Tough date for women rugby team

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – Kingdom Select women rugby side face BFN Defence Force in a four-team Free State Senior Women Rugby League tomorrow.

The venue for the two teams’ tie is yet to be confirmed, with the Kingdom Select expected to host the defence force side.

This is after the Select team won its very first Free State Senior Women Rugby League match 24-5 over Wolverines in Bloemfontein last Saturday.

The Lesotho team, (Kingdom Select)’s captain Thato Liphafa, scored two tries with ’Mabothata Nthare and Moliehi Mporoane each scoring a try to lead the home side to the victory.

“The girls played well in Bloemfontein. Our captain and fly half, Thato Liphafa, scored two tries and then both our wingers ’Mabothata Nthare and Moliehi Mporoane each scored a try,” Nyasha told Public Eye on Tuesday this week.

“The fact that we are scoring with wingers means we have played very well because we are able to shift the ball from the centre to our wings.”

Nyasha further said: “And if a team scores with wingers it means their ball distribution is very good. It means everything is perfect, being; ball handling, defence and lineouts.”

However, Nyasha said his team would have to work on its scrummage, especially now that they are facing tough opponents in BFN Defence Force.

“Our only problem is that we were being outpowered in the scrum, but I think it is a matter of technique. So this week we are going to work on the technique of scrum because we will be playing against the defence force team.”

Nyasha further said: “Our next game is going be a tough match against bigger players who are more experienced.”

The Select coach said on top of boasting having experienced players, the BFN Defence Force team also has a very large pool of players to choose from.

The defence force team, Nyasha said, beat one of the top teams in the league, Mangaung Rugby Club, last Saturday, a sign that they are among the best teams in the league.

“The defence force team beat Mangaung, who are supposed to be one of the stronger teams in the league. So we are expecting a tough match against them come Saturday. But I am sure the girls will be up for the challenge, and we will be working very hard to prepare for that match,” he said.

Their next Kingdom Select fixture will be another tough match against Mangaung on June 15 after which the Lesotho team will again play Wolverines as the league’s second round tie on June 22.