Making home ground advantage count in Pick n Pay WSL 2

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.

**Match information:**

**Leopards Women v AVBOB Griquas Women**
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Date: Saturday 1 August
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli

**Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women vs SWD Eagirls**
Venue: Nelspruit Rugby Club, Mbombela
Date: Saturday 1 August
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Yohane Tredoux

**Limpopo Blue Bulls Women v Griffons Women**
Venue: University of Limpopo, Polokwane
Date: Saturday 1 August
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Chante Olivier

The second half was all Griffons though. They scored three unanswered tries for a 31-21 lead. Mtshweni closed the gap to 31-28 with a try that Tinoota converted. 

A crucial call for Griffons, to kick for poles when awarded a penalty, proved the difference in the end as scrumhalf Pinkie Touto's kick was successful and edged them into a 34-28 lead. Mtshweni then scored her third, but her team came up short with the missed conversion.

Griquas scored 46 points in the second half of their match against the visiting Limpopo for a massive 73-15 win, their first of the season. In all, they scored 12 tries, with wing Maserati Bangaza bagging four and prop Nicole van Wyk getting a rare hat-trick.  

Bangaza opened the scoring four minutes in and Van Wyk dotted down five minutes later. Another try, by centre Jennielee van Nel, had the home side cruising at 15-0 after 11 minutes. Limpopo recovered slightly, with Seetja Mmotong getting a try, before Bangaza added a second for a 27-5 halftime lead. 

Then followed the 30-minutes of rugby the Suzuki Park crowd had seen from the Griquas Women in recent  times. 

They scored at regular intervals to stack up their biggest score in a while. Limpopo did score the last try of the match for some consolation, but their season now seems to be heading to a disaster after three consecutive defeats.

**Scorers:** 

**Leopards Women 22 (15), Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women 44 (34)**
**Leopards** – Tries: Portia Mariquele, Onie Sihlobo, Amzolele Gqola. Conversions: Gqola (2). Penalty goal: Gqola.
**Pumas** – Tries: Megan Guambe (2), Pauline Sianga (3), Alicia Mahlalela (2), Jibrine Dube. Conversions: Mahlalela (2).

**AVBOB Griquas Women 73 (27), Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 15 (5)**
**Griquas** – Tries: Nicole van Wyk (3), Siziphiwe Dubulamanzi, Donishea Cloete, Maserati Bangaza (4), Tyrell Wilson, Jennielee Van Nel, Forgiveness Mashele (2). Conversions: Jean-Marie Owies, Van Nel (3).
**Limpopo** – Tries: Seetja Mmotong, Mapula Matsimela, Amaka Mabosi.

**Valke Women 33 (21), Griffons Women 34 (12)**
**Valke** – Tries: Aviva Kaduka, Lucia Yalezwa Xosana, Noyulanda Mtshweni (3). Conversions: Kaduka (3), Evidence Tinoota.
**Griffons** – Tries: Tshepiso Mantelile, Thato Rantai (2), Mmadjadji Mohalali, Line Viviers. Conversions: Pinkie Touto (3). Penalty goal: Touto.

Source: Original report at SA Rugby.