Western Province showed they have no peers in the U20 women’s game when they outplayed Eastern Province 36-7 in the final of the 2026 U20 Women’s Week in Alberton on Friday, claiming the national title for a fourth consecutive time.
Earlier in the day, KZN beat the Blue Bulls 12-0; the Limpopo Blue Bulls edged Griquas 10-5; the Pumas outlasted the Valke 24-17; the Griffons outscored Free State 10-5; the Golden Lions made the home crowd happy with their 27-7 win over Boland; and Border ended their week with a 24-12 victory over SWD.
A total of 122 tries scored over the three match days had the Alberton Rugby Club crowd on their feet.
In the final, the Capetonians held a 12-0 lead at the break and although EP, who lost a player due to a red card in the first half, tried gamely, WP’s extra player and their class showed why they are the best team in the country.
The four-time champions started strongest and scored in the third minute of the match – played in blustery conditions – when the inside backs moved the ball to the right where wing Saadiqah Corbett found space to score.
WP were all over their Eastern Cape opponents in the opening minutes, but credit to EP who took the punches well. Their forwards were doing a lot of heavy lifting, while WP use their backline as main attacking weapon.
EP missed a huge opportunity when WP wing Davedine March was yellow carded – first they missed a penalty attempt and then kicked the ball dead when trying to force an attacking lineout, two errors that proved costly.
More misery was to follow when a head clash saw Shanice Scholtz red-carded. WP, sensing their advantage, pounced when scrumhalf Danica Pypers sniped and scored, and flyhalf Nuha Levy’s successful conversion pushed the lead to 12-0 at the break.
The second half was again close, but the Western Cape side finished stronger as they manipulated their extra attacker into space.
Prop Sesethu Dumke scored a gem of a try to open the second half try-scoring spree. Levy saw an opening and ran through a gap and after some crisp passing, the ball ended up in the hands of Dumke, who crashed over for the third try of the match.
Not to be done when it comes to spectacular tries, the EP struck back when Lukhanye Lolo ran 60m to score under the sticks. The ball was worked through the hands and the wing, once in possession, rounded her opponent and raced away from the desperate WP cover defence.
The game was opening up, and as expected with some of the finest age group backline players on the field, more spectacular tries followed. The next came from March, who scored after a fine intervention by fullback Emma Bester, but not before a telling run by prop Anothando Khatshwa.
Levy converted and with 12 minutes left, WP were 24-7 up and EP staring down the barrel. The women from Gqeberha responded though and looked set to score in the corner, but a great cover tackle by centre Ronecia Gordon saved the day for her team.
Instead, WP worked their way up the field and lock Mivuyo Pawuli finished another remarkable team try. Towards the end, Gordon was rewarded for her earlier defensive heroics as she scored try number six to seal the deal.
With a home crowd urging them on, the Golden Lions finished the tournament strong, outplaying Boland 27-7 to celebrate them hosting the tournament in fine style. Five tries to nil was a true reflection of the dominance they showed in every facet of play, with their replacements also adding good value.
The home team’s forwards had too much power on the day, and Boland just could not get the ball to their dangerous backs. They had to wait for the final play of the match before they could cross the Lions’ try line, but by then, they were a well beaten side.
The Lions had a 12-0 lead at the break, courtesy of tries by wing Makungu Ntsumele and captain Thabisile Zungu, and added three more in the second half to finish the tournament on a strong note. Siphumelele Mdlalose and Ntokozo Kandiado both scored and to add icing to the Alberton cake, replacement forward Chioma Onuegbu mauled over the line as well.
Two first half tries laid the foundation for KZN in their 10-0 victory over the Blue Bulls in the opening match on the A-field.
An early try by Bokamoso Mokali (centre) in the corner was followed by a second soon after when prop Wandile Ndlovu crashed over from a tapped penalty near the Bulls line.
The team in blue kept on trying, but could just not build enough momentum on attack to get over their opponents’ line, allowing the Durbanites to celebrate their second win of the tournament.
The Griffons claimed provincial bragging rights by beating Free State 10-5 in a tight affair. Both teams struggled to get going and at the break, it was still 0-0.
Outside centre Thato Rantai opened the scoring for the Griffons early in the second half, but 10 minutes later, Free State lock Maipato Matebesi made her way over the Northern Free Staters’ try line to level scores. Rantai became the toast of Welkom when she scored four minutes from time to seal the win.
Two tries by hooker Vanessa Gabade eased the Limpopo Blue Bulls to a 10-5 win over Griquas, who suffered their first defeat of the week.
Gabade’s first came early in the first half and from short range after the Limpopo pack pummelled the gain line, while her second was a fine solo effort, where she ran 40m to dot down.
Griquas did pull one back 10 minutes from time when star player Angel Jaar danced past defenders to score, but the Northern Cape side could not score the winning points despite being on the Limpopo tryline in the dying stages of the match.
Both teams were guilty of poor handling and ill-discipline, resulting in a stop-start affair and that resulted in the game never really get going.
Border also finished the week on a winning note, beating SWD 24-12, with a strong second half the deciding factor.
SWD had a say in the match in the opening stanza and scored the only try of the half to lead 5-0 at the break, but Border found their rhythm in the second half and four tries later, including one from speedy wing Anelisa Striga, they could celebrate victory.
The Pumas also secured a win on the final day, outplaying the Valke 24-17 in a close match. The Pumas always had the edge and were leading at halftime and the four tries to three scoresheet was a good reflection of what happened on the field.
The Valke again looked at try-scoring ace Neo Mokoena to stay in the hunt and the wing did not disappoint, scoring twice.
Scorers:
Western Province 36 (12), Eastern Province 7 (0)
WP – Tries: Sesethu Dumke, Danica Pypers, Saadiqah Corbett, Davedine March, Mivuyo Pawuli, Ronecia Gordon. Conversion: Nuha Levy (3).
EP – Try: Lukhanye Lolo. Conversion: Julene Haas.
KwaZulu-Natal 10 (10), Blue Bulls 0 (0)
KZN – Tries: Bokamoso Mokali, Wandile Ndlovu.
Free State 5 (0), Griffons 10 (0)
FS – Try: Maipato Matebesi.
Griffons – Tries: Thato Rantai (2).
Limpopo Blue Bulls 10 (5), Griquas 5 (0)
Limpopo – Tries: Vanessa Gabadi (2).
Griquas – Try: Angel Jaar
Golden Lions 27 (12), Boland 7 (0)
Lions – Tries: Makungu Ntsumele, Thabisile Zungu, Siphumelele Mdlalose, Ntokozo Kandiado, Chioma Onuegbu. Conversion: Lola Klijnstra.
Boland – Try: Hayley Hardneck. Conversion: Moeneerah Moses
Border 24 (0), SWD 12 (5)
Border – Tries: Sinekhaya Tywaleni, Kuhle Lumkwana, Anelisa Striga, Olwam Monki. Conversions: Endinako Nyamfu (2).
SWD – Tries: Mauri- Quinn George, Michele Davids. Conversion: Amber Gxekwa.
Pumas 24 (12), Valke 17 (5)
Pumas – Tries: Ntobeko Mathaba, Zamajibhela Mazibuko, Angel Mathebula, Lungile Simelane. Conversions: Anele Dube (2).
Valke – Tries: Dineo Swartbooi, Neo Mokoena (2). Conversions: Lusanda Mngoma.
Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote left the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium a satisfied man after South Africa kicked off their U20 Rugby Championship campaign with a statement victory over Argentina on Monday.
