LIVERPOOL St Helens break new ground this weekend when their newly-formed girls under-15 team play their first ever match at Preston Grasshoppers on Sunday.
The squad of 30 girls have been training together since September, led by manager Becky Armstrong and coaches Cara Pendleton and Keiron Tucker.
The new team, captained by Alison Burrows, will be taking the field in a new Samurai playing kit sponsored by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service as part of the World Firefighter Games 08 legacy programme.
The whole squad, together with LSH head coach Paul Woodward and club captain Phil Kearns, visited St Helens community fire station earlier this week where they were welcomed by deputy chief fire officer Mike Hagen and WFG legacy Programme manager, Richie Davis.
The girls were given a full tour of the fire station and presented with their new kit and Woodward was full of praise for all those involved.
“This is another sign of the progress being made at Moss Lane,” he said. “The club has received tremendous support from the local RFU officers including Mark Sutcliffe, Mark Harper and John Foster. The girls are really keen and the new kit is magnificent. We are all very grateful to the local fire service.”
RFU community rugby coach Foster has been instrumental in the new development at Moss Lane and he is delighted at the progress. “These girls have been training in all weather conditions for months now and they are desperate to start playing matches,” he said. “Sunday is the culmination of lots of hard work.”
LSH girls are looking to start an under-18 side and anyone interested can contact John on 07738648944 or via the club website.”
Meanwhile, Woodward has other pressing matters this weekend, taking his first team to North Two West leaders Altrincham Kersal.
“After a six-week absence from action it will be like starting the season again” he said. “It has been hard to maintain momentum and fitness but at least the lads are fully rested.”
Dave Hale, James Cashman and Jeff Foulkes are recovered from injury.
