Mowden Park Sharks face biggest ever test
by Andy Richardson
9th May 2009
DARLINGTON MOWDEN Park Sharks ladies rugby team will tomorrow play the most important game in their history as they compete to retain their Championship Cup title against Bath Ladies.
The Sharks, recently crowned champions of Championship North, take on the Bath side who secured this season’s Championship South title.
But an even bigger prize awaits the winners at Lichfield Rugby Club with the victorious side gaining automatic promotion to the RFUW Premiership where they will compete against the likes of Wasps, Saracens and Worcester in the elite ladies league of eight teams.
Despite missing a clutch of key players, including England lock Tamara Taylor, Sharks travel to Lichfield brimming with confidence after defeating Bath 29-19 to secure the Championship Cup last season.
The team will also be missing Darlington-born back Rachel Davies who in her role as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers has just completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
But Sharks boast an array of internationals including England fly half Katy Mclean, the team captain whose kicking ability has seen her dubbed the ‘female Jonny Wilkinson’.
They can also call on the talented South African-born wing Jennifer Edwards who lives in Stockton and is feted as much for her singing ability as her rugby after performing live at the Manchester MEN Arena on the same bill as American singer-songwriter Anastasia.
The side have recently been boosted by the return of centre and England international Georgina Roberts who will be making only her second appearance since recovering from cruciate ligament surgery.
Club manager Susan Hughes, who plays at lock, has been forced to sit out the current season after having knee surgery. But she’s aiming to be back in action next season when the side hope to be playing in the elite competition.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed here but we have a very strong chance,” she confirmed. “We outplayed Bath last year and this season our squad is even stronger. The improvement that our coach Jo Hull has brought to the team is unbelievable.
“Every member of the side have taken their game to a new level because of Jo. We’re not complacent, but it means so much to us because, the way the league has been structured, if we don’t gain promotion this season we’ll be stuck in this divison for at least another two years. For the first time we’re taking a supporters bus to the game which just shows how the interest in women’s rugby is growing.”