Guildford – The South African women’s rugby team recorded their first World Cup victory with a tenacious 15-10 win over Wales on Tuesday afternoon at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, England.

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The Springbok women led 10-0 at halftime and had to fight very hard to keep a spirited Welsh onslaught in check during the last 20 minutes of the game.

Burly number eight Namhla Siyolo scored her country’s first try at the 2010 World Cup after 30m minutes of uncompromising play. Left wing Charmaine Kayser doubled the score on the stroke of halftime from a full backline movement, giving SA a deserved 10-0 lead at the break.

Zandile Nojoko then scored a brilliant solo try midway through the second half to stretch South Africa’s lead to 15 points when she was put into the gap by outside centre Lorinda Brown. 

Nojoko beat two defenders by swerving and stepping close to the touchline and slipping the cover defence to score a wonderful try in the corner.

Wales, now playing with the stiff breeze in its favour, then launched wave after wave of attack and their persistence paid off when fullback Non Evans converted a penalty from right in front of the posts to get them on the scoreboard.

Replacement fullback Elen Evans crashed through the SA defence with just minutes to go and when Non Evans slotted the easy conversion it was Wales who gave everything in search of a match-winning score. But the SA defence held firm to secure a deserved landmark victory.

Their first-time tackling was spot on and the midfield especially closed the dangerous Welsh runners at every opportunity. Lock Nosundiso Booi was taken to hospital after the match after she was struck in the eye and had to be replaced at halftime.

The SA scrum was again solid and provided Wales with all sorts of problems, with Cebisa Kula, Williams and Siyolo very prominent.

Denver Wannies, the SA Women’s coach, was understandably pleased afterwards: “We needed a much improved performance after the loss against New Zealand and I am happy for the players. I said to them that we must keep moving forward, be positive and work hard to erase the errors from our previous match.”

Wannies was especially happy with the defence. “We knew Wales would come at us from the word go and they did just that. Our discipline and organisation on defence served us well in the beginning of the match and we knew that we would be able to put them under pressure with our speedy backs.”

On SA women’s first World Cup win, Wannies said: 

“It is quite significant. I think the platform has been laid with the Sevens performance last year in Dubai and the vibe that we managed to develop as a team.”

But in terms of the belief back home and the broader picture of women’s rugby, women’s rugby in South Africa depends a lot on this team’s performance in this World Cup – in terms of people coming to the party, having a better understanding of what the game is about and believing that South African women can play rugby.”

Kula, one of the outstanding front rower players of the tournament so far, summed up the players’ delight at achieving their first World Cup victory.

“We are all very proud that we could put that disappointment against New Zealand behind us and respond in a positive manner, and to show people that South African women can play good rugby.”

South Africa now plays Australia on Saturday to complete their Pool A fixtures. The morale-boosting result against Wales now means that the team is still in with a fighting chance to qualify for the semi-finals. 

Point scorers:

South Africa: Tries – Namhla Siyolo, Charmaine Kayser, Zandile Nojoko.

Wales: Try – Elen Evans; Conversion – Non Evans; Penalty – Non Evans.