Stratford Ladies coach proud of team's progress

STRATFORD Ladies highlighted their progress from the start of the season after reaching the Bowl final in the latest Midland Ladies Touch League competition.

Having finished third in their pool in the Super Saturday competition at Old Laurentians, they then defeated Old Coventrians in the Bowl semi-finals to set up a final against Newbold.

Sophie Henry scored two tries with Newbold also crossing twice to send the game into a drop-off situation. With both sides down to four players, Newbold had the edge to grab the win.

Coach Rich Pepperell was very proud of the squad, with some players playing significantly more rugby in this than they have done before. The ladies have a lot to work on and improve on from the weekend but it was a solid team performance.

Mixing teams from the South West and North East, Stratford found themselves in a tough group with North East newcomers Pinley and South West top two Ross and Pershore.

Stratford defended solidly against Ross for 13 of the 14 minutes but then conceded a try to lose 1-0.

Pershore proved too strong, scoring two quick tries and three late scores, but Stratford battled back in their final group game against Pinley Blacks. Rachel Browne grabbed her first tries for the club, finishing with a hat-trick, and Henry adding another.

That left Stratford third in the pool and facing Old Coventrians in the Bowl semi-final.

Captain Jane McGovern crossed for two tries, Henry added two more and Jess Fox earned the player of the tournament medal with a scorching try running the length of the pitch for her first try for the Black and Whites in a 5-1 win.

The next Super Saturday is Stratford’s home tournament on 15th July at Stratford RFC’s Pearcecroft HQ and the team will be hoping to do even better there. The ladies train on Tuesday nights at the same venue from 6.30pm.