Busy Bees stumble in hard-fought semi-final

Lonwabo Marele|Published 6 months ago

Busy Bees’ Sivuyiswa Sisusa tries to shake the Brackenfell defence during Saturday’s Western Province Rugby Football Union’s women’s league semi-final, at City Park

After an artful display of rugby this season, Busy Bees RFC’s Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) women’s knockout journey has come to an end.

The Bees women’s team bowed out of the 2024 league cup championship after a 26-15 defeat to Brackenfell, in the semi-finals, at City Park Stadium, on Saturday, September 14.

Proud of the team's efforts this season, chairman Siyabonga Hani said it was a game of two halves, on Saturday.

Esam Ngubu of Busy Bees slips through the gap during her side’s WPRFU women’s league championship semi-final against Brackenfell, at City Park, on Saturday.

“The performance on Saturday was good. It was a game of two halves. We started like a house on fire scoring three tries but relaxed in the second half. They studied our midfield very well and used the long balls to beat us on the outside to claim victory.

Inam Mbeki of Busy Bees, left, and Raeeqah Hendricks compete for the ball during their sides’ WPRFU women’s semi-final against Brackenfell, at City Park, on Saturday.

“We also had our moments in the second half with our number six, Anothando Khatshwa taking the battle to their forwards but the experienced boot of their number seven (captain Nadine Stockdale) made life miserable for us. I commend their game management and how they have transitioned to be the leading women's team in the WPRFU for the past two years,” said Hani.

Thulasande Goniwe of Busy Bees tries to shake the defence during her side’s WPRFU women’s league championship semi-final match against Brackenfell.

Established by long-serving club member, Alfred Kewana, in 2005, Busy Bees’ women’s team has achieved significant success with players like Zizo Makwezela and Sinazo Mcatshulwa participating in World Cups and the SA Rugby Women’s Interprovincial Competition, while also winning the WPRFU women’s championship in 2018 and 2019.

Xola Masakala of Langa’s Busy Bees side-stepping Brackenfell’s Jamie-lee Brown during their sides’ WPRFU women’s league championship semi-final. at City Park, on Saturday.

“At the end of the game, I commended the girls for a job well done. We came very close. We had challenges but we overcame them. We had people who wanted to poach our players but we survived all that storm. And we all made a commitment to build from here, to recruit more players to join the family, and build our structures well to harvest great fruits at the end of the next season. We wanted to see ourselves engraved on that trophy but we could not achieve that, but we soldier on,” said Hani.

Brackenfell will play Bellville in the finals on Saturday September 21.