for the home sides will have a positive effect on their positions on the log, where desperation will soon become a reality for some teams. At the halfway stage of the tournament, the Pumas have already confirmed their place in the semi-finals, while wins for either Griquas, SWD or the Leopards will do the same.

At the bottom end of the log, Limpopo will be desperate for a first win over their Welkom visitors, which – if they can score four tries and deny their opponents any bonus points – could lift them from last position.

However, the Griffons have found their rhythm in the competition and the Northern Free Staters will travel to Polokwane knowing how crucial this away win will be for their play-off aspirations.

Where the northern game will all be about permutations and trying to get into a play-off position, the matches in Potchefstroom and Mbombela will no doubt play a role in determining which teams will host the semi-finals in a couple of weeks’ time.

The Leopards, who had a bye last weekend, face a high flying Griquas team who suddenly found some extra gears on attack, much to the delight of wing Maserati Bangaza. The 21-year-old Sol Plaatjie University student bagged six tries in two matches already (after scoring six in six matches last season) and she will no doubt be a handful for the hosts.

Few teams play the big games as well as the Leopards though and at home, they can be regarded as favourites. They play organised and structured rugby and most importantly, in tight matches, have a very reliable goal kicker in Amzolele Gqola.

The Leopards flyhalf has bloomed since joining the Matlosana Rugby Academy from Border, and she has converted 11 of 15 their tries, by far the best strike rate in the competition.

The Pumas match – their second at home – against the SWD Eagirls has all the credentials of a potential final.

The Eagirls, former champions on a couple of occasions, know how to win important matches away from home but this Pumas side is on fire. They have won every match going away and once the altitude kicks in, the team from Mpumalanga will be keen to up the tempo against their coastal visitors.

Fixtures

Leopards Women v AVBOB Griquas Women - Saturday @ Olën Park, Potchefstroom (12pm)

Referee: Siyanda Pikoli

Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women v SWD Eagirls - Saturday @ Nelspruit Rugby Club, Mbombela (1pm)

Referee: Yohane Tredoux

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women v Griffons Women - Saturday @ University of Limpopo, Polokwane (1pm)

Referee: Chante Olivier