Scotland have been drawn in pool C with France, Canada and Sweden for the sixth women's rugby union World Cup in London next year. Surrey Sports Park will host the 12 teams competing in the tournament that will run from August 20 to September 5.
The third-place match, semi-finals and the final will be played at the Twickenham Stoop, the home ground of Harlequins. England and Ireland have been drawn in pool B with the United States and Kazakhstan and Wales are in pool A with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The Times (London, England) (Nov 24, 2009): p75
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Sunday, 11 March 2007
Scotland; Women's rugby union
SCOTLAND suffered their third loss in four RBS Six Nations matches when they went down 18-6 to Ireland at Meggetland in Edinburgh.
The Irish opened the scoring with a penalty from Jo O'Sullivan and a Sarahjane Belton try gave them an 8-6 half-time lead. Ireland dominated the second half with tries from Jeannette Feighery and Lynne Cantwell sealing their first win of the season.
Sunday Times (London, England) (March 11, 2007): p20.
The Irish opened the scoring with a penalty from Jo O'Sullivan and a Sarahjane Belton try gave them an 8-6 half-time lead. Ireland dominated the second half with tries from Jeannette Feighery and Lynne Cantwell sealing their first win of the season.
Sunday Times (London, England) (March 11, 2007): p20.
Sunday, 25 February 2007
Scotland's women
SCOTLAND'S women fought back to beat Italy 26-6 in Edinburgh with Lucy Millard grabbing three tries. The visitors took an early lead from a Michela Tondinelli penalty, but the Scots battled back with tries from Millard, converted by Lynsey Harley, and Erin Kerr. The Italians responded with a second penalty in the first-half, but the hosts dominated after the break.
Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 25, 2007): p26.
Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 25, 2007): p26.
Saturday, 4 February 2006
Scotland looking for Murrayfield inspiration to beat the auld enemy
Hilary Weale
With a World Cup later this year, England, Scotland and France will be hoping to give their campaigns a boost with a grand-slam triumph, while Wales have something to prove after coming last in 2005 HAVING botched three attempts at winning the grand slam, England's men clinched it in 2003, getting their World Cup year off to the start it needed. In view of this, it is easy to understand that Geoff Richards, the England women's coach, considers this season's Six Nations in a wider context.
"We're hoping to win the grand slam. In World Cup year that's an important goal because if you're not going to win the Six Nations, it diminishes your chances of winning the World Cup."
The World Cup takes place in Edmonton, Canada, this summer and it has given incentive to the teams in the Six Nations to perform well. Running parallel to the men's tournament, the women follow the same fixture list, the difference being the inclusion of Spain rather than Italy.
The competition is vital for the development of the women's game, and for the Scots to play their home match against England at Murrayfield straight after the male counterparts have finished their battle should help to bring it to a bigger audience. Gil Stevenson, the Scotland coach, said: "It's always a thrill for them (the players) to play at the national stadium. What we hope is that they can continue to raise the profile of the game."
That England are playing their home matches in the more humble surroundings of Old Albanians RFC does not worry Richards unduly: "We have played at Twickenham in recent years, and it's wonderful (for the players) to play for their country at the home of rugby. But sometimes it doesn't help our grassroots supporters, because they don't have access to Six Nations tickets."
Venues aside, there are some intriguing sub-plots to some of the fixtures. Spain are in the same group as Scotland in the World Cup, so the result of that tie on the last weekend of the tournament will have resonance. The Scots are probably the third strongest team in the competition, and rather than playing any matches in the autumn, were saving themselves for a warm-up match against the United States last month, which they lost 13-6. Hardly the best preparation for playing France next. In Donna Kennedy, the No 8, they boast the most-capped female XVs player in the world, and the most-capped Scotland player, her 84 caps surpassing Gregor Townsend's tally.
It is always tight between Wales, Ireland and Spain. Wales, who finished bottom last year, have a new coaching team in Fielies Coetsee and Jason Lewis, but are still smarting from their failure to qualify for the World Cup, so will be out to prove a point.
Last year, France were crowned queens of Europe, their three-point win over England being the crucial result. Losing their two matches against New Zealand in October has made England all the more determined to better their second place of last year.
Richards points out that there are some world-class players in the side, among them Jo Yapp, the captain and scrum half, as well as young players blooded recently, such as Alice Richardson, the fly half, who give the squad strength in depth.
Winning is vital, but Richards has an additional hope: "I just wish more people would come and watch women's rugby. I think for the time and effort and quality rugby they produce, it's a great spectacle, and I think people would be pleasantly surprised if they came and watched."
Donna Kennedy is the most experienced woman player in the world with 84 caps
The Times (London, England) (Feb 4, 2006): p41
With a World Cup later this year, England, Scotland and France will be hoping to give their campaigns a boost with a grand-slam triumph, while Wales have something to prove after coming last in 2005 HAVING botched three attempts at winning the grand slam, England's men clinched it in 2003, getting their World Cup year off to the start it needed. In view of this, it is easy to understand that Geoff Richards, the England women's coach, considers this season's Six Nations in a wider context.
"We're hoping to win the grand slam. In World Cup year that's an important goal because if you're not going to win the Six Nations, it diminishes your chances of winning the World Cup."
The World Cup takes place in Edmonton, Canada, this summer and it has given incentive to the teams in the Six Nations to perform well. Running parallel to the men's tournament, the women follow the same fixture list, the difference being the inclusion of Spain rather than Italy.
The competition is vital for the development of the women's game, and for the Scots to play their home match against England at Murrayfield straight after the male counterparts have finished their battle should help to bring it to a bigger audience. Gil Stevenson, the Scotland coach, said: "It's always a thrill for them (the players) to play at the national stadium. What we hope is that they can continue to raise the profile of the game."
That England are playing their home matches in the more humble surroundings of Old Albanians RFC does not worry Richards unduly: "We have played at Twickenham in recent years, and it's wonderful (for the players) to play for their country at the home of rugby. But sometimes it doesn't help our grassroots supporters, because they don't have access to Six Nations tickets."
Venues aside, there are some intriguing sub-plots to some of the fixtures. Spain are in the same group as Scotland in the World Cup, so the result of that tie on the last weekend of the tournament will have resonance. The Scots are probably the third strongest team in the competition, and rather than playing any matches in the autumn, were saving themselves for a warm-up match against the United States last month, which they lost 13-6. Hardly the best preparation for playing France next. In Donna Kennedy, the No 8, they boast the most-capped female XVs player in the world, and the most-capped Scotland player, her 84 caps surpassing Gregor Townsend's tally.
It is always tight between Wales, Ireland and Spain. Wales, who finished bottom last year, have a new coaching team in Fielies Coetsee and Jason Lewis, but are still smarting from their failure to qualify for the World Cup, so will be out to prove a point.
Last year, France were crowned queens of Europe, their three-point win over England being the crucial result. Losing their two matches against New Zealand in October has made England all the more determined to better their second place of last year.
Richards points out that there are some world-class players in the side, among them Jo Yapp, the captain and scrum half, as well as young players blooded recently, such as Alice Richardson, the fly half, who give the squad strength in depth.
Winning is vital, but Richards has an additional hope: "I just wish more people would come and watch women's rugby. I think for the time and effort and quality rugby they produce, it's a great spectacle, and I think people would be pleasantly surprised if they came and watched."
Donna Kennedy is the most experienced woman player in the world with 84 caps
The Times (London, England) (Feb 4, 2006): p41
Sunday, 30 January 2005
60 seconds in sport; Interview with Karen Findlay, the captain of the Scottish women's rugby team
What match are you in training for?
Friday's Six Nations opener against France in Roubaix Do you have another career outside of rugby?
I'm a sergeant in the Met, sitting exams to become an inspector. I'm originally from Cullen in the north east of Scotland, but now live in the shadow of Twickenham What is your earliest sporting memory?
Aged seven, stealing my dad's golf clubs and sneaking off to play at Cullen Golf Club. I could have fitted into his bag. My dad said there were worse things I could have been doing. I got my handicap down to seven Do you remember your first rugby match?
In 1988 I was at Richmond watching a women's game. My friends said I should give it a go, as I had the perfect build Who is your sporting hero?
David Sole. He was outstanding for Scotland and plays in my position Is there anyone outside of sport that you admire?
My mum for putting up with my dad What is your funniest sporting memory?
I was running out to play for Scotland in Spain but got my studs stuck in a drain in the middle of the pitch. It was live on Spanish TV, and friends said it looked like I'd been shot. I've never been so embarrassed What's the last CD you bought?
O by Damien Rice What's your biggest success?
In one weekend in 2001, I was in the Scotland team that won the European Championship in France, flew back to London and the next day was in the Richmond team that beat Wasps to win the English Cup final at Twickenham What hobbies do you have?
Drinking nice red wine, with good food and good company What are your ambitions?
To help this Scottish women's team achieve it's full potential. We've made huge progress, but didn't do well in the last World Cup and I'd love to go to the 2006 tournament What is your favourite piece of sporting memorabilia?
My European championship winners' medal and the first Scotland shirt I played in.
It was an A international in Wales in 1995 and we were staying in a pokey B&B, but we won the game Your worst sporting memory?
Losing away to Spain last season Do you have a nickname?
Jock If your house was on fire, what one item would you grab as you ran to safety?
My pyjamas. My bed is my favourite place How would you like to be remembered?
As a players' captain, someone who gave their heart and soul to the job and took great pride in pulling on the blue jersey of Scotland
Sunday Times (London, England) (Jan 30, 2005): p26.
Friday's Six Nations opener against France in Roubaix Do you have another career outside of rugby?
I'm a sergeant in the Met, sitting exams to become an inspector. I'm originally from Cullen in the north east of Scotland, but now live in the shadow of Twickenham What is your earliest sporting memory?
Aged seven, stealing my dad's golf clubs and sneaking off to play at Cullen Golf Club. I could have fitted into his bag. My dad said there were worse things I could have been doing. I got my handicap down to seven Do you remember your first rugby match?
In 1988 I was at Richmond watching a women's game. My friends said I should give it a go, as I had the perfect build Who is your sporting hero?
David Sole. He was outstanding for Scotland and plays in my position Is there anyone outside of sport that you admire?
My mum for putting up with my dad What is your funniest sporting memory?
I was running out to play for Scotland in Spain but got my studs stuck in a drain in the middle of the pitch. It was live on Spanish TV, and friends said it looked like I'd been shot. I've never been so embarrassed What's the last CD you bought?
O by Damien Rice What's your biggest success?
In one weekend in 2001, I was in the Scotland team that won the European Championship in France, flew back to London and the next day was in the Richmond team that beat Wasps to win the English Cup final at Twickenham What hobbies do you have?
Drinking nice red wine, with good food and good company What are your ambitions?
To help this Scottish women's team achieve it's full potential. We've made huge progress, but didn't do well in the last World Cup and I'd love to go to the 2006 tournament What is your favourite piece of sporting memorabilia?
My European championship winners' medal and the first Scotland shirt I played in.
It was an A international in Wales in 1995 and we were staying in a pokey B&B, but we won the game Your worst sporting memory?
Losing away to Spain last season Do you have a nickname?
Jock If your house was on fire, what one item would you grab as you ran to safety?
My pyjamas. My bed is my favourite place How would you like to be remembered?
As a players' captain, someone who gave their heart and soul to the job and took great pride in pulling on the blue jersey of Scotland
Sunday Times (London, England) (Jan 30, 2005): p26.
Saturday, 6 March 2004
Dawn of equality at Murrayfield; Rugby Union.
Lewis Stuart
THE growing integration of men's and women's rugby in Scotland took another step forward yesterday when it was announced that Murrayfield is to become the main home ground for both sexes. The women's team will play four matches there this season, all of them immediately after men's matches on the same pitch.
The women hope that the fans who have brought tickets to the men's match will stay on to support them as well - tickets will cover both matches - and they will not only get a decent crowd but may even make a few converts at the same time. It is all part of a series of moves to merge the male and female games, most dramatically shown by the decision taken at the last annual meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union to give the women representation on the general committee.
The match on November 27 is against the United States, losing finalists when the Women's World Cup was held in Edinburgh ten years ago, which follows the men's match against South Africa. It will be the third time that the women have played at the home of Scottish rugby after matches against Sweden and France last season.
The move to end the segregation that saw the women driven out to play their internationals on club grounds, usually 24 hours after the men, was welcomed yesterday by Donna Kennedy, the most capped woman player. "This is absolutely fantastic news," the back-row player, who has been capped 77 times, said.
"Having the opportunity to play at Murrayfield is awesome. It's recognition that we are not just regarded as a bunch of girls playing on a Sunday afternoon but international athletes. The USA match will be a good contest to raise awareness of the women's game and encourage more women to become involved."
The Times (London, England) (Oct 6, 2004): p73.
THE growing integration of men's and women's rugby in Scotland took another step forward yesterday when it was announced that Murrayfield is to become the main home ground for both sexes. The women's team will play four matches there this season, all of them immediately after men's matches on the same pitch.
The women hope that the fans who have brought tickets to the men's match will stay on to support them as well - tickets will cover both matches - and they will not only get a decent crowd but may even make a few converts at the same time. It is all part of a series of moves to merge the male and female games, most dramatically shown by the decision taken at the last annual meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union to give the women representation on the general committee.
The match on November 27 is against the United States, losing finalists when the Women's World Cup was held in Edinburgh ten years ago, which follows the men's match against South Africa. It will be the third time that the women have played at the home of Scottish rugby after matches against Sweden and France last season.
The move to end the segregation that saw the women driven out to play their internationals on club grounds, usually 24 hours after the men, was welcomed yesterday by Donna Kennedy, the most capped woman player. "This is absolutely fantastic news," the back-row player, who has been capped 77 times, said.
"Having the opportunity to play at Murrayfield is awesome. It's recognition that we are not just regarded as a bunch of girls playing on a Sunday afternoon but international athletes. The USA match will be a good contest to raise awareness of the women's game and encourage more women to become involved."
