End Of Season Awards

Bristol Ladies Rugby

End of Season Awards

Last week saw our End of Season Awards Dinner hosted by Cleve Rugby Club.

The awards were sponsored by Facilitating Sport Company and 4TheLoveOfSport 

http://www.facilitatingsportcompany.com/home.html  

http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/

All photographs by Rikki Teml

The AWARDS went to:

Players Player of the Year: Amelia Buckland-Hurry

Coaches Player of the Year: Sarah Hunter

Most Improved Player of the Year: Daisy Travers

Coaches Honourable Mention: Trish Brown

Club Personality: Sian Moore

Club Captains Award: Trish Brown

Club Person of the Year: Emma Bacon

We also said thank you to LJ Adams and Nicole Jones for all their hard work over the last two seasons.

Senior Cup Round Up

Bristol Ladies Rugby

Senior Cup Round Up

Over the last few weeks Bristol Ladies have been involved in the Senior Cup competition - an opportunity for 1st and 2nd XV players to play together whilst many of the international players were playing in the Women's Six Nations.

The competition started with pool stages, with Bristol drawn against Firwood Waterloo, Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Richmond and Worcester.

Waterloo won the Championship league (the league below the Premiership) so we were expecting a competitive game. Whilst Waterloo started well slotting a penalty and getting 3 points on the board within the first 15 minutes, Bristol were too strong, and put 9 tries passed the visitors, in a game that ended 57 - 3.

The week after the girls travelled to DMP Sharks, looking to keep their cup campaign alive with another victory and whilst Bristol were 12 - 10 ahead at half time, the Sharks proved too strong, using home advantage to win the second half battle and come away with a 25 - 12 win.

The next round saw Bristol travel to league winners Richmond Ladies in what was always going to be a tough fixture. The girls played well, with a lot of heart which gave them a 12 - 0 lead after 20 minutes - however the experience of Richmond came into play as they stepped up the pressure and Bristol got a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown. The final score ended 29 - 12 to Richmond.

At the point, the option of winning the senior cup had disappeared, so the focus shifted to the Plate - meaning we had to beat Worcester to reach the semi-final of the competition.

Our original fixture against Worcester was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, so the game was played at Filton SGS College on a rainy Tuesday evening. The mid-week clash saw the weather have a huge impact on the game, with hail making passing the ball and kicks a harder than normal task - with accuracy being the main problem for both sides. Finally, Bristol's determination paid off, with the girls claiming victory, 22  - 3. The next stage was the semi-final against Lichfield.

Last weekend saw Bristol Ladies secure their place in the final for the Plate, after we beat Lichfield Ladies at home. In an entertaining fixture which saw Elinor Snowsill score a hat-trick, both sides fought hard and played an exciting style of rugby - great for spectators and players alike. The final score was  43 - 26, sending us through to the final.

This is to be played on the 23rd April, and a neutral ground - Lichfield Ladies, where Bristol face none other than West Country rivals Worcester. After Worcester claimed the final play off spot of the league in the final game of the season by beating Bristol, the rivalry between the two teams has grown. It's sure to be a great game - with both teams fighting for the Plate in the last game of the Women's rugby season.

Photographs by Rikki Teml.

Cheddar Rugby - Shirt Presentations

Flashback: Bristol Ladies in the Community

Cheddar Rugby - Shirt Presentations

 Earlier in the season, we took a trip to Cheddar RFC to present their newly formed women’s team with their new shirts. The club had organised a double header against Minehead RFC with the women taking to the field first, and the men’s team second.

The shirt presentations took place around 1pm, with Bristol and England players Sydney Gregson and Chantelle Miell presenting the shirts, alongside the clubs new sponsors.

Women’s coach Lee Iles was excited to have the girls there. ‘Thank you to Chantelle and Sydney for coming down – it was great to them at the game. It raised our profile in the local area and these girls are always an inspiration to our players, as to what you can achieve with hard work and determination’.

The game followed, and it was great to see grass roots rugby at its very best. The two teams were evenly matched, with end to end rugby and some fantastic tackles and breaks being made. Two Cheddar girls managed to cross the try line Emily Townsend  and Bristol Ladies very own Beth Turpin, who has been working with Cheddar to set up this women’s  side. Sadly these two scores weren’t enough as Minehead scored two of their own and completed the conversions.

Cheddar Women have been accepted into the Somerset Womens league next season, and we look forward to seeing how they get on and wish them the best of luck!

Photographs by Dan Ward.

Mascot

The next day we faced reigning premiership champions Saracens in a hotly anticipated clash. The two teams were equal on points in the table and both striving to show progress since the beginning of the season.

We also relocated to a new venue as the Portway was closed due to the Bristol to Bath Marathon, so Colston’s School became our home for the day.

