The Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women overcame a tough Griquas Women side last weekend to secure a place in the SA Rugby Women’s First Division final for the first time in 11 years.

The Pumas faced off with the Griquas at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday, August 23, in a clash between the second- and third-placed sides from the round-robin stage of the competition. It had been a near-perfect season for the Pumas leading up to the semi-final having won five of their six matches, with the only loss coming at the hands of table-toppers SWD Eagirls. They’d previously beaten the Griquas 39-29 in eMalahleni, so the mental battle leant in their favour.

With kick off at 14:00, the game got off to a slow start, but the Griquas quickly asserted themselves and set up camp in the Pumas’ half. Consistent penalties and pressure from the Griquas saw the Pumas handed a yellow card after only five minutes. The Griquas’ persistence and numerical advantage paid off in the 15th minute when they scored the first try of the match to take a 5-0 lead. This breathed new life into the game.

Back to 15 players, the Pumas hit back in the 19th minute with a try of their own from Bathabile Hlatshwayo, which was converted, to take a 7-5 lead.

The Griquas reclaimed the lead in the 23rd minute, converting the try to hold a 12-7 advantage. But, once again, the lead didn’t last long as seven minutes later the Pumas went ahead, again thanks to an Alucia Mathebula try which was converted, setting the score at 14-12.

The Pumas thought they’d extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, but a try was disallowed, and the half-time score was 14-12 in the home side’s favour.

The second period got off to the perfect start for the ladies in pink as within three minutes Sam Ngcobo crashed over the line, extending their lead to 21-12. The Griquas kept their hopes alive when, in the 57th minute, they reduced the gap between the two sides with a try, the score now 21-17.

The Pumas widened that gap again with a penalty to set the tally at 24-17 in their favour. Any hope of a comeback for the Griquas was dashed in the 66th minute when they received a yellow card. Mbali Mzizi put the game to bed for the Pumas immediately afterwards by scoring a try, which was converted, putting the Pumas 31-17 ahead.

The ladies from Kimberly bagged a consolation try five minutes before full-time, but it just wasn’t meant to be for the Griquas. When the final whistle blew the score was 31-22 in the Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women’s favour, sending them through to the final for the first time since 2014.

The Pumas are two-time winners of the competition and will be chomping at the bit to ensure a return to glory on home soil on Saturday, August 30. They are taking on surprise package, Leopards Women, who secured an underdog victory over the SWD Eagirls in their semifinal.

This weekend’s SA Rugby Women’s First Division will be the first-ever home final that the Pumas Women will play. The final will be played at Nelspruit Rugby Club, and kick off will be at 13:00.