The Free State Women scored 100 points in their Women First Divison opener in Welkom on Saturday.

Women’s First Division:

In the opening round of the First Division, there were wins for SWD Eagirls, Leopards, Free State Women, and Griquas Women, with the team from Bloemfontein starting their season with a century of points.

The Eagirls, who are the defending First Division champions, started their campaign in perfect style by beating the Valke Women 78-0 in George on Saturday, with wing Shannon-Lee Windvogel scoring four tries.

The Free State derby in Welkom between the Griffons Women and Free State Women was one-sided as the visitors recorded a runaway 113-0 win. Former Springbok Women’s forward, Bernice Strydom, leading the Free State side from inside center scored six tries, while Shandre Fouche converted 14 of their 16 tries.

Griquas Women opened their season with a commanding 38-17 win over Pumas Women in Kimberley with prop Nelly Skosana bagging a hat-trick of tries, and in Potchefstroom, the Leopards had to fight back to beat the Limpopo Blue Bulls Women. They were trailing 7-3 at the break, but three second-half tries sealed a 22-12 win for the North West side.

Scoring summaries:

Griquas Women 38 (24), Pumas Women 17 (0)
Griquas Women – Tries: Nelly Skosana (3), Juanine Jacobs, Antoinette Kotze (2). Conversions: Vee Mosala (4).
Pumas Women – Tries: Nonhlanhla Ngwenya, Lindokuhle Seopela, Silindile Nyembe. Conversion: Siobhan Tenner.

SWD Eagirls 78 (45), Valke Women 0 (0)
SWD – Tries: Pamela Khumalo, Tereza Roberts, Euphinia Fillis, Amanda Klassen (2), Shannon-Lee Windvogel (4), Antoneica Hannies (2), Yolandi Sampson. Conversions: Sampson (3), Hannies (6).

Leopards 22 (3), Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 12 (7)
Leopards – Tries Gabby Nwandulo, Teddy Gatyana, Mpho Tsima. Conversions: Lonika Maartens (2). Penalty goal: Maartens.
Limpopo Blue Bulls Women – Tries: Prudence Mataba, Jubrine Dube. Conversion: Evelyn Mkhabele.

Griffons Women 0 (0), Free State Women 113 (40)
Free State Women – Tries: Natasha Motlomelo, Kamohelo Makoele, Bernice Strydom (6), Elizna Greeff, Nomfundo Pampiri (2), Sne Mdletshe (3), Simone Ras, Smanga Dladla. Conversions: Shandre Fouche (14).