The Times (London, England) (Oct 6, 2004): p73.
Sunday, 8 February 2004
In training with Mary Pat Tierney; Your fitness.
Mary Pat Tierney
Mary Pat Tierney is fly-half for the Scotland women's rugby team that plays Wales in the Six Nations championship
For the past two years I have been following a strict training regime to improve my fitness for the national squad. The Scottish Rugby Union has asked the women's team to commit to this training programme for the next two years, until after the next World Cup.
My immediate priority is Saturday's Six Nations match. We meet up on Wednesday and fly down to Bristol before travelling on to Cardiff. On Thursday we will have two training sessions, with a lighter one on Friday, before a team meeting in the evening. This is Scotland's first competitive match of the year and we will spend the time doing a series of rugby drills and playing a number of practice matches.
Combining work and rugby
From Monday to Friday, I work full-time as a solicitor in Edinburgh. Although I start a new job in March, my current employers have been extremely flexible with my training. But, to maintain my fitness, I train every day during my 90 minute lunch break
Monday: after playing on Sunday, I have a recovery session at my local swimming pool
Tuesday: I usually spend 30 minutes on a rowing machine; I row for 90 seconds, rest for a minute, and so on. After work, I head straight for training with Watsonians rugby club between 6.30pm and 8pm. Training incorporates drills such as dynamic stretching, tackling or hitting bags, handling drills, touch rugby or six-on-six matches
Wednesday: probably my hardest session of the week, with an hour of weights. My programme is similar to how weightlifters train -power clenches, press-ups and leg pulls -the theory being that I should be able to replicate the same explosive power in a match
Thursday: at lunchtime I visit a local park and sprint. In the evening I have another session with Watsonians
Friday: depending on how the week has gone, I usually fit in another weights session
Saturday: myself and a few of the team hire a squash court in the morning to perform non-weight-bearing drills and routines, aimed at strengthening our legs and abdominal muscles.
Sunday: normally a club match, although the league is suspended during the Six Nations
Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 8, 2004): p29.
Mary Pat Tierney is fly-half for the Scotland women's rugby team that plays Wales in the Six Nations championship
For the past two years I have been following a strict training regime to improve my fitness for the national squad. The Scottish Rugby Union has asked the women's team to commit to this training programme for the next two years, until after the next World Cup.
My immediate priority is Saturday's Six Nations match. We meet up on Wednesday and fly down to Bristol before travelling on to Cardiff. On Thursday we will have two training sessions, with a lighter one on Friday, before a team meeting in the evening. This is Scotland's first competitive match of the year and we will spend the time doing a series of rugby drills and playing a number of practice matches.
Combining work and rugby
From Monday to Friday, I work full-time as a solicitor in Edinburgh. Although I start a new job in March, my current employers have been extremely flexible with my training. But, to maintain my fitness, I train every day during my 90 minute lunch break
Monday: after playing on Sunday, I have a recovery session at my local swimming pool
Tuesday: I usually spend 30 minutes on a rowing machine; I row for 90 seconds, rest for a minute, and so on. After work, I head straight for training with Watsonians rugby club between 6.30pm and 8pm. Training incorporates drills such as dynamic stretching, tackling or hitting bags, handling drills, touch rugby or six-on-six matches
Wednesday: probably my hardest session of the week, with an hour of weights. My programme is similar to how weightlifters train -power clenches, press-ups and leg pulls -the theory being that I should be able to replicate the same explosive power in a match
Thursday: at lunchtime I visit a local park and sprint. In the evening I have another session with Watsonians
Friday: depending on how the week has gone, I usually fit in another weights session
Saturday: myself and a few of the team hire a squash court in the morning to perform non-weight-bearing drills and routines, aimed at strengthening our legs and abdominal muscles.
Sunday: normally a club match, although the league is suspended during the Six Nations
Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 8, 2004): p29.
Saturday, 25 May 2002
Findlay aims to lay down law in play-off
Lewis Stuart
SCOTLAND hope that their captain's fiftieth cap will be the good-luck omen that will take them to fifth place in the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona. Karen Findlay, the London police officer who leads them, reaches the landmark today when the team play Australia.
It is a repeat of the fifth/sixth place play-off in the 1998 World Cup, which Australia won, but a match that Scotland know they are capable of winning if they play to form. They would match their best finish in the competition, achieved in 1994, if they win, and will at least have lived up to their seeding. The Scots have been forced into two changes with Sarah Higgins, the full back, and Angela Hutt, the wing, picking up injuries in the win over Spain. They are replaced by Alison McGrandles and Jen Dickson, but should not be much weakened. Both could consider themselves unlucky not to be there in the first place.
For the final against New Zealand, England have left Gill Burns, their in-form and legendary No 8, among the replacements. Burns, 37, has played in all four World Cups and was England's star performer in their impressive 53-10 semi-final win over Canada on Tuesday. The final will be Burns's final top-level outing before she retires but she may not get on the field. Geoff Richards, England's head coach, instead will start with Claire Frost, from Saracens, at the back of the scrum. Frost is one of eight changes to the starting team that defeated Canada.
She will form a new-look loose-forward combination with Georgia Stevens, who will play in the less familiar openside flank position, while Jenny Phillips, who has recovered from a stomach bug, will take her place on the blindside.
SCOTLAND: A McGrandles; G Gibbon, V MacDonald, R Petlevannaia, J Dickson; D Fairbairn, P Chalmers; K Findlay, V Wiseman, A Christie, L Cockburn, C Muir, B Macleod, D Kennedy, F Gillanders. Replacements: A McKenzie, V Galbraith, J Hanley, L O'Keefe, J Sheerin, M-P Tierney, R Shepherd.
The Times (London, England) (May 25, 2002): p37
SCOTLAND hope that their captain's fiftieth cap will be the good-luck omen that will take them to fifth place in the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona. Karen Findlay, the London police officer who leads them, reaches the landmark today when the team play Australia.
It is a repeat of the fifth/sixth place play-off in the 1998 World Cup, which Australia won, but a match that Scotland know they are capable of winning if they play to form. They would match their best finish in the competition, achieved in 1994, if they win, and will at least have lived up to their seeding. The Scots have been forced into two changes with Sarah Higgins, the full back, and Angela Hutt, the wing, picking up injuries in the win over Spain. They are replaced by Alison McGrandles and Jen Dickson, but should not be much weakened. Both could consider themselves unlucky not to be there in the first place.
For the final against New Zealand, England have left Gill Burns, their in-form and legendary No 8, among the replacements. Burns, 37, has played in all four World Cups and was England's star performer in their impressive 53-10 semi-final win over Canada on Tuesday. The final will be Burns's final top-level outing before she retires but she may not get on the field. Geoff Richards, England's head coach, instead will start with Claire Frost, from Saracens, at the back of the scrum. Frost is one of eight changes to the starting team that defeated Canada.
She will form a new-look loose-forward combination with Georgia Stevens, who will play in the less familiar openside flank position, while Jenny Phillips, who has recovered from a stomach bug, will take her place on the blindside.
SCOTLAND: A McGrandles; G Gibbon, V MacDonald, R Petlevannaia, J Dickson; D Fairbairn, P Chalmers; K Findlay, V Wiseman, A Christie, L Cockburn, C Muir, B Macleod, D Kennedy, F Gillanders. Replacements: A McKenzie, V Galbraith, J Hanley, L O'Keefe, J Sheerin, M-P Tierney, R Shepherd.
The Times (London, England) (May 25, 2002): p37
Wednesday, 22 May 2002
The Times (London, England) (May 22, 2002): p39
Daryl Holden in Barcelona
England 53, Canada 10
ENGLAND produced a remarkable turnaround in form yesterday to outclass Canada and power into the women's rugby World Cup final here. Having been disappointing in their opening tournament wins over Italy and Spain, England finally rediscovered their touch, scoring eight tries to Canada's two, to set up an eagerly-awaited final against New Zealand on Saturday.
Last night, the Black Ferns, New Zealand's defending champions, proved much too good for France in the second semi-final, winning 30-0, but they will have to be at their best to hold on to their title.
England will take much confidence into the final after destroying Canada in searing heat. They produced a high-class running game, with backs and forwards combining superbly.
Geoff Richards, the England coach, who was worried by his team's poor form, was pleased with the effort. "We always knew we were capable of playing good rugby and they really put it together," he said. "What was really pleasing was that they followed the game plan to the letter."
England certainly did that and they had stars all over the field. No one was better than Gill Burns, the No 8. She was dynamic, making powerful runs from the base of the scrum and out in the midfield in a commanding display.
Burns led a forward effort to which Canada had no answer. They struggled in the set-pieces, their scrum lost two against the head and they lost six of their own lineouts.
Sue Day, the centre, was again polished in all she did. She finished attacks superbly to grab four tries by backing up but she was also rock solid in defence and one withering 50-metre run from a counter-attack led to a try for Nicola Crawford, the right wing.
SCORERS: England: Tries: Day 4 (17min, 29, 54, 75), Crawford 2 (24, 52), Feltham 2 (9, 37). Conversions: Rae 2. Penalty goals: Rae 3 (4, 31, 40). Canada: Tries: McAuley 2 (36, 62).
SCORING SEQUENCE:3-0, 8-0, 15-0, 20-0, 25-0, 28-0, 28-5, 31-5 (half-time), 38 5, 43-5, 48-5, 48-10, 53-10.
ENGLAND: P George; N Crawford (rep: N Jupp, 75), S Day, A De Biase (rep: S Rudge, 75), E Feltham; S Rae, E Mitchell (rep: S Appleby, 62); M Edwards (rep: V Huxford, 40), A O'Flynn, T O'Reilly, K Henderson (rep: J Sutton, 50), T Andrews, J Phillips (rep: C Frost, 40), H Clayton, G Burns.
Scotland chase fifth place
SCOTLAND will have to defeat Australia if they are go live up to their fifth place seeding after beating Spain more easily than the 23-16 scoreline suggests yesterday.
After a solid opening, tries from Angela Hutt, the wing, and Fiona Gillanders, the flanker, gave Scotland a 13-6 advantage at half-time, Paula Chalmers kicking a penalty.
After the break, Niki McDonald, the centre, scored the third try, converted by Chalmers, who added a penalty.
The Times (London, England) (May 22, 2002): p39
England 53, Canada 10
ENGLAND produced a remarkable turnaround in form yesterday to outclass Canada and power into the women's rugby World Cup final here. Having been disappointing in their opening tournament wins over Italy and Spain, England finally rediscovered their touch, scoring eight tries to Canada's two, to set up an eagerly-awaited final against New Zealand on Saturday.
Last night, the Black Ferns, New Zealand's defending champions, proved much too good for France in the second semi-final, winning 30-0, but they will have to be at their best to hold on to their title.
England will take much confidence into the final after destroying Canada in searing heat. They produced a high-class running game, with backs and forwards combining superbly.
Geoff Richards, the England coach, who was worried by his team's poor form, was pleased with the effort. "We always knew we were capable of playing good rugby and they really put it together," he said. "What was really pleasing was that they followed the game plan to the letter."
England certainly did that and they had stars all over the field. No one was better than Gill Burns, the No 8. She was dynamic, making powerful runs from the base of the scrum and out in the midfield in a commanding display.
Burns led a forward effort to which Canada had no answer. They struggled in the set-pieces, their scrum lost two against the head and they lost six of their own lineouts.
Sue Day, the centre, was again polished in all she did. She finished attacks superbly to grab four tries by backing up but she was also rock solid in defence and one withering 50-metre run from a counter-attack led to a try for Nicola Crawford, the right wing.
SCORERS: England: Tries: Day 4 (17min, 29, 54, 75), Crawford 2 (24, 52), Feltham 2 (9, 37). Conversions: Rae 2. Penalty goals: Rae 3 (4, 31, 40). Canada: Tries: McAuley 2 (36, 62).
SCORING SEQUENCE:3-0, 8-0, 15-0, 20-0, 25-0, 28-0, 28-5, 31-5 (half-time), 38 5, 43-5, 48-5, 48-10, 53-10.
ENGLAND: P George; N Crawford (rep: N Jupp, 75), S Day, A De Biase (rep: S Rudge, 75), E Feltham; S Rae, E Mitchell (rep: S Appleby, 62); M Edwards (rep: V Huxford, 40), A O'Flynn, T O'Reilly, K Henderson (rep: J Sutton, 50), T Andrews, J Phillips (rep: C Frost, 40), H Clayton, G Burns.
Scotland chase fifth place
SCOTLAND will have to defeat Australia if they are go live up to their fifth place seeding after beating Spain more easily than the 23-16 scoreline suggests yesterday.
After a solid opening, tries from Angela Hutt, the wing, and Fiona Gillanders, the flanker, gave Scotland a 13-6 advantage at half-time, Paula Chalmers kicking a penalty.
After the break, Niki McDonald, the centre, scored the third try, converted by Chalmers, who added a penalty.
The Times (London, England) (May 22, 2002): p39
Saturday, 18 May 2002
Brownlee rings changes as Scots take on World Cup favourites
Lewis Stuart
AS IF the brutal game against Samoa was not enough, Scotland now face the task of taking on one of the pre-tournament favourites in the latest round of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Spain. In the men's game, Canada may have yet to break into the elite, but their women have been one of the world's top teams since they started.
"There is no doubt they are favourites and we are the underdogs," Peter Brownlee, the Scotland coach, said last night. "But that often suits Scottish teams, it seems to work with our sort of personality. We've watched a video of their opening match, digested it and churned our way through it and I believe that if we can pressure them in the right places, we can stop them playing and do the job." It is a big task. Canada hammered Ireland 57-0 in that opening match.
In the Six Nations tournament just finished, Scotland beat the same opponents 13-0. They were never in danger of losing but struggled to convert pressure into points.
But before everybody heads off into a state of doom and gloom, there are some factors on Scotland's side. They have not played Canada at this level, but did take on the United States last November and won 22-3. Since the Americans and Canadians are traditional rivals with nothing to choose between them, that gives Scotland a benchmark that shows they are capable of springing a surprise.
