WOMENS FESTIVAL 1 ROUNDUP

By Coach Declan Jones

Our ladies kicked off their season Saturday playing at Leamington RFC in the first of the new Midlands Women’s Championship festival tournaments.

There were lots of nerves with some girls playing their first ever game of rugby and some in their first game of rugby league but the squad had a successful day on a number of levels.

The first game playing against Leamington Royals was a new learning curve and a nerve settler the players did really well at keeping heads up in a tough game against a new and resurgent Royals some great play at times but just struggled to get forward momentum and hold the ball to get into the match.

Royals 24-0 Bears

A settled down between games and a quick re think on how we can play this next game and we felt strong and more prepared after letting the nerves go.

The team started well holding the ball and completing sets which allowed us to build pressure and a real platform on Nottingham Outlaws. We looked unstoppable in the middle at times with strong carries from Abi Forrest, Michelle Ireland and Erin Harrington this coupled with our link players Katie Edward’s at dummy half and Eleanor Beech in the halves gave us more space to exploit and we ran our winners topping the day off on a more positive note.

Bears 20 Outlaws 16

Training now continues Wednesday nights at 7.30 at Old Coventrians RFC with all new players welcome. The next tournament will be hosted in Coventry at Old Coventrians on Sunday 23rd June.

Photos by Tim Nunan