LSH Girls Gain More Honours.
Five girls from Liverpool St Helens’ U15s table-topping rugby team were celebrating call-ups to the North West Regional Squad this week. The team, who were formed a mere 12 months ago thanks to funding from the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service have gone from strength to strength this season, with eleven of the team also gaining Lancashire County honours.
Claudia Dowdeswell (De La Salle), Jess Lloyd (Haydock Sports College), Safina Clay & Emma Banks (Cowley) and Emma McCartney (Rainford High) are all set to make their debuts for the North West Counties on February 21st against West Midlands.
Club Chairman John Bithell could not be more proud of the Club’s newest team. “We are delighted with the progress that the girls have made. They take their rugby very seriously and I am not at all surprised that they are in the elite squad”.
The North West Counties squad, which has a training base at Myerscough College in Preston, comprises of only 22 players from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. Matches will be played against West Midlands and Yorkshire before competing in a national festival at Lichfield.
RFU Community Rugby Coach John Foster also paid tribute to the girls’ success commenting “I’m delighted for them. Liverpool St Helens is providing NW Counties with the entire front row and I really can’t see anyone getting the better of them. Claudia, Jess & Safina have been awesome all year and fully deserve their call ups. We are providing lots of pace in the backs, too with Emma “Whippet” McCartney and Emma Banks sure to make an impact.”
Girls’ rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the area with several local schools and colleges enjoying links with LSH. Hayley Moran from De La Salle was full of praise for the Club “Several of our girls play rugby at LSH as well as receiving coaching here at school. Last year our Year 7 Girls got to the National Finals of both the Rugby League and the Rugby Union Schools Tournaments and we are hoping to repeat the feat this season, too”.
Claudia Dowdeswell (De La Salle), Jess Lloyd (Haydock Sports College), Safina Clay & Emma Banks (Cowley) and Emma McCartney (Rainford High) are all set to make their debuts for the North West Counties on February 21st against West Midlands.
Club Chairman John Bithell could not be more proud of the Club’s newest team. “We are delighted with the progress that the girls have made. They take their rugby very seriously and I am not at all surprised that they are in the elite squad”.
The North West Counties squad, which has a training base at Myerscough College in Preston, comprises of only 22 players from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. Matches will be played against West Midlands and Yorkshire before competing in a national festival at Lichfield.
RFU Community Rugby Coach John Foster also paid tribute to the girls’ success commenting “I’m delighted for them. Liverpool St Helens is providing NW Counties with the entire front row and I really can’t see anyone getting the better of them. Claudia, Jess & Safina have been awesome all year and fully deserve their call ups. We are providing lots of pace in the backs, too with Emma “Whippet” McCartney and Emma Banks sure to make an impact.”
Girls’ rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the area with several local schools and colleges enjoying links with LSH. Hayley Moran from De La Salle was full of praise for the Club “Several of our girls play rugby at LSH as well as receiving coaching here at school. Last year our Year 7 Girls got to the National Finals of both the Rugby League and the Rugby Union Schools Tournaments and we are hoping to repeat the feat this season, too”.
More Success for Jess.
LSH Girls Under 15 Captain Jess Lloyd had a special reason to celebrate this week with the news that she along with two of her team mates have been invited to join the RFUW’s prestigious School of Rugby Programme.
The School of Rugby aims to identify and develop players and athletes who have the potential to play at elite levels in England and provides a route for players into the England Youth Rugby Academy.
Jess, who attends Haydock Sports College, has the support of a rugby playing family as elder brother Aaron plays Rugby League for the Saints Academy.
Helena Whitley from Haydock College said “We are all delighted for Jess. She is a fantastic rugby player and this will be an amazing experience for her”.
Jess’ team mates Claudia Dowdeswell (De La Salle) and Emma “Whippet” McCartney (Rainford High) also received call ups this week. Jess said “Claudia is a real powerhouse and I really wouldn’t like to play against her, and “Whippet” is going to have a massive impact this year as she is so quick and elusive”.
RFU Community Rugby Coach John Foster said “It’s tremendous that Jess, Claudia and Emma have been invited to the School of Rugby and I know they will thoroughly enjoy the experience, but actually, we have quite a few players coming through the ranks now at LSH and I fully expect that more of our girls will earn call-ups next year”.
Liverpool St Helens has Girls Rugby teams at U15 and U18. Anyone interested in playing should contact John Foster on 07738648944.
The next Home Fixture is a top of the league clash with Vale of Lune on Sunday 28th February which kicks off at 2.00pm
The School of Rugby aims to identify and develop players and athletes who have the potential to play at elite levels in England and provides a route for players into the England Youth Rugby Academy.
Jess, who attends Haydock Sports College, has the support of a rugby playing family as elder brother Aaron plays Rugby League for the Saints Academy.
Helena Whitley from Haydock College said “We are all delighted for Jess. She is a fantastic rugby player and this will be an amazing experience for her”.
Jess’ team mates Claudia Dowdeswell (De La Salle) and Emma “Whippet” McCartney (Rainford High) also received call ups this week. Jess said “Claudia is a real powerhouse and I really wouldn’t like to play against her, and “Whippet” is going to have a massive impact this year as she is so quick and elusive”.
RFU Community Rugby Coach John Foster said “It’s tremendous that Jess, Claudia and Emma have been invited to the School of Rugby and I know they will thoroughly enjoy the experience, but actually, we have quite a few players coming through the ranks now at LSH and I fully expect that more of our girls will earn call-
Liverpool St Helens has Girls Rugby teams at U15 and U18. Anyone interested in playing should contact John Foster on 07738648944.
The next Home Fixture is a top of the league clash with Vale of Lune on Sunday 28th February which kicks off at 2.00pm
