Border eyes fairy-tale finish to Women’s Interprovincials
A host of players with international experience will be in action on Saturday when Border will target a fairy-tale finish to the Women’s Interprovincial Competition against arch-rivals Western Province in East London in the A Section final in what is expected to be an epic clash.
Both teams will boast international experience, with Springbok Women’s prop Asithandile Ntoyanto partnering up with capped Springbok Women’s Sevens players Zintle Mpupha, Eloise Webb and Fundiswa Plaatjie in Border’s match-day squad, while Western Province boasts the services of Nolusindiso Booi, Veroeshka Grain, Kirsten Conrad and Babalwa Latsha respectively.
The match will mark the third successive Women’s Interprovincial Final between the sides in East London, and Border’s sixth home final in a row. Given the close nature of the encounters between the sides in the last two seasons, neither team will give an inch.
Western Province’s narrow 17-15 victory in last year’s final will fuel their motivation for a victory, but they can expect a determined Border team out for revenge.
The home team will also draw inspiration from the fact that they are only unbeaten team in the A Section this season and the only team to have beaten Western Province. They also boast an impressive track record of four victories in their last five finals at the BCM Stadium.
Interestingly, only one of the last five matches between the sides have been won by more than nine points, which sets the scene for a nail-biting encounter.
Western Province have been superior on attack and defence this season, with 50 tries scored and four conceded, to Border’s 27 scored and eight conceded, but their victory over the Capetonians in their pool match proved decisive in finishing at the top of the log.
The Golden Lions and Boland will meet in the B Section final in the curtain-raiser to the A Section final, and with both sides entering the clash unbeaten and the winner automatically advancing to the A Section next season, the match should be equally thrilling.
This will mark the first time this season that the teams meet, as they battled it out in separate groups in the pool stages, but with great success after victories in all three matches. The Gautengers will enter the match with confidence after scoring 26 tries in their three matches and conceding seven, but Boland have leaked only five tries and scored 17, meaning that if Boland steps up their attack, it could be a tight match.
Women’s Interprovincial Finals (Saturday, 29 September):
B Section: Golden Lions v Boland
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Lusanda Mtiya
Assistant Referees: Bulela Qwane and Patrick Bulwana
A Section: Border v Western Province
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 15h30
Referee: Maria Mabote
Assistant Referees: Bulela Qwane and Lusanda Mtiya
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