"I'm not so worried the result, more about the performance," Brownlee said. "If we can get that right, we will be competitive with anybody. It is all about us and the way we play. It will be a much harder task than our opening game. Samoa were an unknown quantity and inexperienced at this level. Canada are a different proposition altogether, they have been around for ages, have loads of experience and quality."
Brownlee has made three changes to the starting line-up. Ironically, Ali McGrandles, the first Scot to be sent off in a full international, comes into the team to replace Denise Fairbairn, who became the second on Monday and is banned for this match.
On the wing, Angela Hutt is injured and Brownlee uses the opportunity to freshen up the back three, bringing in Rhona Shepherd on one wing and Gill Gilmour on the other. Jennifer Dickson drops to the bench with Mary-Pat Tierney coming into squad.
SCOTLAND: S Higgins (Royal High); G Gibbon (Royal High), N MacDonald (Glasgow Southern), R Petlevannaia (Murrayfield Wanderers), R Shepherd (Murrayfield Wanderers); A McGrandles (Richmond), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); K Findlay (Richmond), V Wiseman (Richmond), A Christie (Royal High), L Cockburn (Royal High), C Muir (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Sheerin (Richmond), D Kennedy (Royal High), F Gillanders (Wasps).
Replacements: A Mackenzie (Royal High), V Galbraith (Richmond), J Hanley (Waterloo), L O'Keefe (Richmond), B Macleod (Murrayfield Wanderers), M-P Tierney (Watsonians), J Dickson (Richmond).
The Times (London, England) (May 18, 2002): p32
AS IF the brutal game against Samoa was not enough, Scotland now face the task of taking on one of the pre-tournament favourites in the latest round of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Spain. In the men's game, Canada may have yet to break into the elite, but their women have been one of the world's top teams since they started.
"There is no doubt they are favourites and we are the underdogs," Peter Brownlee, the Scotland coach, said last night. "But that often suits Scottish teams, it seems to work with our sort of personality. We've watched a video of their opening match, digested it and churned our way through it and I believe that if we can pressure them in the right places, we can stop them playing and do the job." It is a big task. Canada hammered Ireland 57-0 in that opening match.
In the Six Nations tournament just finished, Scotland beat the same opponents 13-0. They were never in danger of losing but struggled to convert pressure into points.
But before everybody heads off into a state of doom and gloom, there are some factors on Scotland's side. They have not played Canada at this level, but did take on the United States last November and won 22-3. Since the Americans and Canadians are traditional rivals with nothing to choose between them, that gives Scotland a benchmark that shows they are capable of springing a surprise.
"I'm not so worried the result, more about the performance," Brownlee said. "If we can get that right, we will be competitive with anybody. It is all about us and the way we play. It will be a much harder task than our opening game. Samoa were an unknown quantity and inexperienced at this level. Canada are a different proposition altogether, they have been around for ages, have loads of experience and quality."
Brownlee has made three changes to the starting line-up. Ironically, Ali McGrandles, the first Scot to be sent off in a full international, comes into the team to replace Denise Fairbairn, who became the second on Monday and is banned for this match.
On the wing, Angela Hutt is injured and Brownlee uses the opportunity to freshen up the back three, bringing in Rhona Shepherd on one wing and Gill Gilmour on the other. Jennifer Dickson drops to the bench with Mary-Pat Tierney coming into squad.
SCOTLAND: S Higgins (Royal High); G Gibbon (Royal High), N MacDonald (Glasgow Southern), R Petlevannaia (Murrayfield Wanderers), R Shepherd (Murrayfield Wanderers); A McGrandles (Richmond), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); K Findlay (Richmond), V Wiseman (Richmond), A Christie (Royal High), L Cockburn (Royal High), C Muir (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Sheerin (Richmond), D Kennedy (Royal High), F Gillanders (Wasps).
Replacements: A Mackenzie (Royal High), V Galbraith (Richmond), J Hanley (Waterloo), L O'Keefe (Richmond), B Macleod (Murrayfield Wanderers), M-P Tierney (Watsonians), J Dickson (Richmond).
The Times (London, England) (May 18, 2002): p32
Monday, 13 May 2002
Scotland women in mood to prove a point
Lewis Stuart
SCOTLAND'S women rugby players stick to the tried and tested as they head into the unknown in the opening round of the Women's Rugby World Cup today. They may be fifth seeds and European champions but the pressure is on from the start.
The problem, as Barbara Wilson, the Scottish women's rugby administrator, admits is that all they know about Samoa, their opening opponents is that 23 of the 26 in the squad are based in New Zealand and that they are huge. "I saw that there is only one of their team who weighs less than 75kg (just under 12st) but there's only about half our squad who reach that," she says. "But the girls are prepared for a strong match and are geared up to give them a game. It is not always the biggest that wins these things."
While Samoa may have size and weight, Scotland have teamwork and confidence. Their opponents are a scratch side pulled together after the Black Ferns had had their pick of the leading players in New Zealand and have little experience of playing with each other or at this level.
And Scotland are heading for the World Cup with something to prove. While England have been getting most of the kudos and far more financial support -Scotland won the European title despite having had their lottery backing withdrawn and now that it is back, it is at a level that pales into insignificance compared with the money allocated to their English rivals -the Scots have been putting together some solid performances and head for Barcelona ranked only two below England.
In the Six Nations just ended, Scotland finished third, comfortably beaten by England but frustrated and angry with themselves for losing to France who went on to claim a grand slam. "We were all over them but could not score," Karen Findlay, the captain, said. "It was incredibly frustrating, we know we should have won that game."
Women's rugby is growing in Scotland but a big performance from the national side would be a huge boost, raising its profile to the stage where sponsors, a strong public following and a decent slice of financial support would inevitably follow. Failure would set the project back years, which is why today's game is vital for women's rugby in Scotland.
The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29
SCOTLAND'S women rugby players stick to the tried and tested as they head into the unknown in the opening round of the Women's Rugby World Cup today. They may be fifth seeds and European champions but the pressure is on from the start.
The problem, as Barbara Wilson, the Scottish women's rugby administrator, admits is that all they know about Samoa, their opening opponents is that 23 of the 26 in the squad are based in New Zealand and that they are huge. "I saw that there is only one of their team who weighs less than 75kg (just under 12st) but there's only about half our squad who reach that," she says. "But the girls are prepared for a strong match and are geared up to give them a game. It is not always the biggest that wins these things."
While Samoa may have size and weight, Scotland have teamwork and confidence. Their opponents are a scratch side pulled together after the Black Ferns had had their pick of the leading players in New Zealand and have little experience of playing with each other or at this level.
And Scotland are heading for the World Cup with something to prove. While England have been getting most of the kudos and far more financial support -Scotland won the European title despite having had their lottery backing withdrawn and now that it is back, it is at a level that pales into insignificance compared with the money allocated to their English rivals -the Scots have been putting together some solid performances and head for Barcelona ranked only two below England.
In the Six Nations just ended, Scotland finished third, comfortably beaten by England but frustrated and angry with themselves for losing to France who went on to claim a grand slam. "We were all over them but could not score," Karen Findlay, the captain, said. "It was incredibly frustrating, we know we should have won that game."
Women's rugby is growing in Scotland but a big performance from the national side would be a huge boost, raising its profile to the stage where sponsors, a strong public following and a decent slice of financial support would inevitably follow. Failure would set the project back years, which is why today's game is vital for women's rugby in Scotland.
The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29
Wednesday, 16 May 2001
Scotland European champions
Scotland crowned European champions; Rugby Union
Lewis Stuart
SCOTLAND are champions of Europe in at least one sport. The women's rugby team carried off the trophy, beating Spain 15-3 on Saturday in the final in Lille, France, emerging from the competition without conceding a try.
After the nailbiting semifinal win over France, the previous holders, the final was a less tense affair, with the Scots taking an early lead as Jenny Dickson, the wing, slid round the blind side of a ruck to go over, and they extended it with Rimma Petlevannaya, the centre, battering her way to the line.
Paula Chalmers, the scrum half, who won the player of the tournament award, added a conversion and a late penalty, and although the Spanish threw everything into rescuing the game, the Scotland defence held firm.
"It was a tight match but we dominated the field position for most of the game and stuck it out to the end," Chalmers said yesterday. "We came on a mission to win and achieved just that. When the Spanish did manage to attack, they met a wall of blue that shut them out."
Apart from the heady enthusiasm at their triumph, there was also a considerable amount of satisfaction that they had proved a point to the managers of the National Lottery, who stopped funding for the side last year.
"Fortunately, the Scottish Rugby Union stepped in with aid, otherwise this would not have been possible," Chalmers said. "This is going to raise the profile of the women's game in Scotland a huge amount, and it gives us something to show the girls when they come to the summer camps, to show what can be achieved."
Rosy Hume, the team manager, said the key to the triumph had been, the link around the half backs, Chalmers and Denise Fairbairn, along with Jenni Sheerin, the no 8, the first woman to win 50 rugby caps for Scotland.
"Throughout the tournament, the defence, which had been a weakness in the past, was superb," Hume said. "We only conceded 12 points, all through kicks, and our discipline was also spot on with the team giving away very few penalties.
"The girls worked really hard for this. We came feeling we could win and although the heat in the final was formidable, we stuck to the task to come through in the end."
The real question is whether, having succeeded where the men failed, in capturing the European crown, the women's game in Scotland can use the victory to expand its profile ahead of the women's World Cup next year and the numbers taking part.
"I would hope that on the back of this, the lottery assistance will restart so that we can mount a strong challenge at the world cup," Hume said. "We need to start being able to bring the London-based players up for regular training sessions and organising weekends together."
Scotland do not win many European titles in any sport, so they are determined this triumph for women's rugby will be the foundation for an upsurge in interest in their sport.
The Times (London, England) (May 14, 2001): p5
Rugby's champion belles of the ball.
JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK
OUR rugby team performed abysmally in the Six Nations Championship and the footballers are struggling to qualify for the World Cup in 2002.
But in one fast-growing field of sporting endeavour, the Scots really can hold their heads up high - women's rugby.
Remarkably, the Scotland first XV, including three police officers, two nurses, a PE teacher, a sales representative and an insurance broker, have just been crowned European champions.
But lurking under all the talk of line-outs and scrum downs lie the more familiar women's concerns such as makeup, clubbing and boyfriends.
Flanker Fiona Gillanders admitted the women spend much longer doing their hair and makeup after the match than their male counterparts.
'It is something we are actively encouraging because we know we are role models. We enjoy looking smart and feminine - guys certainly like it. The image has changed and men now like to see feminine women with great bodies.
They run to us now, rather than run away.' Boyfriends watch their matches as often as they can and both sexes mix sociably in the post-match drinking sessions, in which the ladies always hold their own.
But Miss Gillanders admits that while they may look more feminine off the pitch, once they don the studs and get on the pitch they are every bit as aggressive as the men - gouging, scratching, kicking are all par for the course in the mauls, while punch-ups are not unusual.
One ploy which is used in the female game - less common in the men's - is pulling ponytails in a last-ditch attempt to stop opponents crossing the line.
Miss Gillanders laughed: 'If it's there to be pulled, then it will be as long as it stops the opponent scoring. It is a trick used by every women's rugby team.'
The Daily Mail (London, England) (May 15, 2001): p27
Sexy Denise is maul woman; SHE'S A RUGBY BABE
MAGGIE BARRY
MOST women normally associate mud on their faces with beauty treatment.
But for a group of Scots it is the ultimate way to spend a Saturday afternoon - lying in it face down.
They are Scotland's women's rugby team, and they have just put one over their male counterparts by winning a major trophy.
They have rucked and mauled with the best of them, slaughtering - among others - top-scoring France and Spain, in the European Championships.
They carried off the honours in Lille, France, at the weekend, putting Scotland right at the very top of women's international rugby.
But while the mud that spatters them usually comes from the gritty turf of the rugby pitch, Denise Fairburn is a perfect example of how they can scrub up well off the pitch.
Stunning Denise, 29, hopes the team's success can inspire young girls into the game.
She said: "I am a PE teacher and I would encourage any young girls to play rugby - it's a great game.
"I usually play on the wing because I am only 9st so I don't get a lot of contact.
"For the final I played at stand-off but once you explain to girls how to make contact safe they really enjoy playing rugby.
"It's also a game in which I found I improved very quickly and that's always heartening."
Flanker Fiona Gillanders admits the team likes to spend plenty of time after a match putting on their make-up and getting their hair right.
She said: "It's something we are actively encouraging because we know we are role models. We enjoy looking smart and feminine.
"Times have changed and men now like to see feminine women with great bodies.
"They run to us now rather than run away."
The women's team lost their lottery funding last year - ironically for not being successful enough. That means they have had to compete all year against sponsored and paid-to-play teams.
But that has made Scotland's success all the sweeter.
Flanker Beth McLeod, 26, who has 34 caps, said: "We had a very hard game in the tournament against France in very hot weather.
"Then we met Spain in the final in even more extreme weather conditions.
"But the result was 15-3 to Scotland and the girls were just ecstatic. The atmosphere afterwards was terrific. We were all very excited."
Beth went on: "Rugby is just great fun and there's good social life too.
"The women's team and the men's teams usually meet up for drinks afterwards.
"We really enjoy ourselves."
CAPTION(S):
HIGH KICKS: Denise Fairburn, pictured, left, in a glamourous dress and, above, in her training gear, fired Scotland to victory with crucial kicks; WING QUEEN: Star Angela Hutt glides past a Spanish player during Scotland's victory; GLAMOUROUS: But pretty Rimma Petlevannaya loves the rough and tumble of rugby; FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND: The team celebrates European success; SWEET VICTORY : Fiona Shepherd, Beth McLeod and Rimma Petlevannaya with the trophy
The Mirror (London, England) (May 16, 2001): p12
Lewis Stuart
SCOTLAND are champions of Europe in at least one sport. The women's rugby team carried off the trophy, beating Spain 15-3 on Saturday in the final in Lille, France, emerging from the competition without conceding a try.