The facilities were fantastic – the pitches were pristine, the changing rooms and pavilion got everyone settled in and focused on the game, and the spectators had a great view of the match.

We also welcomed our first mascot of the season, Grace Beet, who is also a Colston’s students – she walked out with Captain Izzy Noel Smith and joined the huddle before the game kicked off.  Grace is 8 years old and in Year 3 at Colston’s. ‘It was great to meet Izzy and the players. I really enjoyed watching Bristol play – the game was really exciting’

Sadly, Saracens put in a fierce performance, with former Bristol player Debs Fleming getting a hat-trick in the first half. Bristol turned up the pressure in the second half, with Sarah Bern scoring for the home side, but unfortunately we were unable to turn around the score deficit from the first half.

All in all, a great weekend of competitive rugby, with the results not going the way we’d hoped, but definitely showing the spirit of women’s rugby is alive and thriving in the South West!

Photograph by Rikki Teml

Spotlight On a Sponsor - Robbin Sports Equiptment

Local business Robbin Sports Equipment, part of Robbin Group, have teamed up with Bristol Ladies this season to provide high quality, affordable equipment to the club. James Marsh, Sports Accounts Manager, spoke to us about why they have decided to support the team and learn more about their organisation.

James, tell us a bit more about Robbin Sports Equipment:

We are a company set up and run by ex-sportsmen and women, and our aim is to make sure that all clubs get the equipment they need at an affordable rate, coupled with excellent customer service.

Being here at your facilities in Keynsham, it’s clear to see you are a company who love sport – where did this come from?

This arm of the business was set up by ex-Bath Rugby player Daniel Fox about 2.5 years ago, so the core values of rugby are central to what we do. Integrity and teamwork are key to the way we run our business. We support a lot of local schools and clubs across a variety of sports - hockey, football, athletics and rugby – and the fact our staff all have a rich history in sport means the passion and commitment is there in everything we do.

Why have you decided to sponsor Bristol Ladies this year?

We already work with a lot of men’s teams in the area, and wanted to branch out and start supporting the ladies. Bristol are the best in the area at the sport, the talent and skill on show is second to none in the South West and definitely a club we’d like to be associated with! Ladies rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK – it’s going to be huge! Anything we can do to support local clubs and help them grow is a great opportunity for us.

So how are you supporting the girls this year?

We’ve been working closely with the management team to provide match day items, such as corner flags, post protectors, team shelters and pitch side barriers. We have also worked on an advisory level with the club – they know they can give us a call at any time for any advice or help with anything they need.

James Marsh with Sophie Cleverly and and Daisy Travers

Robbin has 40 years' experience in manufacturing both sports and architectural metal products to schools, colleges, universities and sporting academies within the South West of England.

Coupled with a sales team comprising of four ex Bath Rugby Players, an ex Bristol Rovers footballer and members of various local community clubs, Robbin prides itself on its knowledge, passion and commitment to national, regional and local sport. 

More information about Robbin Sports Equipment can be found here:

Website: http://www.robbinsports.co.uk/
Email: sports@robbin.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobbinGroup
Twitter: @RobbinSports 

Q&A with Daisy Travers

Q&A with Daisy Travers

Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV Squad Member

Daisy, tell us a bit about yourself – what is your day job?

I recently qualified as an accountant and was working for PriceWaterhouse Coopers, a big accountancy firm, but I’m now about to start a new job. My professional training has taken quite a lot of time, and now I’m qualified I’ve decided to move roles to give me a bit more time to do the things I enjoy, and get to training more regularly!

So how does an accountant end up playing rugby in her spare time?

I played one game of rugby before I went to university, a friends boyfriend convinced me to give it a go and I loved it.

I studied Sports Science at UWIC, which is a rugby university so I got involved as a fresher and never looked back! A few of the girls at Bristol also studied at UWIC, but we graduated a few years back and it’s kind of scary to see all these amazing 18 year olds coming through the ranks!

This is only your first season with Bristol, where did you play before?

Straight after university I moved to Guernsey for my job and that’s where I met my husband. I spent 6 years there and came back to Bristol in September. I’m originally from Devon so wanted to be near my family, but was also able to transfer to Bristol with my company.

So how did you end up at Bristol Ladies?

So I played rugby in Guernsey and we came over to Bristol to play a friendly tournament one summer. We got completely hammered, but I knew from then that I’d join Bristol if I ever got the chance. The standard of rugby but also the warm welcome we got as visitors was really appealing.

What have you enjoyed most about playing for Bristol Ladies so far?

The standard is amazing – playing alongside and against international players is such a great feeling. There is so much experience and everyone is so friendly you are just constantly learning. Seeing the really strong youngsters is fantastic too, the talent they have at such a young age is awesome and they also bring a lot of fun to the team. 

What position do you play? Have you always played there?

