Latsha makes try-scoring return in second round of Women's Super League 1

In the second round of Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 action three teams have maintained their winning starts to the season.

All of the Bulls Daisies, Western Province and Boland Dames backed up their Round 1 wins over the weekend.

There was also a return for Springboks Women favourite, Babalwa Latsha, who has not been seen playing domestic rugby in South Africa for several years after a stint in London with Premiership Women’s Rugby’s Harlequins.

There was slick stuff from start to finish for Western Province in Belville as the side beat the Golden Lions Women 53-5. In total Jongi Nokwe’s team ran in nine tries in a remarkably comprehensive performance against their Johannesburg opponents.

In her first domestic match on home soil in over three years, Latsha got over the try line twice. But while the tighthead prop’s return was headline-making, it was the 31-year-old’s teammates in the backs who truly stole the show.

This included braces for Voice Ndou, Shaunique Hess and a singular score for replacement back Raeeqah Hendricks. There was even two tries for No.8 Logan Welman off the back of strong Western Province set piece. Lions’ sole score came from Kamogelo Thloloe.

The Bulls Daisies backed up their 100-0 win against Border Ladies last week with a 45-3 victory against Sharks Women in Durban.

After a hat-trick last weekend, Springbok Women back Zintle Mpupha got across the whitewash twice. There was also a brace for Boks midfielder Libbie Janse van Rensburg in the first half too in a dazzling display of attacking proficiency from the Daisies.

Vainah Ubisi, Camelitha Malone and Thobile Msizazwe were also scorers for the Pretorians and Jakkie Cilliers slotted five conversions. Sharks’ sole points of the afternoon came from Mary Zulu’s penalty in the 12th minute.

A brilliant second half display from Free State Women saw the Bloemfontein team score 14 unanswered points to beat EP Queens 21-12 at Toyota Stadium.

Free State opened the scoring just after the 20 minute mark when Kamohelo Mokoele burst across. There was a stern response from the Queens, who saw Siphenathi Yeko and Esethu Mbongisa’s combined efforts gave their team a half-time lead.

In the second half, the Queens’ second half ill-discipline saw three players sent to the sin bin. To secure the win Free State saw Nontobeko Mohuli hand the hosts the lead and Makoele’s second of the afternoon secured home success.

A strong second half from the Boland Dames helped Thomas Chowles’ team pick up a 45-21 win against Border Ladies in Wellington.

For Border the loss can also act as a form of confidence. Fresh from conceding a century of points a week ago, Bongani Nogilana’s team had the better of possession and play for the majority of the contest.

Boland took a half-time lead as Felicia Jacobs and Maxene Valentine’s efforts cancelled out those of Border’s Nombuyekezo Mdliki. That spirited second half for the visitors saw Asiphe Mrweqana  and a penalty try give them the lead.

To wrap up victory, all of Borders’ Aseza Hele, Ropha Mayday, Veroshka Grain, Tereske Kabuika and Rufaro Tagarira get over the try line.