After the nailbiting semifinal win over France, the previous holders, the final was a less tense affair, with the Scots taking an early lead as Jenny Dickson, the wing, slid round the blind side of a ruck to go over, and they extended it with Rimma Petlevannaya, the centre, battering her way to the line.
Paula Chalmers, the scrum half, who won the player of the tournament award, added a conversion and a late penalty, and although the Spanish threw everything into rescuing the game, the Scotland defence held firm.
"It was a tight match but we dominated the field position for most of the game and stuck it out to the end," Chalmers said yesterday. "We came on a mission to win and achieved just that. When the Spanish did manage to attack, they met a wall of blue that shut them out."
Apart from the heady enthusiasm at their triumph, there was also a considerable amount of satisfaction that they had proved a point to the managers of the National Lottery, who stopped funding for the side last year.
"Fortunately, the Scottish Rugby Union stepped in with aid, otherwise this would not have been possible," Chalmers said. "This is going to raise the profile of the women's game in Scotland a huge amount, and it gives us something to show the girls when they come to the summer camps, to show what can be achieved."
Rosy Hume, the team manager, said the key to the triumph had been, the link around the half backs, Chalmers and Denise Fairbairn, along with Jenni Sheerin, the no 8, the first woman to win 50 rugby caps for Scotland.
"Throughout the tournament, the defence, which had been a weakness in the past, was superb," Hume said. "We only conceded 12 points, all through kicks, and our discipline was also spot on with the team giving away very few penalties.
"The girls worked really hard for this. We came feeling we could win and although the heat in the final was formidable, we stuck to the task to come through in the end."
The real question is whether, having succeeded where the men failed, in capturing the European crown, the women's game in Scotland can use the victory to expand its profile ahead of the women's World Cup next year and the numbers taking part.
"I would hope that on the back of this, the lottery assistance will restart so that we can mount a strong challenge at the world cup," Hume said. "We need to start being able to bring the London-based players up for regular training sessions and organising weekends together."
Scotland do not win many European titles in any sport, so they are determined this triumph for women's rugby will be the foundation for an upsurge in interest in their sport.
The Times (London, England) (May 14, 2001): p5
Rugby's champion belles of the ball.
JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK
OUR rugby team performed abysmally in the Six Nations Championship and the footballers are struggling to qualify for the World Cup in 2002.
But in one fast-growing field of sporting endeavour, the Scots really can hold their heads up high - women's rugby.
Remarkably, the Scotland first XV, including three police officers, two nurses, a PE teacher, a sales representative and an insurance broker, have just been crowned European champions.
But lurking under all the talk of line-outs and scrum downs lie the more familiar women's concerns such as makeup, clubbing and boyfriends.
Flanker Fiona Gillanders admitted the women spend much longer doing their hair and makeup after the match than their male counterparts.
'It is something we are actively encouraging because we know we are role models. We enjoy looking smart and feminine - guys certainly like it. The image has changed and men now like to see feminine women with great bodies.
They run to us now, rather than run away.' Boyfriends watch their matches as often as they can and both sexes mix sociably in the post-match drinking sessions, in which the ladies always hold their own.
But Miss Gillanders admits that while they may look more feminine off the pitch, once they don the studs and get on the pitch they are every bit as aggressive as the men - gouging, scratching, kicking are all par for the course in the mauls, while punch-ups are not unusual.
One ploy which is used in the female game - less common in the men's - is pulling ponytails in a last-ditch attempt to stop opponents crossing the line.
Miss Gillanders laughed: 'If it's there to be pulled, then it will be as long as it stops the opponent scoring. It is a trick used by every women's rugby team.'
The Daily Mail (London, England) (May 15, 2001): p27
Sexy Denise is maul woman; SHE'S A RUGBY BABE
MAGGIE BARRY
MOST women normally associate mud on their faces with beauty treatment.
But for a group of Scots it is the ultimate way to spend a Saturday afternoon - lying in it face down.
They are Scotland's women's rugby team, and they have just put one over their male counterparts by winning a major trophy.
They have rucked and mauled with the best of them, slaughtering - among others - top-scoring France and Spain, in the European Championships.
They carried off the honours in Lille, France, at the weekend, putting Scotland right at the very top of women's international rugby.
But while the mud that spatters them usually comes from the gritty turf of the rugby pitch, Denise Fairburn is a perfect example of how they can scrub up well off the pitch.
Stunning Denise, 29, hopes the team's success can inspire young girls into the game.
She said: "I am a PE teacher and I would encourage any young girls to play rugby - it's a great game.
"I usually play on the wing because I am only 9st so I don't get a lot of contact.
"For the final I played at stand-off but once you explain to girls how to make contact safe they really enjoy playing rugby.
"It's also a game in which I found I improved very quickly and that's always heartening."
Flanker Fiona Gillanders admits the team likes to spend plenty of time after a match putting on their make-up and getting their hair right.
She said: "It's something we are actively encouraging because we know we are role models. We enjoy looking smart and feminine.
"Times have changed and men now like to see feminine women with great bodies.
"They run to us now rather than run away."
The women's team lost their lottery funding last year - ironically for not being successful enough. That means they have had to compete all year against sponsored and paid-to-play teams.
But that has made Scotland's success all the sweeter.
Flanker Beth McLeod, 26, who has 34 caps, said: "We had a very hard game in the tournament against France in very hot weather.
"Then we met Spain in the final in even more extreme weather conditions.
"But the result was 15-3 to Scotland and the girls were just ecstatic. The atmosphere afterwards was terrific. We were all very excited."
Beth went on: "Rugby is just great fun and there's good social life too.
"The women's team and the men's teams usually meet up for drinks afterwards.
"We really enjoy ourselves."
CAPTION(S):
HIGH KICKS: Denise Fairburn, pictured, left, in a glamourous dress and, above, in her training gear, fired Scotland to victory with crucial kicks; WING QUEEN: Star Angela Hutt glides past a Spanish player during Scotland's victory; GLAMOUROUS: But pretty Rimma Petlevannaya loves the rough and tumble of rugby; FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND: The team celebrates European success; SWEET VICTORY : Fiona Shepherd, Beth McLeod and Rimma Petlevannaya with the trophy
The Mirror (London, England) (May 16, 2001): p12
Sunday, 13 May 2001
Scotland close in on European crown
Lewis Stuart
By the end of today, Scotland could be holding a European Championship title. The country's women rugby players face Spain, who they have already beaten 19 8 this season, in the final of the FIRA competition in Lille, France.
"It has been a fantastic team effort," Peter Brownlee, the coach, said yesterday. "We came to the competition with our hopes riding high, we have been 100 per cent focused on the game we wanted to play and we have been getting better and better as the competition has gone on.
"The girls want to win this for themselves, and it would be a considerable achievement, but it would also do so much for the women's game in Scotland if we were able to come back with the title."
The team were already in the elite group, and started with a hard-fought 13-3 win over Wales, with Jennifer Dickinson, of Richmond, getting the try while Paula Chalmers, of Murrayfield Wanderers, kicked a conversion and two penalties. They followed that by coming from behind to beat France 9-6, with Chalmers getting all the points from kicks.
"Basically, we squeezed the life out of them," Brownlee said. "The forwards were magnificent and while I would rather they had played more of their rugby in the opposition 22, you can't complain."
Spain, who are previous European winners, will be no pushover after defeating England in their semi-final, but the Scots say they are ready for the physical challenge they pose. "There are not many surprises in store at this level," Brownlee said. "We don't expect to see much as far as back moves and three-quarter play is concerned, they will try to boot the ball down into our half and drive us from there.
"If the forwards can repeat their showing in earlier matches, then we can come home as European champions."
The Times (London, England) (May 12, 2001): p44
By the end of today, Scotland could be holding a European Championship title. The country's women rugby players face Spain, who they have already beaten 19 8 this season, in the final of the FIRA competition in Lille, France.
"It has been a fantastic team effort," Peter Brownlee, the coach, said yesterday. "We came to the competition with our hopes riding high, we have been 100 per cent focused on the game we wanted to play and we have been getting better and better as the competition has gone on.
"The girls want to win this for themselves, and it would be a considerable achievement, but it would also do so much for the women's game in Scotland if we were able to come back with the title."
The team were already in the elite group, and started with a hard-fought 13-3 win over Wales, with Jennifer Dickinson, of Richmond, getting the try while Paula Chalmers, of Murrayfield Wanderers, kicked a conversion and two penalties. They followed that by coming from behind to beat France 9-6, with Chalmers getting all the points from kicks.
"Basically, we squeezed the life out of them," Brownlee said. "The forwards were magnificent and while I would rather they had played more of their rugby in the opposition 22, you can't complain."
Spain, who are previous European winners, will be no pushover after defeating England in their semi-final, but the Scots say they are ready for the physical challenge they pose. "There are not many surprises in store at this level," Brownlee said. "We don't expect to see much as far as back moves and three-quarter play is concerned, they will try to boot the ball down into our half and drive us from there.
"If the forwards can repeat their showing in earlier matches, then we can come home as European champions."
The Times (London, England) (May 12, 2001): p44
Thursday, 13 April 2000
England v Scotland
Meanwhile...(Sport).
The England Women's rugby team defeated Scotland 64-9 in Edinburgh to complete their second successive Grand Slam... Midlander Karl Keska finished second in his 10,000m debut in the European Challenge in Lisbon last night... Spain's Miguel Angel Perdiguero edged out Laurent Jalabert to win the second Miguel Indurain Grand Prix... Ford driver Colin McRae led fellow Briton Richard Burns by 3.3 seconds after the eighth stage on the Catalunya Rally... Chris Byrd pulled off a surprise win to claim the WBO heavyweight title after Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko quit with an injured shoulder at the start the tenth.
The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (April 2, 2000): p17.
England serve a tasty treat
THE England women's rugby team ripped their Scotland opponents to shreds to claim an emphatic 64-9 victory at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Wonderfully destructive in the tackle and ruinous on the break, England inflicted on Scotland their second-highest defeat and the measure of their superiority was such that they could have beaten the 76-0 margin set by New Zealand against the Scots two years ago. As it was, they seemed more concerned with flinging on every available substitute in the closing minutes.
Chris Diver and Nicola Jupp scored a hat-trick of tries each, while Selina Rudge, Jenny Foster, Jenny Sutton and Emily Feltham were the other scorers. Foster sent over four conversions with Diver kicking three as Scotland's haul was restricted to three penalties by Paula Chalmers.
The Times (London, England) (April 3, 2000): p37.
The England Women's rugby team defeated Scotland 64-9 in Edinburgh to complete their second successive Grand Slam... Midlander Karl Keska finished second in his 10,000m debut in the European Challenge in Lisbon last night... Spain's Miguel Angel Perdiguero edged out Laurent Jalabert to win the second Miguel Indurain Grand Prix... Ford driver Colin McRae led fellow Briton Richard Burns by 3.3 seconds after the eighth stage on the Catalunya Rally... Chris Byrd pulled off a surprise win to claim the WBO heavyweight title after Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko quit with an injured shoulder at the start the tenth.
The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (April 2, 2000): p17.
England serve a tasty treat
THE England women's rugby team ripped their Scotland opponents to shreds to claim an emphatic 64-9 victory at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Wonderfully destructive in the tackle and ruinous on the break, England inflicted on Scotland their second-highest defeat and the measure of their superiority was such that they could have beaten the 76-0 margin set by New Zealand against the Scots two years ago. As it was, they seemed more concerned with flinging on every available substitute in the closing minutes.
Chris Diver and Nicola Jupp scored a hat-trick of tries each, while Selina Rudge, Jenny Foster, Jenny Sutton and Emily Feltham were the other scorers. Foster sent over four conversions with Diver kicking three as Scotland's haul was restricted to three penalties by Paula Chalmers.
The Times (London, England) (April 3, 2000): p37.
Tuesday, 1 December 1998
Interview with Paula Chamlers (Scotland)
BRIAN SCOTT
HENRY COOPER may have spoken for chauvinist swine the world over recently when he said something to the effect that women belong in the boudoir rather than the boxing ring.
What says Paula Chalmers, skipper and scrum-half of the Scottish ladies side who play Spain in a friendly in Madrid on Saturday while their male counterparts meet the same nation in a World Cup qualifier at Murrayfield?
Put it this way: Paula does not argue against the prerogative of her gender to infiltrate whatever area they wish of the sporting province regarded hitherto as being for men only.
But the chances of this 26-year-old from Melrose ever wanting to go 12 rounds are about as great as those of Joe Bugner, still fighting in his late 40s, applying belatedly to join a ballet school.
'I relish some man saying to me that I shouldn't be playing rugby,' she says assertively. 'I'd like to hear his argument. Women play football, they play baseball and softball. Why not rugby? It's not as if they're playing against men. It's women versus women and it's all fair.
'Women's boxing? Er, no. I watched on television an interview with the girl who was boxing in Edinburgh on Friday night. She was talking about hitting people in the face. I thought, och, none of that.
'I don't even like boxing for men, to be honest. I don't really know why anyone would want to go into a ring and take hits on the face while trying to smash their opponent. It can't be good.
You wouldn't get me in there, anyway.' Paula, if you didn't know or hadn't guessed, is the sister of one of Scotland's most celebrated rugby players, Craig. She knows the hurt which can be caused, even in their game, although it seems unimaginable for her to inflict any other than by accident.
'You're trying to play the ball in rugby,' she points out.
'You're trying to get that ball over the other side's line and, if it's at all possible, trying to miss out on any contact.
Rugby doesn't have to be hash-bash. It can be skilful.' So there's the difference, articulated by one whose support of women's rights in sport does not stretch quite so far that she would argue with the aforementioned Henry Cooper on the topic of their perceived excesses.
Paula may be feminist, a women of the 90s, but she is unmistakably feminine with it and, dare this be said, looks like Tinkerbell when matched up to some of these towering specimens of womenhood with whom she shares a field.