I’ve actually played both back row and front row before and this season for the first time ever I also played 2nd row. I love the forwards, scrummaging, working together as a pack and I just generally love the contact side of things. I’m also not particularly fast, so being a back was never really an option although I did have a reluctant season at 10 whilst our normal fly half was pregnant. 

What is your best rugby experience so far?

At University we reached the BUSA finals and we got to play at Twickenham – and we won! Some of the girls that play at Bristol were around in my university team – Kate Newton, Nolli Waterman and Sammy Knighton were all there at the same time as me.

What are your aims for the future?

I’m looking to keep playing for as long as possible. This is my first season with Bristol Ladies and I’ve not even been here all season. I want to really cement my place in the 2^nd team starting line-up, and would love to get some more 1^st team games. I played 20 minutes in the 1^st team game against Wasps. It was nerve wracking but it was hugely enjoyable.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you about rugby?

Just enjoy it, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Play because you enjoy it and that’s when you’ll play your best.

My rugby coach at University, Kylie Wilson, was amazing – when I first started playing I didn’t have much confident and used to doubt myself. She taught me to back myself and really helped my confidence levels.

Who is your rugby idol?

Richie McCaw! My sister in law is half Mauri and works for the company that dresses the All Blacks – I get signed shirts and other bits and pieces from her which is incredible.

What are your thoughts on the status of womens rugby in the UK?

It’s really exciting! It’s cool to be involved in a sport that is going through a change, and getting bigger. It was a minority sport when I was studying at UWIC and now you’ve got professionals, girls earning a living by playing rugby – I’m so proud to be part of it.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS

• What has been one of your greatest accomplishments as an athlete?

Playing at Twickenham during the BUSA finals

• What was the most lopsided win?

Guernsey vs Weymouth. The final score was  101 – 0! It was pretty tiring to be honest.

• Describe an embarrassing athletic moment:

My husband is a triathlete and he convinced me to do a race with lots of people we knew. I came last. Mortifying.

• Who would you say is your “biggest fan?” Why?

Definitely my husband – we’re quite a competitive couple! He’s recently qualified for the GB triathlon team so he knows what it’s like to play sport. He’s my biggest critic but also my biggest supporter.

• What was the scariest thing you have had to do? Are you glad you did it?

Playing for the 1^st team for Bristol, it was really scary! The quality of players on the pitch was amazing, and you really don’t want to let them down. I enjoyed it, but it was terrifying too!

• What was the last thing you saw someone do that really impressed you?

My fabulous old rugby team in Guernsey getting accepted into an RFU league for the first time ever this year, and then going and winning it! We all put so much effort in to setting up the team and recruiting players. I’m so proud that they’ve come so far, and was lucky enough to join them this a month or so ago, where they won the Siam Cup against Jersey (17-7) to top off a really successful season.

Bristol Ladies Announce New Coaching Staff for 2015/16 Season

Bristol Ladies Announce New Coaching Staff for 2015/16 Season

Bristol Ladies are pleased to confirm the appointment of three new coaches to the team ahead of the 15/16 season.

Royston Davies and James Hall take on the positions of 1st XV and 2nd XV Forwards coaches respectively, and Sebastian Delport joins as lead 2nd XV Coach, all on a one year long contract.

Davies - who hails from Llanelli, South Wales - began his playing career at local club Bynea RFC, before joining Hartpury College in 2001. Spells at Moseley RFC and Lydney followed before injury forced early retirement from the game. Rejoining his boyhood club, Davies was appointed Director of Rugby and spent two successful years there. A fully qualified level 3 coach, Roy currently coaches the RFU Junior Academy, Bristol Rugby DPP programme and South West U20s, whilst also lecturing in Sport at Bridgewater College and spending any spare time he has with long-suffering wife Sarah and their children Eva-Lily and Cato.

'I am both honoured and exited to be joining a club of the calibre of Bristol Ladies. There is a huge amount of talent within the squad, and I'm looking forward to working alongside the players in order to maximise the potential that is here, and hopefully achieve our goals both individually and collectively. It's not every day you get an opportunity to work in elite rugby, and I can't wait to get started'

Hall - who is part of the current Bristol Rugby squad- played for Newcastle Falcons before moving to Bristol Rugby in 2013. Alongside a degree in Physical Education from Liverpool John Moores University, James has completed his rugby coaching qualification and has coached school sides in Newcastle, whilst recently helping local club Broad Plain RFC 1st XV remain in their league after a difficult season.

"I'm really excited to be joining a rugby club who play at the highest level of the women's game. The chance to develop the 2^nd XV and help players who strive to play in the 1st XV and beyond achieve their goals is a challenge I'm really looking forward too."

