Friday 15 December 1989

New coach for the Great Britain team

The Women's Rugby Football Union has appointed Jeff Williams as coach to the British team. Williams succeeds Jim Greenwood, the former British Isles and Scotland forward who has influenced so many students at Loughborough University.

Williams comes with strong recommendations from the Welsh Rugby Union and he may see some of his potential charges engaged at London Welsh tomorrow, when the Midlands play the South-East in the final round of the women's regional championship. The first British fixture of the season is against Italy at Moseley on March 18.

Source Citation
"Reciprocal trips offer by Soviets; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 15 Dec. 1989

Sunday 24 September 1989

Saracens's first match

EVIDENCE that rugby's cherished spirit of altruism still flourishes can be found at the newly-formed Saracens women's rugby club.

Founded by former members of Wasps, Richmond and Gillingham to spread the women's game, the club began life with a 22-0 win over a Northern Select XV.

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1989

Source Citation
"Rugby Union Round-Up." Sunday Times [London, England] 24 Sept. 1989.

Saturday 1 July 1989

Richmond's tour of New Zealand

Remarkable news from rugby union: a British team has returned from New Zealand with a record of nine games and nine victories. This, I am told, had never been accomplished previously by any team from any nation (the Fijians of 1939 left New Zealand unbeaten, but with one drawn game). The team was Richmond Women's Rugby Club, and after seven club games and two provincial games, their record was 258 points for and 41 against. They tell me that the compliment of the tour came from the president of the Rotorua club, who said: ``Richmond's women play rugby like the All Blacks in slow motion.''

Source Citation
"Diary." Times [London, England] 1 July 1989

Monday 6 March 1989

Great Britain v France: report

Chris Thau

In a match that displayed most of the features of the men's encounter at Twickenham skill, purpose, commitment and dedication the British women (England, with two Welsh reinforcements) scored a historic 13-0 first win over France by a goal, a try, and a dropped goal to nil at Roehampton on Saturday .

The progress of women's rugby under the competent coaching of Jim Greenwood is astonishing. The British forwards, admirably led by Lisa Burgess, controlled the game, which was sponsored by Carlsberg, from the outset.

They produced a steady stream of good-quality possession, allowing Karen Almond, the stand-off half and captain, to shine again. She contributed to a long-awaited, well-deserved win with a try, a dropped goal and a conversion.

SCORERS: Great Britain: Tries: E Mitchell, K Almond. Dropped goal: K Almond. Conversion: K Almond.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1989

Source Citation
"Almond bears most fruit in women's game; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 6 Mar. 1989

Monday 13 February 1989

England v Wales

England 38 Wales 4

England took the upper hand very quickly in their women's international match at The Reddings in Moseley yesterday. Wales did not have the fitness to meet the onslaught from England's smooth-running backs.

Led by their stand-off half, Almond, England repeatedly ran through the Welsh defence. Almond was the linchpin in much of the play, scoring two tries herself and kicking five conversions. The English wingers outpaced their opponents MacLaren scoring once and Stennett going over three times.

A five-metre scrum gave the stronger English pack a pushover try by their No.8, Purdy. Wales, however, were not deterred despite increasing tiredness and the lock forward, Eaves, scored a last-minute consolation try.

SCORERS: England: Tries: Stennett (3), Almond (2), MacLaren, Purdy. Conversions: Almond (5). Wales: Try: Eaves.

ENGLAND: Shapland; Ponsford, Watts, Ross, Burns; Cockerill, Whalley; Purdy, Mitchell, Almond, MacLaren, Robson, Harris, Stennett, Mitchell.

WALES: Davies; Harvey (rep: Lloyd), Bowen, Eaves, Margerison; Carey, Thomas; Burgess, Hayley, Bennett, Williams, Samson, Phillips, Wyatt, Longstaff.

Source Citation
"Almond commandeers England onslaught; Women's Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 13 Feb. 1989