LADIES RUGBY SHOWCASED AT KINGSTON PARK
The match which was played before the men’s Aviva Premiership clash showcased the very best of ladies rugby talent with Newcastle full-back Danielle Wiseman and Saracens scrum-half Leanne Riley the standout players on the day. Both scooped the Women of the Match award sponsored by Brewin Dolphin.
Newcastle’s team consisted of players from Novos, Darlington Mowden Sharks, Carlisle, Northumbria University, Teesside University, Durham University and Waterloo. And in keeping with ladies theme for the day, a ladies 7s competition also took place at Bullocksteads at lunchtime which Novos won.
Falcons team manager Steve Huckett paid tribute to the club for staging the event, saying: “The ladies enjoyed the experience of playing at Kingston Park and many thanks to Newcastle Falcons for agreeing to host a very enjoyable day of rugby.
“Hopefully the spectacle will encourage greater participation from women in our wonderful sport.”
Meanwhile Saracens team manager Laura Eddie said: “It was great to showcase such a competitive fixture before the men’s game and the team thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
Last weekend’s fixture is a further boost for the ladies game ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup held in France later this year. England Women have been pitted with Canada, Spain and Samoa in Group A of the competition. Keen to erase the pain of losing the 2010 final against New Zealand, England skipper Mclean said: “The ultimate dream is to lift the World Cup and preparations in the camp are going very well. It’s a big year for us and hopefully we can achieve our goal come the end of the year.”
**Newcastle Falcons:** 15 Danielle Wiseman, 14 Ruth Laybourne, 13 Sophie Lee, 12 Emma Nichols, 11 Julie Hope, 10 Rebecca Scholes, 9 Katy Green, 1 Amy Needham, 2 Sam Jamieson, 3 Heather Kerr, 4 Lisa Cockburn, 5 Sarah Bush, 6 Hannah Shield, 7 Juliet Short, 8 Sally Austen
**Replacements:** Suzy Todd, Lucy Medley, Sarah Jones, Fionidi Parker
**Saracens:** 15 Charlie Goode, 14 Racheal Potter, 13 Hannah Casey, 12 Hat Hewitt, 11 Lotte Clapp, 10 April Brown, 9 Leanne Riley, 1 Paula Ireland, 2 Gen Thomas, 3 Vicci Cogger, 4 Heather Stammers, 5 Hannah Jones, 6 Emily Coleman, 7 Julie Gilbert, 8 Amy Cocayne
**Replacements:** Rachael Keohane, Roxie Mankee