She plays rugby, by the way, with the full approval of her boyfriend, Mark Moncrieff, although that may not be such a great surprise. He, after all, plays himself; on the wing for Melrose.
It is hardly a surprise, either, to learn that she was introduced to the game, in a playful kind of way, with Craig throwing a ball to her when they were kids in the Borders.
'Rugby has always been in our family,' says Paula, who works in the sales division of a software firm in Galashiels. 'Craig played from an early age; the minis, midis, or whatever they were called then.
'But I progressed to playing hockey because women's rugby still wasn't that big at the time.' Paula, in fact, played hockey well enough to win two caps for Scotland some three years ago. Then, with the other game beginning to burgeon, she had to decide which of the two was better for her to pursue.
'Rugby seemed the greater prospect in that it had more potential for me to get into the side and get regular games,' she reveals.
'I still play club hockey for Melrose, turning out on a Saturday when available because rugby is played on a Sunday.' What did Craig, four years Paula's senior, make of her sporting conversion? She confesses that, initially, he seemed keener that she stick in at hockey. Why was he hesitant?
She is somewhat hesitant about answering the question, admitting: 'Maybe it was because rugby was quite a new sport among women.
'When it first started, it was played just at universities and, well, I don't like to say this, but it was more a sort of ...' She doesn't want to say it may have been more a sort of, er, butch person playing it. But we can gather that's what she means as she passes beyond the unspoken by adding: 'There are so many girls playing rugby now that it's just another sport. The game has widened, the skill level is away up.
'It's not just about big girls running about making hits. Some of them can kick the ball as well as men.
Some can pass it as well as men.
'The skill at international level is probably better than that at second or third level of men's rugby.
'It has improved so much and I think my brother can recognise that now and appreciate women's rugby for what it is. Mark is 100 per cent behind me and always constructive in his criticism. He even comes to our games when he can.
Another of our team, Alex Shepherd, goes out with Derek Stark. Through him, she'll come to training with a new move which the Caley Reds have been working on, so the support we get is great. I've not really met anybody who is anti women's rugby.' Paula, Alex and four others in their team to face the Spaniards play for Murrayfield Wanderers, a club which grew out of a fusion of women from Edinburgh Wanderers and Heriot Watt.
They are reigning Scottish champions as well as cup winners these last four seasons and Paula's latest international appearance, her first as captain, counts as number 13 following her debut against Wales less than two years ago.
She must enjoy the rough and tumble even though her fair countenance doesn't bear a bruise far less a scar. Or does she? 'Ask any of my team-mates,' Paula confesses, 'and they'll tell you I'm the one who takes the least contact in games.
'But it is quite hard and you do get some big hits. There are some big girls out there and a few late tackles. I'm not a greedy player, preferring to use the players around me.
'I just kind of slotted in at scrum-half because I wasn't big enough for the scrum or fast enough for the three-quarters. Touch wood, I've steered clear of any serious injury.
Craig hasn't been so lucky.' Nor is he quite so lucky at the moment, out of the Scottish men's squad while Paula is very much an integral part of the women's. His wee sister must feel a mite sympathetic. 'He'll be back, I'm sure he will,' she says supportively.
'He never gives up. If he'd given up the first time he was passed over by Scotland, he'd never have got half the caps he has. He's never say die.' Yet Paula can't resist aiming a playful dig at her big brother by pointing out that the honour of being Scotland captain has never been his and adding jocularly: 'I always have a laugh with him, saying that I'm a dual internationalist, what are you? He says he might take up bowls when he finishes with rugby, just to get a cap at another sport.'
Source Citation
"Rugby fair game for this sister act." Daily Mail [London, England] 1 Dec. 1998
HENRY COOPER may have spoken for chauvinist swine the world over recently when he said something to the effect that women belong in the boudoir rather than the boxing ring.
What says Paula Chalmers, skipper and scrum-half of the Scottish ladies side who play Spain in a friendly in Madrid on Saturday while their male counterparts meet the same nation in a World Cup qualifier at Murrayfield?
Put it this way: Paula does not argue against the prerogative of her gender to infiltrate whatever area they wish of the sporting province regarded hitherto as being for men only.
But the chances of this 26-year-old from Melrose ever wanting to go 12 rounds are about as great as those of Joe Bugner, still fighting in his late 40s, applying belatedly to join a ballet school.
'I relish some man saying to me that I shouldn't be playing rugby,' she says assertively. 'I'd like to hear his argument. Women play football, they play baseball and softball. Why not rugby? It's not as if they're playing against men. It's women versus women and it's all fair.
'Women's boxing? Er, no. I watched on television an interview with the girl who was boxing in Edinburgh on Friday night. She was talking about hitting people in the face. I thought, och, none of that.
'I don't even like boxing for men, to be honest. I don't really know why anyone would want to go into a ring and take hits on the face while trying to smash their opponent. It can't be good.
You wouldn't get me in there, anyway.' Paula, if you didn't know or hadn't guessed, is the sister of one of Scotland's most celebrated rugby players, Craig. She knows the hurt which can be caused, even in their game, although it seems unimaginable for her to inflict any other than by accident.
'You're trying to play the ball in rugby,' she points out.
'You're trying to get that ball over the other side's line and, if it's at all possible, trying to miss out on any contact.
Rugby doesn't have to be hash-bash. It can be skilful.' So there's the difference, articulated by one whose support of women's rights in sport does not stretch quite so far that she would argue with the aforementioned Henry Cooper on the topic of their perceived excesses.
Paula may be feminist, a women of the 90s, but she is unmistakably feminine with it and, dare this be said, looks like Tinkerbell when matched up to some of these towering specimens of womenhood with whom she shares a field.
She plays rugby, by the way, with the full approval of her boyfriend, Mark Moncrieff, although that may not be such a great surprise. He, after all, plays himself; on the wing for Melrose.
It is hardly a surprise, either, to learn that she was introduced to the game, in a playful kind of way, with Craig throwing a ball to her when they were kids in the Borders.
'Rugby has always been in our family,' says Paula, who works in the sales division of a software firm in Galashiels. 'Craig played from an early age; the minis, midis, or whatever they were called then.
'But I progressed to playing hockey because women's rugby still wasn't that big at the time.' Paula, in fact, played hockey well enough to win two caps for Scotland some three years ago. Then, with the other game beginning to burgeon, she had to decide which of the two was better for her to pursue.
'Rugby seemed the greater prospect in that it had more potential for me to get into the side and get regular games,' she reveals.
'I still play club hockey for Melrose, turning out on a Saturday when available because rugby is played on a Sunday.' What did Craig, four years Paula's senior, make of her sporting conversion? She confesses that, initially, he seemed keener that she stick in at hockey. Why was he hesitant?
She is somewhat hesitant about answering the question, admitting: 'Maybe it was because rugby was quite a new sport among women.
'When it first started, it was played just at universities and, well, I don't like to say this, but it was more a sort of ...' She doesn't want to say it may have been more a sort of, er, butch person playing it. But we can gather that's what she means as she passes beyond the unspoken by adding: 'There are so many girls playing rugby now that it's just another sport. The game has widened, the skill level is away up.
'It's not just about big girls running about making hits. Some of them can kick the ball as well as men.
Some can pass it as well as men.
'The skill at international level is probably better than that at second or third level of men's rugby.
'It has improved so much and I think my brother can recognise that now and appreciate women's rugby for what it is. Mark is 100 per cent behind me and always constructive in his criticism. He even comes to our games when he can.
Another of our team, Alex Shepherd, goes out with Derek Stark. Through him, she'll come to training with a new move which the Caley Reds have been working on, so the support we get is great. I've not really met anybody who is anti women's rugby.' Paula, Alex and four others in their team to face the Spaniards play for Murrayfield Wanderers, a club which grew out of a fusion of women from Edinburgh Wanderers and Heriot Watt.
They are reigning Scottish champions as well as cup winners these last four seasons and Paula's latest international appearance, her first as captain, counts as number 13 following her debut against Wales less than two years ago.
She must enjoy the rough and tumble even though her fair countenance doesn't bear a bruise far less a scar. Or does she? 'Ask any of my team-mates,' Paula confesses, 'and they'll tell you I'm the one who takes the least contact in games.
'But it is quite hard and you do get some big hits. There are some big girls out there and a few late tackles. I'm not a greedy player, preferring to use the players around me.
'I just kind of slotted in at scrum-half because I wasn't big enough for the scrum or fast enough for the three-quarters. Touch wood, I've steered clear of any serious injury.
Craig hasn't been so lucky.' Nor is he quite so lucky at the moment, out of the Scottish men's squad while Paula is very much an integral part of the women's. His wee sister must feel a mite sympathetic. 'He'll be back, I'm sure he will,' she says supportively.
'He never gives up. If he'd given up the first time he was passed over by Scotland, he'd never have got half the caps he has. He's never say die.' Yet Paula can't resist aiming a playful dig at her big brother by pointing out that the honour of being Scotland captain has never been his and adding jocularly: 'I always have a laugh with him, saying that I'm a dual internationalist, what are you? He says he might take up bowls when he finishes with rugby, just to get a cap at another sport.'
Source Citation
"Rugby fair game for this sister act." Daily Mail [London, England] 1 Dec. 1998
Sunday, 29 November 1998
Interview with Alix Shepherd (Scotland)
ALIX SHEPHERD was busy outlining her rugby background, in between sips of her blackcurrant and lemonade. "Well," she said, "my father played for the North Districts. And my brother plays. And my boyfriend." They play quite well too, as it happens. Alix Shepherd's brother is Rowen Shepherd, one of the sextet who have surpassed the 100 points mark for Scotland. And her boyfriend is Derek Stark, once dubbed the fastest pastry chef in international rugby, who announced his arrival among the upper crust by scoring with his first touch for Scotland, against Ireland at Murrayfield five years ago.
This coming Saturday Alix will be looking to make a similarly dramatic international entrance. She has been chosen to make her debut for the Scottish women's team against Spain in Madrid. The timing of her elevation from the A team is a touch ironic, given the fact that both her boyfriend and her brother are international outcasts at present. Stark has been out of the Scotland picture since the 68-10 slaughter inflicted by the Springboks a year ago. Shepherd - Rowen Shepherd, that is - played at inside centre against the New Zealand Maoris a fortnight ago but has since been supplanted by the kilted Kiwi John Leslie. He has also been overlooked for the full-back place he lost to Derrick Lee midway through last season, Gregor Townsend having been picked to replace the injured London Scot against Portugal at Murrayfield yesterday.
There is irony in that too. Townsend and Rowen Shepherd are business partners. Together with Stark, they own the Three Quarters Sports Cafe, a splendidly appointed eatery-cum-watering hole which can be found in the shadow of Edinburgh castle in the Grassmarket. The Scotland shirt displayed behind the bar is the No 14 jersey Tony Stanger wore the afternoon he grand-slammed England at Murrayfield eight years ago. The No 11 top Alix Shepherd pulls on in Madrid might not be quite so significant but it will be just as precious to her.
"I can't believe it, really," she said, taking her lunchtime break amid the signed framed jerseys in the Three Quarters cafe. "I was in the A team last year. I wasn't involved in the World Cup team that went out to Amsterdam. There were 26 players in the squad so I really didn't see myself getting selected for the Spain match. It was quite a surprise."
It was also a surprise to the Scottish Women's Rugby Union. Shepherd's name was not among the 30 the SWRU nominated for lottery funding at the start of the season. She therefore has to find pounds 500 to cover the cost of the trip, or forfeit her international debut. "I've managed to get pounds 225 of it, from family and friends," she said. "I'll definitely be going. If the worst comes to the worst I'll have to speak to my bank manager and get an extension on my overdraft."
It is another of life's little ironies that Shepherd has been left self- funding her imminent international sporting career. She works as a case officer for the Lottery Sports Fund at the Scottish Sports Council. "There's absolutely no connection with my particular situation and my work," she said. "The governing body puts you forward for funding, not the Sports Council or the Lottery Sports Fund. My name was not put forward because I was not in the squad. It just happens that there's been a change of coach and now I'm in the team. It is quite ironic, though."
It is also no mean achievement that Shepherd has graduated to the international ranks at the age of 25. She does boast a personal sporting pedigree at international level. As a teenage long jumper she competed for the Scottish youth team in the Celtic Games. She did not, however, play rugby until she was almost 22. This is only her fourth season in the sport.
Like Stark, she plays on the left wing - for Murrayfield Wanderers, whose home base is the back-pitch area where the cars park at Murrayfield on international days. "Rowen comes down and watches, along with Derek," the happy Wanderer said. "They're always giving me hints and tips about what to do. Rowen's been down to coach the club a couple of times. He's behind me all the way. He thinks it's great that I've been picked for Scotland."
It is undoubtedly a great achievement to have brother and sister internationals in the same sporting family. It is a rare distinction too. There are the Nevilles, of course - Gary and Phil of England football fame and Tracey of England netball renown. "There are the Chalmers as well," Alix pointed out, lest Scottish rugby's established siblings be overlooked. Craig Chalmers, like Stark, has not figured in the Scottish men's squad this season but Paula Chalmers, a veteran of last season's World Cup campaign in Holland, will be at scrum-half for the women's team in Madrid on Saturday.
Injuries could yet dictate that a Shepherd and a Chalmers line up for Scotland against Spain this Saturday both in Madrid and at Murrayfield. And the Shepherds may yet, in time, complete an international family hat- trick. "Our younger sister, Rhona, has already been in the Scottish A team," Alix said, proudly. "So, you never know, there could be three of us playing for Scotland one day." They are quite a flock, these Caledonian Shepherds.
Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Left field for a Shepherd; Another member of a famous sporting family is winging in for Scotland." Independent on Sunday [London, England] 29 Nov. 1998
This coming Saturday Alix will be looking to make a similarly dramatic international entrance. She has been chosen to make her debut for the Scottish women's team against Spain in Madrid. The timing of her elevation from the A team is a touch ironic, given the fact that both her boyfriend and her brother are international outcasts at present. Stark has been out of the Scotland picture since the 68-10 slaughter inflicted by the Springboks a year ago. Shepherd - Rowen Shepherd, that is - played at inside centre against the New Zealand Maoris a fortnight ago but has since been supplanted by the kilted Kiwi John Leslie. He has also been overlooked for the full-back place he lost to Derrick Lee midway through last season, Gregor Townsend having been picked to replace the injured London Scot against Portugal at Murrayfield yesterday.
There is irony in that too. Townsend and Rowen Shepherd are business partners. Together with Stark, they own the Three Quarters Sports Cafe, a splendidly appointed eatery-cum-watering hole which can be found in the shadow of Edinburgh castle in the Grassmarket. The Scotland shirt displayed behind the bar is the No 14 jersey Tony Stanger wore the afternoon he grand-slammed England at Murrayfield eight years ago. The No 11 top Alix Shepherd pulls on in Madrid might not be quite so significant but it will be just as precious to her.
"I can't believe it, really," she said, taking her lunchtime break amid the signed framed jerseys in the Three Quarters cafe. "I was in the A team last year. I wasn't involved in the World Cup team that went out to Amsterdam. There were 26 players in the squad so I really didn't see myself getting selected for the Spain match. It was quite a surprise."
It was also a surprise to the Scottish Women's Rugby Union. Shepherd's name was not among the 30 the SWRU nominated for lottery funding at the start of the season. She therefore has to find pounds 500 to cover the cost of the trip, or forfeit her international debut. "I've managed to get pounds 225 of it, from family and friends," she said. "I'll definitely be going. If the worst comes to the worst I'll have to speak to my bank manager and get an extension on my overdraft."
It is another of life's little ironies that Shepherd has been left self- funding her imminent international sporting career. She works as a case officer for the Lottery Sports Fund at the Scottish Sports Council. "There's absolutely no connection with my particular situation and my work," she said. "The governing body puts you forward for funding, not the Sports Council or the Lottery Sports Fund. My name was not put forward because I was not in the squad. It just happens that there's been a change of coach and now I'm in the team. It is quite ironic, though."
It is also no mean achievement that Shepherd has graduated to the international ranks at the age of 25. She does boast a personal sporting pedigree at international level. As a teenage long jumper she competed for the Scottish youth team in the Celtic Games. She did not, however, play rugby until she was almost 22. This is only her fourth season in the sport.
Like Stark, she plays on the left wing - for Murrayfield Wanderers, whose home base is the back-pitch area where the cars park at Murrayfield on international days. "Rowen comes down and watches, along with Derek," the happy Wanderer said. "They're always giving me hints and tips about what to do. Rowen's been down to coach the club a couple of times. He's behind me all the way. He thinks it's great that I've been picked for Scotland."
It is undoubtedly a great achievement to have brother and sister internationals in the same sporting family. It is a rare distinction too. There are the Nevilles, of course - Gary and Phil of England football fame and Tracey of England netball renown. "There are the Chalmers as well," Alix pointed out, lest Scottish rugby's established siblings be overlooked. Craig Chalmers, like Stark, has not figured in the Scottish men's squad this season but Paula Chalmers, a veteran of last season's World Cup campaign in Holland, will be at scrum-half for the women's team in Madrid on Saturday.
Injuries could yet dictate that a Shepherd and a Chalmers line up for Scotland against Spain this Saturday both in Madrid and at Murrayfield. And the Shepherds may yet, in time, complete an international family hat- trick. "Our younger sister, Rhona, has already been in the Scottish A team," Alix said, proudly. "So, you never know, there could be three of us playing for Scotland one day." They are quite a flock, these Caledonian Shepherds.
Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Left field for a Shepherd; Another member of a famous sporting family is winging in for Scotland." Independent on Sunday [London, England] 29 Nov. 1998
Sunday, 13 September 1998
Profile of Kim Littlejohn (Scotland)
The inspiration behind Scotland's Grand Slam victory has decided on a change of direction in her illustrious career. By Alasdair Reid
FOR MOST of her time in international rugby, Kim Littlejohn displayed the sort of scoring touch that might have made you wonder if she had been coached in the art by Craig Brown. Her try in a bounce match against Sweden in 1994, a year after she had made her debut for Scotland, hinted at a fruitful career ahead, but another four years and more than 20 caps were to pass before she grabbed her second. When it arrived, though, the setting was close to perfect.
Inverleith, Edinburgh, March 2 this year. Scotland, so recently among the rabbits of international women's rugby, were chasing a Grand Slam in the last match of their Five Nations programme, against England. The match was 12 minutes old when a Scottish attack from a scrum appeared to break down near the English 22. Moving left, however, Littlejohn revived the move, exchanged passes near the touchline and darted over by the corner flag.
Strictly speaking, it was not the winning try, but as it accounted for more than half the points in Scotland's tenacious 8-5 victory, it deserves to be remembered as such. Moreover, although Littlejohn had never been the most prolific scoring machine in the past, it was perfectly fitting that the 27-year-old centre should claim it. She had, after all, played in the first Scottish international side, in 1993, and had captained the team through the remarkable half decade since that saw women's rugby in Scotland grow at an astonishing rate.
With good-humoured modesty, she plays down her own role in that development, but Ramsay Jones, the Scotland manager, has no doubt that she has been a central figure. Praising her qualities both as a player and as an inspiration to those around her, he pinpoints a moment shortly after the World Cup in 1994 which provided a critical impetus to what was to come.
"We had done okay at the World Cup, but it was clear we had a lot of catching up to do to compete with sides such as England and the USA," said Jones. "The management got all the players together and we told them we thought they had the talent to be among the best in the world. I think a lot of the players had difficulty taking that idea on board, but Kim believed it totally - and showed it. I think that was to prove a huge factor in what has happened since."
Despite an established programme and a four-year cycle between World Cups, most women internationals are still obliged to get involved in the background tasks that allow them to play their games. Littlejohn has done her fair share of organisational work, but her greater contribution has been on the pitch and in the immediate build-up to a match. Renowned for her defensive abilities, the meagre try tally against her own name is mitigated by the many scores she has created for others. According to Jones she also has a gift for bringing the best out of her fellow players.
"Everybody who meets her recognises that Kim's enthusiasm is fantastic, but she is very intelligent with it. The last words in the dressing room are always delivered by the captain after the coaches and management have left and, by all accounts, Kim's words are always carefully chosen. They're usually effective, too.
"She has a total focus on everything she does. She strives to be the best, in sport or in other activities, whether as an individual or as part of a team. It comes out as a mixture of dedication, enthusiasm and enormous motivational qualities. She also presents herself and her sport very well to the media and the public, and that has been an enormous help over the last few years."
Growing up in Kirkcaldy, Littlejohn's first taste of international competition was as a member of Scotland's gymnastics squad. However, she was a talented all-round athlete and when she began her computer science degree at Edinburgh university in 1988 she immersed herself in the sporting opportunities it offered. She played volleyball for Scottish universities and joined the recently-established rugby team.
Although she gave up rugby for a couple of years towards the end of her studies, the burgeoning club sector encouraged her to return to the game. She soon established herself in the powerful Edinburgh Accies side which formed the core of Scotland's early squads. The first international was played on St Valentine's Day in 1993 - a 10-0 win over Ireland - and Littlejohn has been a stalwart of the side ever since.
As a pioneer of women's rugby in Scotland, Littlejohn has not only played the game, but defined it. If that is a burden, it is one she carries lightly, but after captaining her country in 29 of the 30 internationals she has played, she recently relinquished the role. "I felt it was time somebody else got the chance to put their ideas and personality into the side and take it forward to the next World Cup," she said.
Although Scotland failed to live up to expectations raised by their Grand Slam success when the last World Cup was played in Holland in May - they were knocked out by the USA at the quarter-final stage - that disappointment did not influence her decision to stand down. A more pressing concern was that she wanted to develop her own game, and felt that captaincy stood in the way of doing so. "In future, I want to be able to be more risky than I've been in the past," she said. "When you are captain you are sometimes a bit inhibited, not wanting to set a bad example and watching out for the others in the team. It's nice to be able to shake off the responsibility and think more about your own game."
In helping to establish women's rugby, Littlejohn has tended to make her point with deeds rather than words. If gaining acceptance was ever a battle - and opposition has usually been absurdly overstated - it is now well and truly won. "We're way past that stage," said Littlejohn.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998 **********
Source Citation
"Littlejohn tries a little freedom; Rugby Union:Profile." Sunday Times [London, England] 13 Sept. 1998
FOR MOST of her time in international rugby, Kim Littlejohn displayed the sort of scoring touch that might have made you wonder if she had been coached in the art by Craig Brown. Her try in a bounce match against Sweden in 1994, a year after she had made her debut for Scotland, hinted at a fruitful career ahead, but another four years and more than 20 caps were to pass before she grabbed her second. When it arrived, though, the setting was close to perfect.
Inverleith, Edinburgh, March 2 this year. Scotland, so recently among the rabbits of international women's rugby, were chasing a Grand Slam in the last match of their Five Nations programme, against England. The match was 12 minutes old when a Scottish attack from a scrum appeared to break down near the English 22. Moving left, however, Littlejohn revived the move, exchanged passes near the touchline and darted over by the corner flag.
Strictly speaking, it was not the winning try, but as it accounted for more than half the points in Scotland's tenacious 8-5 victory, it deserves to be remembered as such. Moreover, although Littlejohn had never been the most prolific scoring machine in the past, it was perfectly fitting that the 27-year-old centre should claim it. She had, after all, played in the first Scottish international side, in 1993, and had captained the team through the remarkable half decade since that saw women's rugby in Scotland grow at an astonishing rate.
With good-humoured modesty, she plays down her own role in that development, but Ramsay Jones, the Scotland manager, has no doubt that she has been a central figure. Praising her qualities both as a player and as an inspiration to those around her, he pinpoints a moment shortly after the World Cup in 1994 which provided a critical impetus to what was to come.
"We had done okay at the World Cup, but it was clear we had a lot of catching up to do to compete with sides such as England and the USA," said Jones. "The management got all the players together and we told them we thought they had the talent to be among the best in the world. I think a lot of the players had difficulty taking that idea on board, but Kim believed it totally - and showed it. I think that was to prove a huge factor in what has happened since."
Despite an established programme and a four-year cycle between World Cups, most women internationals are still obliged to get involved in the background tasks that allow them to play their games. Littlejohn has done her fair share of organisational work, but her greater contribution has been on the pitch and in the immediate build-up to a match. Renowned for her defensive abilities, the meagre try tally against her own name is mitigated by the many scores she has created for others. According to Jones she also has a gift for bringing the best out of her fellow players.
"Everybody who meets her recognises that Kim's enthusiasm is fantastic, but she is very intelligent with it. The last words in the dressing room are always delivered by the captain after the coaches and management have left and, by all accounts, Kim's words are always carefully chosen. They're usually effective, too.
"She has a total focus on everything she does. She strives to be the best, in sport or in other activities, whether as an individual or as part of a team. It comes out as a mixture of dedication, enthusiasm and enormous motivational qualities. She also presents herself and her sport very well to the media and the public, and that has been an enormous help over the last few years."
Growing up in Kirkcaldy, Littlejohn's first taste of international competition was as a member of Scotland's gymnastics squad. However, she was a talented all-round athlete and when she began her computer science degree at Edinburgh university in 1988 she immersed herself in the sporting opportunities it offered. She played volleyball for Scottish universities and joined the recently-established rugby team.
Although she gave up rugby for a couple of years towards the end of her studies, the burgeoning club sector encouraged her to return to the game. She soon established herself in the powerful Edinburgh Accies side which formed the core of Scotland's early squads. The first international was played on St Valentine's Day in 1993 - a 10-0 win over Ireland - and Littlejohn has been a stalwart of the side ever since.
As a pioneer of women's rugby in Scotland, Littlejohn has not only played the game, but defined it. If that is a burden, it is one she carries lightly, but after captaining her country in 29 of the 30 internationals she has played, she recently relinquished the role. "I felt it was time somebody else got the chance to put their ideas and personality into the side and take it forward to the next World Cup," she said.
Although Scotland failed to live up to expectations raised by their Grand Slam success when the last World Cup was played in Holland in May - they were knocked out by the USA at the quarter-final stage - that disappointment did not influence her decision to stand down. A more pressing concern was that she wanted to develop her own game, and felt that captaincy stood in the way of doing so. "In future, I want to be able to be more risky than I've been in the past," she said. "When you are captain you are sometimes a bit inhibited, not wanting to set a bad example and watching out for the others in the team. It's nice to be able to shake off the responsibility and think more about your own game."
In helping to establish women's rugby, Littlejohn has tended to make her point with deeds rather than words. If gaining acceptance was ever a battle - and opposition has usually been absurdly overstated - it is now well and truly won. "We're way past that stage," said Littlejohn.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998 **********
Source Citation
"Littlejohn tries a little freedom; Rugby Union:Profile." Sunday Times [London, England] 13 Sept. 1998
Friday, 1 May 1998
World Cup: Home nations prepare
A DARK cloud looms on the horizon of women's rugby. It is called New Zealand and the 15 other countries that contest the third World Cup in Holland over the next fortnight await with some trepidation to see whether its womenfolk can match the feats of the All Blacks.
The old order is changing, no matter what the gender. England, the holders, the United States and France have been the traditional powers but this weekend will show what the southern hemisphere can offer: New Zealand played in the first women's World Cup, in Wales in 1991, but withdrew from the 1994 tournament after an absence of support from the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
They return with a flourish, underpinned by the growing popularity of competitive touch rugby in the southern- hemisphere summer and successes that include a 67-0 demolition of England last year. They will be joined, for the first time in a world tournament, by Australia, while Scotland will enter as European champions after a season in which they recorded their first success against England, by 8-5 in March.
