This season was always going to be a difficult transition season, recovering as best we could after the problems caused by Covid and trying to maintain the high standards that we have set ourselves over the years.
The U18s played some of their best rugby in very competitive games, particularly the National Cup pool matches, where the results didn’t go their way but the spirit shown by the players was remarkable at times, against the odds. The season was cut short disappointedly but a number from our squad were able to represent Yorkshire U18s: Lily Williams, Abbie Millward, Emily Heaps and Melissa Howden, the latter two also training with and playing for the Yorkshire Centre of Excellence. We wish Melissa, Millie Morgan, Ebony Mothershaw and Tilly Bates the best of luck for the future as they leave the U18s and we thank them for representing the club so well.
The U15s built from 9 players in their first game at Scarborough to recruit well and then go through the season unbeaten, deservedly finishing by winning the West Park Leeds 7s Festival in April. We’re looking forward to seeing Ebony Stead, Frankie Blakey, Poppy Adams and Ellamai Anderson play for Yorkshire U15s in the county programme that starts on 15 May.
The U13s recruited well and 23 players have played at some point during the season. This has meant that we have been able to field full strength sides and sportingly the team has loaned players to the opposition on many occasions to make the most of the fixtures and to allow the maximum number of players (from both teams) more opportunities to play. Individually the players have improved and their team play has developed well as the season has progressed. The standard of play has been remarkable at times and they were deservedly unbeaten in the final festival at Leodiensians of the season on 1 May.
At that festival the U11s attended their first ever girls’ Pitch Up and Play event and Sophie, Courtney, Abigail and Summer thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
We are looking forward to next season when there will be the first ever Yorkshire U18 Girls Merit League for clubs which we anticipate will give a boost to club and county players, providing a much-needed structure and competitive games. New age group bandings will operate with U14s and U16s following the fixtures for the U18s in a fixture matrix and we are looking forward to forming a new U12s (single year) squad. As always, we will look to welcome new players from absolute beginners to those with league or union experience.
Finally, thanks must be expressed to all coaches, team managers, first aiders, parents and carers, supporters and volunteers at the club without whose support we could not provide the opportunities for the girls to play. Last but not least, we thank the players for their efforts throughout and we hope that they have enjoyed their season - as if they have, then it has been a success.
U18s: Emily Heaps, Tilly Bates, Milly Toole, Abbie Millward, Shania Lawrence, Millie Gould, Ruby Parker, Melissa Howden, Millie Morgan, Tally Bryer, Millie Bell, Lily Williams, Stephanie Spence-Hirst, Holly Hicks, Ebony Mothershaw, Charlotte Ball, Aimee-Leigh Wood, Abbie Fox
U15s: Poppy Adams, Lexi Hagues, Harriet Hirst, Iona Miller, Olivia Phelan, Tegan Sant, Ebony Stead, , Liberty Trotter, Frankie Blakey, Olivia Screene, Niamh Dawson, Saydi Smith, Brodie Senior, Jess Lumb, Faith Thorp, India Thorp, Ellamai Anderson, Hollie Dooley
U13s: Abigail Teece, Lilly-Mae Platt, Daisy Platt, Georgia Longfellow, Millie Stocks, Dina Santos, Jenny Sutcliffe, Alicja Kadziak, Layla-jaimes Carson, Kahmani Sene-lefao, Kate Rowlinson, Olivia Stead, Imogen Hockney, Sophie Lumb, Aamina Elhassani, Sereen Alkhaldi, Kaci Collins, Tilly Raven, Lexie Dougan, Chloe Thomas, Violet Singleton