The ladies first XV have had a predictably challenging start to the season after promotion but have met it with vigour and enthusiasm, seeing an incredible improvement in a matter of weeks. The first match against old rivals St Francis at least allowed the ladies to come away with a losing bonus point and the score line against Medway didn’t reflect what was a strong performance from the team. Having subsequently lost out to Canterbury in the cup in mid-October 47-10, there was a great deal to work on in training to bolster the defence in the centre channel and improve the attacking game. In a tight game where the lead was exchanged multiple times SCRFC managed to come away with a bonus point win scoring 36 to top of the table Canterbury’s 24. This turnaround really demonstrates the huge amount of work that each individual player and support staff is putting in and also the positive mental attitude that they took to the game. Having made this impression on the league, hopefully the team will continue to go from strength to strength this season. Forward of the match was awarded to Mel Laidlaw-Anderson who had a characteristically huge game, smashing through the forwards and scoring a brilliant try from the back of a scrum and doing all the work for another. Back of the match was awarded to Phili May, who has had an incredible impact on the games she has played this season from the centres, especially with her incredible pace and finishing prowess, and this week plugging the hole in the centres that so frustrated the Canterbury side. The ladies’ Development XV will be fielding their first side on 28th October against Battersea Ironsides Development XV and are continuing to recruit to bring new players into the game.