Community Rugby News – Success for Devonport Services Ladies
As we turn our attention back to the field of play and look forward to getting the ball firmly back in hand, Devonport Service Ladies Team are starting the season with a BANG!!!!
There has been significant and extremely encouraging growth in the number of teams competing in the women’s game. For the 2021-22 season there are over 360 team entries, a near 20% increase from the 2019/20 season and also an increase of around 13% from the entries that we would have had for last season, which given the Covid-19 situation is hugely encouraging.
The RFU have conducted a restructure of the Women’s league which will now see the introduction of National Challenge 3 (Level 6). It will be run in areas of the country that have had enough entries and in some areas there will be smaller leagues, which may require an adapted fixture schedule or alternative formats. More information will be released in the coming months.
Finishing second in National Championship 2, narrowly missing the top spot, DSRFC Ladies will now promote into National Championship 1, South West. This will see them compete at a higher level and play a much stronger opposition throughout the season.
The team has grown from strength to strength under the guidance of CPO Gemma Flowers as Club Captain (also Vice Captain) and PO Sam Alderson as Captain, both Senior players for the RNRU, the promotion is recognition of their efforts both on and off the pitch. DSRFC Ladies is one of the designated ‘feeder’ clubs in the Plymouth Area for military players looking to start their journey on the ‘Players Pathway’ and boasts a total of four Senior XV players and one new addition in Tina Marten who will step into the Development Squad this year on completion of her Basic Training at HMS RALEIGH. With their first friendly fixture against Plymstock Albion Oaks taking place on 2 May resulting in 12-5 win for DSRFC, they are on track to start the season in a strong position and certainly have an exciting season ahead. We wish them good luck and look forward to tracking their progress in their new league. Well done Ladies!
If you are interested in joining Devonport Services Ladies team, please contact Samantha.alderson198@mod.gov.uk for more information or go along to training which takes place every Wednesday and Friday, 1900 - 2100 at Keyham Sports Pitches, Devonport, PL2 1QT.
Current RFU Stage of play – Remains at stage D2 from Mon 17 May until further notice.
Author: Jane West (RNRU Director Community Rugby)
Photocredit: Devonport Services RFC images by Simon Griffiths