UPDATE: The Women’s First Division Final, between the Mastercard Golden Lions and Free State, scheduled for Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, has been postponed due to unrest in Gauteng. A new date will be communicated in due course.
DHL Western Province have had a fairytale season up to now, winning all nine their Premier Division matches (one was cancelled), which will set the scene for a gripping finale to the competition.
The Premier Division final, which will be hosted at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport, will mark the fourth consecutive time DHL Western Province and the Border Ladies will battle it out for the title.
While the Capetonians will be looking to clinch the trophy for the fourth time, the East London side will be hellbent on proving that they have what it takes to end DHL WP’s dominance in domestic women’s rugby.
DHL Western Province have won five of the last seven match ups between the sides – three of which were finals – and this will undoubtedly fuel the Border Ladies’ determination going into the match.
Border, however, will draw confidence from the fact that four of those defeats were by six points or less, which will spice up the occasion.
The women from the Eastern Cape, however, will be under no illusions about the challenge ahead, especially since DHL Western Province hold the best attack and defensive record in the competition this season.
Interestingly the teams would have met in a dress rehearsal for the final last week, but the match was cancelled, meaning both teams will enter the encounter fresh and raring to go.
Women’s Premier Division Final: DHL Western Province v Border Ladies
Date: Friday, 16 July
Time: 16h00
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius
Assistant referees: Maria Mabato and local appointment
TMO: Egon Seconds
TV: SuperSport Rugby