Aseza Hele's brace not enough to foil Black Ferns XV as Bok Women fall short at Athlone

SPRINGBOK Women No 8 Aseza Hele powered over for a brace of tries, but it was not enough to deny the Black Ferns XV a 36-24 victory in the historic clash at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. 

A strong home crowd came out in support of the Boks in the first-ever contest against their Antipodean rivals on South African soil. 

It was a clash of styles from the outset with the New Zealanders’ trademark high-tempo attacking running game up against the forward-dominated Boks. 

The visitors ran in six tries to the Boks’ four, with the opener coming after just two minutes through fullback Mererangi Paulto, to sound an ominous warning. 

But to the Boks’ credit, they played with plenty of spirit and endeavour, with hard-running Hele hugely impressive. 

The dreadlocked blonde backrower made plenty of metres every time she had the ball under her arm, pulling in a host of Black Ferns XV defenders to bring her down each time.

The visitors failed to do so in the 20th minute, when after the Bok forwards had steamrolled the Black Ferns XV at scrum time to win a heal-against-the-head, the home side managed to set up a maul for Hele to power over for the first of her two tries.

Unfortunately, the Boks’ discipline let them down at crucial moments with lock Vainah Ubisi and centre Eloise Webb being sent to the bin for infringements. 

The Black Ferns utilised the numerical advantage to full effect with winger Jaymie Kolose intercepting a loose pass to run in for an easy five-pointer before hat-trick hero and Player of the Match Kelsey Teneti dotted down for her first try.

Hele, though, struck back for the Boks after another strong maul with her second try to reduce the deficit to just three points.

Webb’s yellow card, though, saw the Boks’ rush defence disorganised with the Black Ferns XV able to exploit the extra space out wide with Teneti scored her second try of the half to allow the visitors to take a 20-12 lead into the halftime break.

The Boks would have hoped to rebound after the interval, but it was the Black Ferns XV that blitzed the home side with a double strike through centre pairing Hollyrae Mete-Renata and Teneti that put the visitors out of sight.

To Swys de Bruin's team credit, they never rolled over with the Boks lifting their intensity after Nadine Roos moved to scrumhalf for the remainder of the match.

Roos' livewire presence at the base of the scrum put the marauding Boks forwards on the front foot, as she popped up the ball for the front rankers to punch holes in the Black Ferns XV defence.

The home side were rewarded for their efforts with captain Babala Letsha and Nombuyekezo Mdliki barging their way over - much to the delight of the rousing home support.

The Boks and the Black Ferns XV will go head-to-head again next weekend at the same venue in the second and final match of the series.

Scorers:

Springbok Women 26 (12) – Tries: Aseza Hele (2), Babalwa Latsha, Nombuyekezo Mdliki. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (3).

Black Ferns XV 34 (20) – Tries: Mererangi Paul, Kelsey Teneti (3), Jaymie Kolose, Hollyrae Mete Renata. Conversions: Hannah King (2).