Five female games in same place at same time will be a first for region

Sunday will be a momentous day for Peterborough Rugby Club, as they become the first club in the East Midlands region to stage five all-female games at the same place and the same time.

The senior ladies team will be at home to Olney in a league match, while the girls’ section will be fielding under 18, under 15, under 13 and under 11 teams, all against Welwyn on the adjacent pitches.

All games will kick off at Fortress Fengate on Second Drove at 2pm.

“We’ve come a long way in a short time,” said girls’ section manager Simon Potter.

“Last Friday was the fourth anniversary of our first-ever match and we marked that by having three internationals with a hundred caps between them – Chloe Dumbreck of Scotland, Gill Bourke of Ireland and Giada Franco of Italy – at the club for a day’s training with the girls.

“We’ve gone from half a dozen players, with myself as the only coach, to having more than 60 girls at four different age groups, and 10 volunteer coaches.

“Sunday’s definitely going to be a very special day for all of us.”

The under 13s were the only team in action last weekend and enjoyed a thrilling a 40-40 draw away at Barker’s Butts in Coventry, whose under 15s put a stop to Boro’s dreams of being national champions last season.

Lucy Dangerfield lived up to her role as captain by leading from the front with five tries, while Jemima Mitchell had two and Rose Smith scored the other.

Coach Ian Smith said: “Considering we had no subs and were missing some key players, I thought the girls did very well with a gutsy performance.”