For the first time, the tournament commands the support of the International Rugby Board (IRB), which will meet all the costs. It is a far cry from seven years ago, when the overwhelming enthusiasm of the administrators of the women's game in Britain carried all before them, even if it left them in debt by the close.
Now, however, there is greater recognition by the men of the merits of women's rugby. For example, England will defend their title after spending a week together at Lilleshall, thanks to a Pounds 146,000 grant from the National Lottery; the team is sponsored by Swiss Life (UK), supported by ADMeat, and a further eight companies con tribute significantly to the squad's preparation.
Ten years ago, when Gill Burns played her first international (against Sweden, England's pool opponents tomorrow), the players paid their own way in terms of kit, travel and accommodation. Burns leads England into what will be her third World Cup, knowing the financial worries that afflicted the 1991 organisers are things of the past - though she has not taken a holiday in the past six years and the mileage on her car is approaching 200,000.
This has not stopped three members of the squad - Susie Appleby (policewoman), Janice Byford (teacher) and Helen Clayton (lecturer) - from taking career breaks so that they can concentrate on a successful World Cup. It is also an opportunity for youth, because in Jo Yapp, 18, England include one of the youngest competitors in the tournament. Whether England can retain their crown remains to be seen. Their squad has changed out of all recognition since the visit to New Zealand, but the forwards do not look as formidable as the pack that squeezed the life out of the United States in the 1994 final; they have received coaching from luminaries such as Dick Best and Phil Larder and enter the fray encouraged by their 62-8 defeat of Ireland a month ago.
They are seeded to meet New Zealand in the semi-finals, at the Dutch National Rugby Centre in Amsterdam. Scotland, drawn in the same pool as New Zealand, must beat Italy to ensure a quarter-final place, while Wales are in the same pool as the Americans, whose free-running backs provided the highlights of the 1994 tournament.
Ireland's inexperienced team, which has received financial support from the Irish Rugby Football Union worth Pounds 20,000, will lack nothing in commitment but look to have the most demanding of games on the opening day, when they play Australia. It is, though, New Zealand's performance that will be watched most closely. "Ever since they beat us in August, I have been dying for another chance," Emma Mitchell, England's talented scrum half, said. That chance may be just around the corner.
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SQUADS
ENGLAND: Backs: P George (Wasps), N Brown (Worcester), P Spivey (Clifton), J Molyneux (Waterloo), S Day (Wasps), K Knight (Old Leamingtonians), T Collins (Saracens), S Appleby (Saracens), G Prangnell (Wasps), E Mitchell (Saracens), J Yapp (Worcester). Forwards: J Smith (Wasps), J Byford (Saracens), T O'Reilly (Saracens), M Edwards (Saracens), N Ponsford (Saracens), J Poore (Richmond), T Siwek (Richmond), L Uttley (Wasps), C Green (Saracens), S Robertson (Leeds), G Stevens (Clifton), J Ross (Saracens), H Clayton (Saracens), C Frost (Saracens), G Burns (Waterloo, captain).
WALES: Backs: N Evans (Cardiff Harlequins), T Comley (Ty-Croes), E Green (Saracens), S Thomas (Waterloo), S Phillips (Aberystwyth), L Rickard (Aberystwyth), R Williams (Wasps), S Williams (Ty-Croes), B Evans (Cardiff Harlequins, captain), R Owens (Swansea Uplands), S Calnan (Cheltenham). Forwards: D Mason (Waterloo), J Studley (Blaenau Gwent), A Antoniazzi (Waterloo), L Pritchard (Cardiff Harlequins), N Griffiths (Cardiff Harlequins), J Kift (Cardiff Harlequins), A Dent (Waterloo), C Donovan (Saracens), J Robinson (Aberystwyth), J Morgan (Cardiff Harlequins), S Ellis (Richmond), G Baylis (Saracens), E Steer (Swansea Uplands), P Evans (Swansea Uplands), L Burgess (Saracens).
SCOTLAND: Backs: C Herriot (Edinburgh Academicals), A McGrandles (Leeds), M Cave (Saracens), S Brodie (Edinburgh Academicals, K Littlejohn (Leeds, captain), D Fairbairn (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Paterson (Richmond), K Craigie (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Higgins (Edinburgh Academicals), R Lewis (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Blamire (Edinburgh Academicals), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers). Forwards: J Taylor (Edinburgh Academicals), K Findley (Richmond), L Allsopp (Murrayfield Wanderers), A Christie (Edinburgh Academicals), A MacKenzie (Glasgow Southern), S Scott (Murrayfield Wanderers), M McHardy (Edinburgh Academicals), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), G Cameron (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Leeds), I Wilson (Alton), J Sheerin (Richmond), J Afseth (Edinburgh Academicals), B MacLeod (Murrayfield Wanderers).
IRELAND: Backs: S Cosgrave (Old Crescent), L Nicholl (Cooke), A Dillon (Blackrock College), C-A Byrne (Blackrock College, captain), F Neary (Waterloo), S Fleming (Cooke), H Siwek (Wasps), R Currie (Cooke), R Shrieves (Richmond), F Devaney (Creggs), S O'Donovan (Waterloo). Forwards: D Campbell (Cooke), O Brown (Shannon), M Nash (Wasps), A Parsons (Wasps), J Moore (Exeter), E Wilt (Crawley), T Kennedy (Old Leamingtonians), M Myles (Wasps), A-M McAllister (Blackrock College), L Noade (Cooke), R Burn (Novocastrians), J O'Gorman (Old Crescent), F Steed (Novocastrians), J Whiteside (Leeds), J McCarthy (Old Crescent).
POOLS: A: England, Canada, Holland, Sweden. B: United States, Spain, Wales, Russia. C: France, Australia, Ireland, Kazakhstan. D: New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Germany.
ITINERARY: Today: Opening ceremony; Canada v Holland. Tomorrow: Spain v Wales, New Zealand v Germany, France v Kazkhstan, United States v Russia, England v Sweden, Australia v Ireland, Scotland v Italy. May 5: Pool matches between first-round winners; pool matches between first-round losers. 9: Quarter-finals. 12: Semi-finals. 16: Final.
Copyright (C) The Times, 1998
Source Citation
Hands, David. "England outlook blackened by rivals; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 1 May 1998
The old order is changing, no matter what the gender. England, the holders, the United States and France have been the traditional powers but this weekend will show what the southern hemisphere can offer: New Zealand played in the first women's World Cup, in Wales in 1991, but withdrew from the 1994 tournament after an absence of support from the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
They return with a flourish, underpinned by the growing popularity of competitive touch rugby in the southern- hemisphere summer and successes that include a 67-0 demolition of England last year. They will be joined, for the first time in a world tournament, by Australia, while Scotland will enter as European champions after a season in which they recorded their first success against England, by 8-5 in March.
For the first time, the tournament commands the support of the International Rugby Board (IRB), which will meet all the costs. It is a far cry from seven years ago, when the overwhelming enthusiasm of the administrators of the women's game in Britain carried all before them, even if it left them in debt by the close.
Now, however, there is greater recognition by the men of the merits of women's rugby. For example, England will defend their title after spending a week together at Lilleshall, thanks to a Pounds 146,000 grant from the National Lottery; the team is sponsored by Swiss Life (UK), supported by ADMeat, and a further eight companies con tribute significantly to the squad's preparation.
Ten years ago, when Gill Burns played her first international (against Sweden, England's pool opponents tomorrow), the players paid their own way in terms of kit, travel and accommodation. Burns leads England into what will be her third World Cup, knowing the financial worries that afflicted the 1991 organisers are things of the past - though she has not taken a holiday in the past six years and the mileage on her car is approaching 200,000.
This has not stopped three members of the squad - Susie Appleby (policewoman), Janice Byford (teacher) and Helen Clayton (lecturer) - from taking career breaks so that they can concentrate on a successful World Cup. It is also an opportunity for youth, because in Jo Yapp, 18, England include one of the youngest competitors in the tournament. Whether England can retain their crown remains to be seen. Their squad has changed out of all recognition since the visit to New Zealand, but the forwards do not look as formidable as the pack that squeezed the life out of the United States in the 1994 final; they have received coaching from luminaries such as Dick Best and Phil Larder and enter the fray encouraged by their 62-8 defeat of Ireland a month ago.
They are seeded to meet New Zealand in the semi-finals, at the Dutch National Rugby Centre in Amsterdam. Scotland, drawn in the same pool as New Zealand, must beat Italy to ensure a quarter-final place, while Wales are in the same pool as the Americans, whose free-running backs provided the highlights of the 1994 tournament.
Ireland's inexperienced team, which has received financial support from the Irish Rugby Football Union worth Pounds 20,000, will lack nothing in commitment but look to have the most demanding of games on the opening day, when they play Australia. It is, though, New Zealand's performance that will be watched most closely. "Ever since they beat us in August, I have been dying for another chance," Emma Mitchell, England's talented scrum half, said. That chance may be just around the corner.
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SQUADS
ENGLAND: Backs: P George (Wasps), N Brown (Worcester), P Spivey (Clifton), J Molyneux (Waterloo), S Day (Wasps), K Knight (Old Leamingtonians), T Collins (Saracens), S Appleby (Saracens), G Prangnell (Wasps), E Mitchell (Saracens), J Yapp (Worcester). Forwards: J Smith (Wasps), J Byford (Saracens), T O'Reilly (Saracens), M Edwards (Saracens), N Ponsford (Saracens), J Poore (Richmond), T Siwek (Richmond), L Uttley (Wasps), C Green (Saracens), S Robertson (Leeds), G Stevens (Clifton), J Ross (Saracens), H Clayton (Saracens), C Frost (Saracens), G Burns (Waterloo, captain).
WALES: Backs: N Evans (Cardiff Harlequins), T Comley (Ty-Croes), E Green (Saracens), S Thomas (Waterloo), S Phillips (Aberystwyth), L Rickard (Aberystwyth), R Williams (Wasps), S Williams (Ty-Croes), B Evans (Cardiff Harlequins, captain), R Owens (Swansea Uplands), S Calnan (Cheltenham). Forwards: D Mason (Waterloo), J Studley (Blaenau Gwent), A Antoniazzi (Waterloo), L Pritchard (Cardiff Harlequins), N Griffiths (Cardiff Harlequins), J Kift (Cardiff Harlequins), A Dent (Waterloo), C Donovan (Saracens), J Robinson (Aberystwyth), J Morgan (Cardiff Harlequins), S Ellis (Richmond), G Baylis (Saracens), E Steer (Swansea Uplands), P Evans (Swansea Uplands), L Burgess (Saracens).
SCOTLAND: Backs: C Herriot (Edinburgh Academicals), A McGrandles (Leeds), M Cave (Saracens), S Brodie (Edinburgh Academicals, K Littlejohn (Leeds, captain), D Fairbairn (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Paterson (Richmond), K Craigie (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Higgins (Edinburgh Academicals), R Lewis (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Blamire (Edinburgh Academicals), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers). Forwards: J Taylor (Edinburgh Academicals), K Findley (Richmond), L Allsopp (Murrayfield Wanderers), A Christie (Edinburgh Academicals), A MacKenzie (Glasgow Southern), S Scott (Murrayfield Wanderers), M McHardy (Edinburgh Academicals), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), G Cameron (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Leeds), I Wilson (Alton), J Sheerin (Richmond), J Afseth (Edinburgh Academicals), B MacLeod (Murrayfield Wanderers).
IRELAND: Backs: S Cosgrave (Old Crescent), L Nicholl (Cooke), A Dillon (Blackrock College), C-A Byrne (Blackrock College, captain), F Neary (Waterloo), S Fleming (Cooke), H Siwek (Wasps), R Currie (Cooke), R Shrieves (Richmond), F Devaney (Creggs), S O'Donovan (Waterloo). Forwards: D Campbell (Cooke), O Brown (Shannon), M Nash (Wasps), A Parsons (Wasps), J Moore (Exeter), E Wilt (Crawley), T Kennedy (Old Leamingtonians), M Myles (Wasps), A-M McAllister (Blackrock College), L Noade (Cooke), R Burn (Novocastrians), J O'Gorman (Old Crescent), F Steed (Novocastrians), J Whiteside (Leeds), J McCarthy (Old Crescent).
POOLS: A: England, Canada, Holland, Sweden. B: United States, Spain, Wales, Russia. C: France, Australia, Ireland, Kazakhstan. D: New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Germany.
ITINERARY: Today: Opening ceremony; Canada v Holland. Tomorrow: Spain v Wales, New Zealand v Germany, France v Kazkhstan, United States v Russia, England v Sweden, Australia v Ireland, Scotland v Italy. May 5: Pool matches between first-round winners; pool matches between first-round losers. 9: Quarter-finals. 12: Semi-finals. 16: Final.
Copyright (C) The Times, 1998
Source Citation
Hands, David. "England outlook blackened by rivals; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 1 May 1998
Monday, 23 March 1998
Chalmers gives Scotland World Cup inspiration
Scotland 8 England 5
SCOTLAND, the most improved of the home international sides in women's rugby over the last two years, will go to the World Cup in Holland in May as holders of the grand slam. They will do so thanks to a penalty goal kicked by Paula Chalmers, which earned them victory over England at Inverleith on Saturday, though the slim margin of victory does not indicate Scotland's all-round superiority.
Before the last women's World Cup in 1994, which they hosted, Scotland were among the newest of international contenders, but they have established a side that has now overtaken the two countries dominant in women's rugby in the northern hemisphere for the past 15 years, France and England, whose hopes of a successful defence in Holland of the title that they won in Edinburgh four years ago do not look well-founded.
In an error-strewn match, Scotland dominated the set-pieces, almost claiming a pushover try in the second half against an England side that formerly took pride in emulating the men's side in the power of their scrum.
There is, too, far more kicking in the women's game than used to be the case: it is a skill that they have learned to do well, but Scotland overused it on this occasion, for they had a back division with the legs of England.
