Gallery
RUGBY NEWS - The SWD EaGirls were crowned the champions of the Women’s First Division after they beat the Leopards 20-16 in a tense final at Outeniqua Park on Friday 9 August. Both teams scored two tries with Marnazelle Rabie’s kicking boot helping the EaGirls to a hard-fought victory.
The undefeated EaGirls had to keep their composure going into the finals with a lot of confidence having won all six league matches, the semi-final and also defeated the Leopards 31-14 earlier in the season.
PHOTO GALLERY: EaGirls' for a win
The first thirty minutes saw both teams grinding it out in the midfield with neither able to break the opponent’s defenses. With only ten minutes left the EaGirls crossed the try line making it 7-0 followed by a final minute penalty by the Leopards to make it 7-3 at half-time.
The second half the EaGirls widened the points gap with a penalty and a converted try to make the score 17-3 with about 20 minutes left. The Leopards started a relentless onslaught to get themselves back into the game scoring a penalty and two tries. But their inability to convert their tries meant they came up short making the score 17-16 with five minutes left. The EaGirls managed to hold onto the ball until the end of the match scoring a penalty at the blow of the horn to finish the game 20-16.
The EaGirls reclaimed the title which they last won in 2022, also against the Leopards, after losing it in 2023 against the Cheetahs.
Scoring:
- SWD EaGirls 20 (7) - 16 Leopards (3)
- SWD EaGirls Tries: Shannon Lee Windvogel and Shannon Pieterse. Conversions: Marnazelle Whilmari Rabie (2). Penalties: Marnazelle Whilmari Rabie (2)
- Leopards Tries: Nadine Van Reenen and Baby Plaatjies. Penalties: Verana Van Heerden (2)
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
