SWD Eagirls and the defending IPL champions, the EP Queens, were among the teams who competed for the title of senior champions. The senior section was divided into two groups with SWD Eagirls, EP Queens and the Univisity of the Western Cape (UWC) second team in group A, and Middelburg, UWC first team and the Titans Invitational team in group B.
Girls u/16
The girls u/16 section had four teams, namely George High School, Beaufort West, Middelburg Stormers and Titans Girls, who in a round robin to decide the two top teams to contest the final on the second day.
The u/16 games were very close with three matches played to a draw. The final contestants could only be decided after the last game between Beaufort West and George High School. The latter needed to win to secure a place in the final but a try in injury time by Beaufort West ensured that they advanced to the final against the host team, the Titans Girls.
The local Titans WRC Girls took on the Middelburg Stormers in the >u/16 final. The Titans had lost both their captain Gayline Witbooi and vice-captain Chante Cornelius the previous day and it was apparent that they needed them in the final game as the Middelburg Stormers were dominant throughout and beat their opponents 30-0.
Seniors
The senior women's section was filled with very exciting battles. In group B the former champions, UWC first team, played some very good rugby and dominated this group. Their last game against the Titans Invitational team was especially exciting. While the home team initially dominated the game, they simply could not keep up the pace.
In group A, the final was between SWD Eagirls and EP Queens. The EP Queens, who won the SARU IPL Sevens in 2013 did not look the part, resulting in an even score and the Eagirls at the top of Group A.
SWD's Nicolene Barendse stood out as a top player in the senior section while Chante Corneluis of the Titans Girls was the most impressive junior player.
The second day started with the upset of the tournament - UWC knocking out the defending SARU IPL champions, the EP Queens from the cup section of the tournament.
After a very close first half that ended with a 0-0 score, the UWC team came out blazing in the second half, testing the defence of the Queens. The UWC managed to break the defence just before the end of play and scored the winning try.
In the second cup semi-final, the SWD Eagirls played against the Middelburg Stormers. The Stormers leaked tries at crucial times throughout the game, which resulted in the SWD Eagirls securing a convincing 15-0 victory.
Final
The SWD Eagirls and the UWC first team gave everyone a highly entertaining final with a great display of running rugby. Victory was the SWD Eagirls' with a final score of 15-0.
Former South African seven player Nicolene Barendse's eight tries in four games over the two days earned her the title of Player of the Tournament.
In other matches the UWC second team won the plate final by beating the Titans Invitational team 26-0. The Middelburg Stormers were responsible for the biggest upset of the tournament, beating the EP Queens in the third and fourth play-offs.
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Chayene Lawrence (left) struggles to recover after losing the ball to Middelburg Stormers.
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