They proved that in the first quarter, when Kim Littlejohn looped swiftly to retrieve a dropped ball and rounded the English cover. Yet, before the interval, England had made up for two missed penalty attempts from Gill Burns, Maxine Edwards leading a drive on the left before the backs at last sustained a handling movement to create space for Pip Spivey on the right.
Only ten minutes remained when Chalmers, to the delight of Craig, her distinguished brother, who was among the spectators, kicked the penalty that won the game, leaving England with the game against Ireland at Worcester on April 4 to make hasty repairs to their World Cup defence.
SCORERS: Scotland: Try: Littlejohn (13min). Penalty goal: Chalmers (70). England: Try: Spivey (22).
SCORING SEQUENCE (Scotland first): 5-0, 5-5 (half-time), 8-5.
SCOTLAND: A McGrandles (Leeds); D Fairbairn (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Paterson (Richmond), K Littlejohn (Leeds, captain), M Cave (Saracens); R Lewis (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); J Taylor (Edinburgh Academicals; rep: E Allsopp, Murrayfield Wanderers, 53), S Scott (Murrayfield Wanderers), K Findley (Richmond), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), M McHardy (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Afseth (Edinburgh Academicals), B McLeod (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Leeds).
ENGLAND: P George (Wasps); P Spivey (Clifton), S Day (Wasps), S Harris (Waterloo; rep: S Appleby, Saracens, 70), N Brown (Worcester; rep: J Molyneux, Waterloo, 70); G Pragnell (Wasps), E Mitchell (Saracens); T O'Reilly (Saracens), J Potter (Wasps; rep: J Smith, Wasps, 65), M Edwards (Saracens; rep: A O'Flynn, Waterloo, 65), L Uttley (Wasps), T Siwek (Richmond), J Ross (Saracens; rep: J Chambers, Wasps, 10-14, 38-40), G Stevens (Clifton), G Burns (Waterloo, captain).
Referee: P Sleeman (Wales).
Copyright (C) The Times, 1998
Source Citation
Hands, David. "Chalmers gives Scotland World Cup inspiration; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 23 Mar. 1998
SCOTLAND, the most improved of the home international sides in women's rugby over the last two years, will go to the World Cup in Holland in May as holders of the grand slam. They will do so thanks to a penalty goal kicked by Paula Chalmers, which earned them victory over England at Inverleith on Saturday, though the slim margin of victory does not indicate Scotland's all-round superiority.
Before the last women's World Cup in 1994, which they hosted, Scotland were among the newest of international contenders, but they have established a side that has now overtaken the two countries dominant in women's rugby in the northern hemisphere for the past 15 years, France and England, whose hopes of a successful defence in Holland of the title that they won in Edinburgh four years ago do not look well-founded.
In an error-strewn match, Scotland dominated the set-pieces, almost claiming a pushover try in the second half against an England side that formerly took pride in emulating the men's side in the power of their scrum.
There is, too, far more kicking in the women's game than used to be the case: it is a skill that they have learned to do well, but Scotland overused it on this occasion, for they had a back division with the legs of England.
They proved that in the first quarter, when Kim Littlejohn looped swiftly to retrieve a dropped ball and rounded the English cover. Yet, before the interval, England had made up for two missed penalty attempts from Gill Burns, Maxine Edwards leading a drive on the left before the backs at last sustained a handling movement to create space for Pip Spivey on the right.
Only ten minutes remained when Chalmers, to the delight of Craig, her distinguished brother, who was among the spectators, kicked the penalty that won the game, leaving England with the game against Ireland at Worcester on April 4 to make hasty repairs to their World Cup defence.
SCORERS: Scotland: Try: Littlejohn (13min). Penalty goal: Chalmers (70). England: Try: Spivey (22).
SCORING SEQUENCE (Scotland first): 5-0, 5-5 (half-time), 8-5.
SCOTLAND: A McGrandles (Leeds); D Fairbairn (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Paterson (Richmond), K Littlejohn (Leeds, captain), M Cave (Saracens); R Lewis (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); J Taylor (Edinburgh Academicals; rep: E Allsopp, Murrayfield Wanderers, 53), S Scott (Murrayfield Wanderers), K Findley (Richmond), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), M McHardy (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Afseth (Edinburgh Academicals), B McLeod (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Leeds).
ENGLAND: P George (Wasps); P Spivey (Clifton), S Day (Wasps), S Harris (Waterloo; rep: S Appleby, Saracens, 70), N Brown (Worcester; rep: J Molyneux, Waterloo, 70); G Pragnell (Wasps), E Mitchell (Saracens); T O'Reilly (Saracens), J Potter (Wasps; rep: J Smith, Wasps, 65), M Edwards (Saracens; rep: A O'Flynn, Waterloo, 65), L Uttley (Wasps), T Siwek (Richmond), J Ross (Saracens; rep: J Chambers, Wasps, 10-14, 38-40), G Stevens (Clifton), G Burns (Waterloo, captain).
Referee: P Sleeman (Wales).
Copyright (C) The Times, 1998
Source Citation
Hands, David. "Chalmers gives Scotland World Cup inspiration; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 23 Mar. 1998
Sunday, 22 March 1998
Scotland v England
Scotland 8 England 5
STRANGE days at Inverleith, the old Edinburgh ground that is steeped in the proud history and the recent under-achievement of its home club, Stewart's Melville. On Friday, it played host to a Grand Slam by the Scotland A team and yesterday it provided another for Scotland's women, who completed their clean sweep with this battling win over England. Who says you don't see Scottish Grand Slams every day of the week?
Granted, the opportunity for another this afternoon has already been lost, but even if they were small in number, the crowd at this match could still savour their day. Scotland were not flattered one bit by the final scoreline and, from having been among the rabbits of the women's World Cup in 1994, they can now go forward to the next tournament, in Holland in May, with confidence soaring. The spirits of England, the reigning world champions, however, need urgent restoration.
Most of England's problems lay in the pack, where they lacked the co-ordination of their opponents. England's best attacks were ignited by Emma Mitchell, whose all-round excellence at scrum-half compensated for failings elsewhere. Not that Julie Potter, her hooker, would have been particularly appreciative when Mitchell's first kick of the game brought both boot and ball thumping into her midriff, but it would be true to say Mitchell probably kept England in the game during the first half.
Her assuredness was important when Scotland tried to raise the pace following their first try. That arrived in the 12th minute when Linda Uttley knocked on near her 22 and Scotland were awarded a scrum. Paula Chalmers moved the ball left and, although Michelle Cave and Pogo Paterson almost ruined the move with a fumble in midfield, Kim Littlejohn, the Scottish captain, both rescucitated the attack and finished it off, arcing around the defence to the left corner.
With more ball, Scotland might have capitalised further, for there was a wonderful eagerness about their play at that stage. England, by contrast, were leaden, and prone to horrible handling lapses all along the three-quarter line. Yet England took their example from Mitchell and fly-half Giselle Pragnell and it was through their composure that they clawed their way back into the game.
More significantly, they also hauled themselves onto the scoreboard before half-time, levelling the scores with a wonderful try. It came in the 32nd minute when a rumbling charge down the left touchline by Maxine Edwards drew in the Scottish defence, Mitchell switched play to the right and a looping move by Pragnell allowed Pip Spivey to sprint over by the right flag.
Yet the prospect of a punishing England effort in the second half quickly receded as England, so wonderfully aggressive when they won their 1994 trophy, seemed seriously short of appetite. Scotland, however, were ravenous. To the verve of Paterson at outside centre they could add the poise of Rimma Lewis, their stand-off. As the game wore on, moreover, it was clear the Scottish pack, and especially their brittle front row, were gaining the upper hand.
Some people still try to claim that women's rugby is a strange spectacle, but the only truly bizarre sight in this match was that of a Scottish scrum destroying English opposition. The Scots spent much of the third quarter camped on England's line, yet despite a clear advantage in the set piece - they also stole some priceless English lineout ball with the glee of the genuinely larcenous - they could not quite find the extra ounce of power to surge over those last few inches.
Indeed, Scotland seemed more sapped by the experience, as England swept back upfield with determination. Their attacks lacked conviction, however, and the Scottish defence picked them off around the fringes with comfortable ease. Then Gill Burns, the English No 8, was spotted stamping in a ruck and, when Scotland grafted their way back into English territory, it was more Burns footwork that again cost England dear. Foolishly, the English player had this time done the deed on her own 22, and Chalmers swept the penalty home.
The kick secured the win for Scotland and secured the status of a sport that has had more than its fair share of detractors in this part of the world. You could pick critically at some of the quality of the game, particularly the goal-kicking which was next-to abject throughout. But the attitude and spirit of the Scottish side was second to none, and when they travel to Holland in two months time they have every right to believe they could earn the same accolade.
Scotland
A McGrandles; D Fairbairn, P Paterson, K Littlejohn, M Cave; R Lewis, P Chalmers; J Taylor (L Allsopp 52min), S Scott (A McKenzie 40min), K Findlay, L Cockburn, M McHardy, J Afseth, D Kennedy, B McLeod (J Sheerin 40min).
England
P George; P Spivey, S Day, S Harris (S Appleby 71min), N Brown (J Molyneux 71min); G Pragnell, E Mitchell; T O'Reilly, J Potter (J Smith 63min), M Edwards, L Uttley, T Siwek, J Ross, G Burns, G Stevens.
Scorers: Littlejohn (T 12min) 5-0; Spivey (T 32min) 5-5; Chalmers (P 69min) 8-5. Referee: P Sleeman (Wales). Attendance: 1,000.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998
Source Citation
Reid, Alasdair. "Scots savour grand victory; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 22 Mar. 1998
STRANGE days at Inverleith, the old Edinburgh ground that is steeped in the proud history and the recent under-achievement of its home club, Stewart's Melville. On Friday, it played host to a Grand Slam by the Scotland A team and yesterday it provided another for Scotland's women, who completed their clean sweep with this battling win over England. Who says you don't see Scottish Grand Slams every day of the week?
Granted, the opportunity for another this afternoon has already been lost, but even if they were small in number, the crowd at this match could still savour their day. Scotland were not flattered one bit by the final scoreline and, from having been among the rabbits of the women's World Cup in 1994, they can now go forward to the next tournament, in Holland in May, with confidence soaring. The spirits of England, the reigning world champions, however, need urgent restoration.
Most of England's problems lay in the pack, where they lacked the co-ordination of their opponents. England's best attacks were ignited by Emma Mitchell, whose all-round excellence at scrum-half compensated for failings elsewhere. Not that Julie Potter, her hooker, would have been particularly appreciative when Mitchell's first kick of the game brought both boot and ball thumping into her midriff, but it would be true to say Mitchell probably kept England in the game during the first half.
Her assuredness was important when Scotland tried to raise the pace following their first try. That arrived in the 12th minute when Linda Uttley knocked on near her 22 and Scotland were awarded a scrum. Paula Chalmers moved the ball left and, although Michelle Cave and Pogo Paterson almost ruined the move with a fumble in midfield, Kim Littlejohn, the Scottish captain, both rescucitated the attack and finished it off, arcing around the defence to the left corner.
With more ball, Scotland might have capitalised further, for there was a wonderful eagerness about their play at that stage. England, by contrast, were leaden, and prone to horrible handling lapses all along the three-quarter line. Yet England took their example from Mitchell and fly-half Giselle Pragnell and it was through their composure that they clawed their way back into the game.
More significantly, they also hauled themselves onto the scoreboard before half-time, levelling the scores with a wonderful try. It came in the 32nd minute when a rumbling charge down the left touchline by Maxine Edwards drew in the Scottish defence, Mitchell switched play to the right and a looping move by Pragnell allowed Pip Spivey to sprint over by the right flag.
Yet the prospect of a punishing England effort in the second half quickly receded as England, so wonderfully aggressive when they won their 1994 trophy, seemed seriously short of appetite. Scotland, however, were ravenous. To the verve of Paterson at outside centre they could add the poise of Rimma Lewis, their stand-off. As the game wore on, moreover, it was clear the Scottish pack, and especially their brittle front row, were gaining the upper hand.
Some people still try to claim that women's rugby is a strange spectacle, but the only truly bizarre sight in this match was that of a Scottish scrum destroying English opposition. The Scots spent much of the third quarter camped on England's line, yet despite a clear advantage in the set piece - they also stole some priceless English lineout ball with the glee of the genuinely larcenous - they could not quite find the extra ounce of power to surge over those last few inches.
Indeed, Scotland seemed more sapped by the experience, as England swept back upfield with determination. Their attacks lacked conviction, however, and the Scottish defence picked them off around the fringes with comfortable ease. Then Gill Burns, the English No 8, was spotted stamping in a ruck and, when Scotland grafted their way back into English territory, it was more Burns footwork that again cost England dear. Foolishly, the English player had this time done the deed on her own 22, and Chalmers swept the penalty home.
The kick secured the win for Scotland and secured the status of a sport that has had more than its fair share of detractors in this part of the world. You could pick critically at some of the quality of the game, particularly the goal-kicking which was next-to abject throughout. But the attitude and spirit of the Scottish side was second to none, and when they travel to Holland in two months time they have every right to believe they could earn the same accolade.
Scotland
A McGrandles; D Fairbairn, P Paterson, K Littlejohn, M Cave; R Lewis, P Chalmers; J Taylor (L Allsopp 52min), S Scott (A McKenzie 40min), K Findlay, L Cockburn, M McHardy, J Afseth, D Kennedy, B McLeod (J Sheerin 40min).
England
P George; P Spivey, S Day, S Harris (S Appleby 71min), N Brown (J Molyneux 71min); G Pragnell, E Mitchell; T O'Reilly, J Potter (J Smith 63min), M Edwards, L Uttley, T Siwek, J Ross, G Burns, G Stevens.
Scorers: Littlejohn (T 12min) 5-0; Spivey (T 32min) 5-5; Chalmers (P 69min) 8-5. Referee: P Sleeman (Wales). Attendance: 1,000.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998
Source Citation
Reid, Alasdair. "Scots savour grand victory; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 22 Mar. 1998
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