WOMEN’S GAME IN FOCUS

Sarah Rendell takes a weekly look at some important women players

THIS WEEK...

BETH BLACKLOCK

DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK CENTRE

Beth Blacklock is coming to the end of her defence, development and diplomacy masters degree at Durham University and soon will start to juggle work and rugby.

In preparation Blacklock, who can play at centre and full-back, has asked the advice of a World Cup winner, former Sharks playercoach and now Saracens star Tamara Taylor.

The 23-year-old said: “Taylor is a player to hugely look up to and she was a coach last year. Work and rugby is specific to the women’s game and a struggle that I know a lot of players have. In terms of making plans for the future it’s definitely a stress.”

Blacklock has also had conversations with other centres, namely Harlequins’ Rachael Burford – but there is one player she would love to have a chat with and that’s her role model - England and

Loughborough Lightning star Emily Scarratt.

She said: “Scarratt is just one of those players who excels in pretty much everything you see her do. From playing against her and hearing from friends in camps, her attitude is incredible. It’s how everyone used to say Jonny Wilkinson was.

“He always used to do the extras, he would stay behind longer than everyone else, he’d be the first man on the pitch. It’s that kind of mentality and that player environment that you aspire to have yourself which is very much something I have looked to achieve.”

Scarratt’s team are currently battling for a semi-final spot but Blacklock’s are yet to win a match this season. She says DMP are focused on their longterm development.

“When the season started we had just won a bid for the three years license in the Premiership,” she explained. “It’s always been tough as one of the northern squads to be perfectly honest. I don’t know why. I just think there is a higher concentration of women’s rugby players down south. “We have history as DMP of having tough seasons. Last season was a very good one to get the license off the back of, but this season has been tough. We had a whole new management team and then another management team since Christmas.

“Now it’s looking at the development for the three-year goal and seeing week by week what we can bring to it.

“I know the girls are here because they absolutely love rugby. We certainly don’t turn up to lose each week.”