Cheltenham North women’s rugby take on Chipping Sodbury this weekend in a top of the table encounter that looks as if it’s set to light up some fireworks. With three matches played so far and three comfortable bonus point wins, Scott Laird’s side looks set to put out another big score against the fellow title challengers.
Following on from their campaign last year, Laird is aware that this is because of a system that has been taking place over a long period of time. “The results have been brilliant, the new players that we have had come through, we’ve had a whole new team come through, we’ve just carried on from last year really.”
This key core of the system is one that has now been defined with consistency and clarity. The result of this system means that Cheltenham North now have a side with the perfect mix of pace and strength. Laird believes that “it’s very easy for new players to learn the system so they can come in and just be seamless.”
For the home side the statistic side is eye gouching. 41 tries in the last three games have helped accumulate the 216 points that have been produced in the last three matches. This is due to the perfect balance of pace in the backline, and consistency in the forwards; ‘’being pretty solid in the set piece, we’ve got three or four really big ball carriers who seem to like running through six or seven people.”
Out of all the tries scored, the most consistent scorer is Lauren Thomas who wasn’t sure whether she would be playing this season. She has come back from injury and set Kayte Lane alight scoring three tries from her last three matches.
‘’Shes played professional rugby, she leads by example” Laird explains.
“I think she’s enjoying her new role in the backs and that’s helped everyone push and stay up to a high consistent standard.”
It’s been no secret that the last three games have been heavily one sided in Cheltenham North’s favour. But the women’s coach is not surprised, “Below NC1 you have teams that have had a women’s teams for maybe 20 or 25 years and they are all getting older. Those teams are slowly going down the leagues as they can’t keep up with the pace.”
On the other hand, Chipping Sodbury come in with the same momentum, three bonus point wins have brought them to second place, but level with Cheltenham North.
They come into this game with the same confidence and might just look like one of the few sides that can take on the home side and have a tight contest. Scott expects a fairly different challenge this weekend coming.
“I expect them to be a bit fitter, a bit more like us, a bit of a mixture, they may have a couple of players with a bit of pace that we haven’t faced yet.”
Despite the challenges, the women’s coach still remains confident of victory.
‘’I’m going to be confident here, I think we’ll win but hopefully it would be closer than the last three.’’
With both teams coming into this weekend on an unbeaten run and three bonus point wins, both sides come in with waves of momentum and positive energy. But it’s Cheltenham North’s organisation and desire that could be the deciding factor.
‘’Even without the ball, the girls are desperate not to concede, our defence is really good and they’ve got the sheer will to just get up and hit.”
This Sunday looks set to be a try-fest but Cheltenham North’s confidence in attack and defence should just edge them over the line.
