Wanderers and Pirates play in their first competitive women’s rugby match

ILLOVO – Pirates and Wanderers play their first competitive women's rugby match agaisnt each other.

May 8, 2018

Nicholas Zaal 2 minutes read

Melissa Hughes of Wanderers breaks through tackles. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

If you ever wondered whether women can play rugby well, wonder no more.

It took 130 years, but Joburg’s two oldest sports clubs finally got together to play their first competitive women’s rugby match against each other.

Nomthandazo Moyo of Pirates wins a line-out. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

The Wanderers players prepare to let their balloons go. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Ratidzo Gurajena scores two tries for Pirates on the day. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

The contest came in the inaugural Jozi Women’s Rugby League, where Wanderers Rugby Club hosted Pirates Rugby Club on a sunny 5 May.

Friends, families and some of the clubs’ men’s players came to show support, and formed a tunnel for the women as they ran onto the field in Illovo.

The Wanderers players carried balloons and just before the whistle blew, marked the historic occasion by releasing them.

Pirates were going into their third league game undefeated while Wanderers had won one and lost one match before.

Pirates dominated possession in the first half and made good use of space. Through almost identical overlaps on the left side, Ratidzo Gurajena and Nomthandazo Moyo streaked down the line to score the first and second tries for Pirates respectively. Both were converted by flyhalf Simone Wilson.

Sinazo Cobongela of Wanderers passes down the line. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

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Chasing 14–0 in the second half, the Wanderers women controlled possession for most of the half. When Pirates did have the ball, Wanderers were able to hold them back.

However as time wore on, the fact that Pirates had a few more substitutes than their opponents started showing. The fresh legs for Pirates, particularly in the backline, saw a late surge as sluggish Wanderers players did all they could to defend.

Eventually, Gurajena snuck around the right hand side for her second try before Wilson kicked her third conversion and wrapped up a 21–0 win for Pirates.

Prudence Tshabalala of Pirates looks to gain some distance for her side. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Nthabiseng Sejamoholo of Pirates tries to catch Sinazo Cobongela of Wanderers. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Nomthandazo Moyo runs through to score a try for Pirates. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

The winning coach, Chanel Alberts was reluctant to say it was an easy win.

“We gave our youngsters an opportunity to play so we could develop depth in the side,” she said. “There are more games to play so if some of our players have trouble, we have people who can fill their shoes.”

Wanderers coach, Lindinhlanhla Mngadi said his team was punished for its mistakes but still had great potential to do well both in this season and in upcoming seasons.

He added that the Jozi Women’s Rugby League would do wonders for the sport and the fact that eight teams were playing showed that there was a demand for it.