The team from Johannesburg were unplayable and unbeaten when they won their inaugural 7s championship.
The Orange Army showed quality and class against the University of Fort Hare at the Tuks Stadium. Here is a match wrap of the final and the rest of the fixtures played on matchday 2.
Final:
UJ 17 – 5 UFH
The finale of the women’s championship was a battle of the titans as both teams came in unbeaten. Precious Maduchem opened the scoring for the Orange Army. The match had the feel of a final as both teams gave it their all. UJ speedster Mardiya Usman showed an electric pace and put the Orange Army in firm control. However, Nobuhle Msomi scored a sensational solo try from the halfway mark for Fort Hare to half the deficit. 10-5 at halftime.
Tanya Shava scored a contender for the try of the tournament with a monument run to give her team a 17-5 lead. UFH failed to score from a power play possession and the Orange Army won the final 17:5 to win their inaugural title in 2022.
Women’s position 3/4 match:
TUT 22 – 10 WSU
TUT and WSU were playing for bronze and a podium place. Sinaye Mbombolo opened the scoring for Walter Sisulu and Emihle Mtyali doubled it for WSU but Karabo Mashego scored in the last second of the first half to make it 10-5 WSU and set up an enthralling second half.
Vainha Ubisi of TUT dragged her way to the try line from halfway and suddenly TUT were ahead thanks to the conversion. WSU got a yellow card and Karabo Mashego got her second and a power play try to seal the third place for TUT winning 22-10. WSU came in fourth.
Women’s position 5/6 match:
Madibaz 0 – 17 UP-Tuks
The home side spurred by their superstar player Miche Pretorius, scored as the clinical number 7 continued to shine. A horrifying injured halted the game. After the resumption Tuks scored their second try to go into the half 12-0.
The second half was more of the same for Tuks as they scored their third try and comfortably cruised to victory
Afternoon Session
UL 7- 17 WSU
Sinaye Mbolompo of WSU got the match underway with a try but it was going to be easy sailing as the University of Limpopo showed fight. WSU however proved too strong for the team from the North as Emihle Mtyali scored WSU’s second try. UL had the last say and scored the last try of the half to get 7-12 behind before halftime.
WSU’s Sesuthu Mbodli extended her team’s advantage and scored for Walter Sisulu and had a 10-point cushion. WSU won the game 17-7 over UL.
Madibaz 0- 43 UJ
The Orange Army got off to a brilliant start with an early try. The match slowed down after that and it was on until the brink of halftime that UJ extended their lead as Nyasha Gonangombe scored the second try to make it 14-0 into halftime.
The Orange Army then jotted down for a third try and were sitting in a comfortable position. Lethukthula Dlamini scored the fourth try and the tries kept on following after that. Nyasha Gonangombe got her second try of the match as UJ were making it hard for Madibaz to breathe. Tanya Shava put the icing on the cake as UJ blew out Madibaz 43-0
UP-Tuks vs TUT – Match abandoned due to lighting
Morning Session
Madibaz 0- 56 UFH
The morning session of the women’s matchday 2 started with favourites UFH taking on Madibaz. The star duo of Nobuhle Msomi Qogi Inga scored for Fort Hare early and they were set to cruise to victory. The two teams were wearing similar black and yellow colours and could only be differentiated by UFH constantly scoring try after try. UFH went into the half with a commanding 22-0 lead.
Fort Hare continued where they left off in the second and scored another try. Siphesihle Hlangani was proving not to handle and scored a power-play try with the score nearing half a century. Nombuyekezo Mdiki scored another try with a power bounce on the defender while Touto Zanele scored a brace and Fort Hare won the game 56-0
UL 10 – 28 TUT
Thandise Job scored the opening try for the side from Tshwane and it was clear the University Limpopo were going to leave the tournament without a win. Ricca Kekana added the second try for TUT. Before halftime UL became complacent and sloppy and allowed Kekana to get her second try, making it 21-0 at halftime.
TUT was having fun in the second half as the towering forward of Vainah Ubisi scored a try from her half-side-stepping defenders. There was joy and jubilation for the University of Limpopo when they scored a try that meant a lot to the bench thanks to Samkelisiwe Dlamini. Itumelebg Mkhari scored the second for UL to make it a respectable scoreline. Final score 28-10 to TUT
UP-Tuks 15 – 22 WSU
Miche Pretorius gave the home side the lead much to the cheer of the home crowd. Walter Sisulu was putting in a resilient fight but just couldn’t turn it into points. They were later punished when Miche Pretorius got her brace and took a strong 10-0 lead. Lunje Mpange grabbed one for WSU to cut the lead in half.
WSU stunned the home crowd as Emile scored and ultimately took the lead following the conversion. WSU pilled in further misery by scoring a power play try and WSU had a 12-point lead. Miche Pretorius refused to give up and she scored a sensational hat-trick of tries giving her team a glimmer of hope. It wasn’t to be as WSU claimed victory over the home side 22-15.
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