(image by John White Media)

Delport - who takes up the position of 2nd XV Lead Coach (specialising in back play) - comes to Bristol Ladies from Zimbabwe, via stints in both South Africa and Australia. Having established youth development academies at Rockingham and Mandurah Rugby Clubs in Perth, Western Australia, he has also performed the role of Development Officer for the Cairns region of Far North Queensland during his time with Queensland Rugby Union. After moving to the UK in April, Sebastian plans to study alongside coaching Bristol Ladies.

'I'm really passionate about the development of young talent, and am excited to be joining Bristol Ladies Rugby as Women’s Rugby continues to go from strength to strength throughout the UK'

Club Chairwoman Heidi Chapman Mercer is excited about the future of the club. ‘It’s great to bring some new faces into the club, and from such a diverse range of backgrounds, James, Roy and Sebastian will each bring something unique to the club. The club is starting on a new journey and I can’t wait to see where it takes us. A big thank you must go out to Matt Belbin and Pete Reakes for the work they’ve put in over the last few seasons too – they’ve done an incredible job’.

Pete Reakes has moved into a multi-faceted role within the club, using his knowledge and areas of expertise to help develop Bristol Ladies across multiple platforms, whilst Matt Belbin has moved into a coaching role with National League Three side Old Reds. Everyone at Bristol Ladies wishes Matt the best of luck with his new role, and are excited to work with Pete in his new position.

There is one remaining vacancy in the coaching set up, with the role of 1^st XV Backs Coach still up for grabs. For further information and a job description please email Heidi.chapman-mercer@bristol-sport.co.uk. The deadline for applications is the 3^rd June.

Determined Bristol defeat Hove and avoid the drop!

Determined Bristol defeat Hove and avoid the drop!

The previous game of the season saw Bristol Ladies complete part one of a two stage process which saw them keep dreams of survival in the Championship South alive. Heading into this final fixture, the only outcome which would ensure Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV stayed in the second division of then women’s’ league was a bonus point (5 try) victory over Hove Ladies.

This was possibly Bristol’s most complete performance of the season. They played with the heart and drive that suited the occasion, taking the game to Hove from the off.

The home side, Hove, started the game well – testing Bristol and putting up an excellent defence. The first 10 minutes saw two evenly matched teams in deadlock.

However Bristol were patient. Captain Jenny Fotheringham highlighted the need for this in her pre-match talk – let the game come to us, don’t put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, play our style of rugby and the result will come.

The Bristol forwards faced up to the larger Hove pack – holding their own and winning vital ball. Sadie Giles and scrum half Sian Moore worked well to control the pace of the game – getting the ball out to the girls on the wing. Debs Fleming was on the end of one such move which saw her run around the final Hove defender to touch down for the first points of the game.

Within minutes the second try came for Fleming, who completed her hat-trick before half time. Whilst the score line of 0 – 15 was a positive, the team were aware that two more tries were needed to complete the task in hand, and that this would be the biggest 40 minutes of their season.

They returned to the pitch with the same vigour as when they left, with the momentum most definitely with Bristol. Fleming got her fourth – another team try, with the forwards working hard to secure the ball, getting it moving quickly to the wings where Fleming was eagerly waiting.

With one try left for that all important bonus point score the pressure was building. Philippa Tuttiett and Sue Neumann (who was playing in the backs for the first time) both came close to crossing the whitewash, but it was the now familiar figure of Debs Fleming who crossed the line for the fifth try of the afternoon, closely followed by a sixth to complete the win.

A brave effort by Hove, who fought until the very end – but Bristol were too strong on this occasion – getting the job done, the bonus point win, with the final score ending Hove Ladies 0 – 32 Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV.

Captain Jenny ‘Chip’ Fortheringham spoke to us after the game: ‘I am immensely proud of the girls today, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from anyone. Everyone did everything these needed to and 100% more, no-one put their head down, no one turned off – we did what we had to do and it feels so amazing right now. A special mention goes out to the coaches Pete Reakes and Matt Belbin – they’ve been through a lot with us this season, the ups and the downs , and they’ve supported us and believed in us right until the end – we couldn’t have done it without them’.

FORWARD of the game: Abbie Parsons – for her tremendous work rate, excellent scrummaging and ball carrying and for her expert work at the break down.

Abbie spoke to us about her experience ‘It was an amazing game, we dominated through so much of the game, it was fantastic. It was also great to have Emily Underwood back in the team – we’ve played against each other so much through England U20s and the academy – it was great to be back in Bristol colours on the same side’.

BACK of the game: Sue Neumann – she stepped in a 12 when emergency struck and played a great game. Running lots of dynamic lines, she pulled off some great clearance kicks and was strong in defence as well as attack.

‘That was awesome – it’s the first time I’ve played in the back and I had some great support from the guys around me today. We put a lot of pressure on Hove and to get the result we needed – it’s the best feeling ever’.