Western Province started like a house on fire in Cape Town, where two early tries by wing Alichia Arries and No 8 Logan Welman saw them race into a 12-0 lead before ten minutes on the clock on the City Park clock, and they went on to record a comfortable 51-19 win.
Arries scored a second try from an intercept and Luchell Hanekom from short range before Voice Ndou ran half the field to add the fifth try before the visitors could respond.
Tayla Kinsey, playing at flyhalf, sliced through from a lineout move just before the half hour mark, but Welman bagged her second shortly after to confirm the home side’s authority in the match, with a commanding 34-7 lead at the break.
The second half was more of a contest. WP scrumhalf Alicia Willemse sniped around the scrum to score before Lindelwa Gwala – back in the black and white strip following two seasons with the Ealing Trailfinders – dotted down from a lineout drive for the visitors.
WP responded with a try by captain Sinazo Mcatshulwa, but once again the Sharks came back with a try, this time by No 8 Megan Comley.
Ndou got her second in the dying stages of the game to secure the half century for the Cape side.
Scorers:
- DHL Western Province 51 (34) – Tries: Alicia Willemse, Voice Ndou (2), Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Luchell Hanekom, Logan Welman (2), Alichia Arries (2). Conversions: Elme Kruger (3).
- Sharks Women 19 (7) – Tries: Tayla Kinsey, Lindelwa Gwala, Megan Comley. Conversions: Kinsey (2).
