Teddington have a rich history in women’s rugby. Formed in 1987, the Antlers are one of the oldest women’s clubs in the country and have developed players that have gone on to play at international level. However, those closely involved with the club will know that the past few seasons have been far from plain sailing. The retirement of many older, experienced players led to a decline in playing numbers, poor results and sadly a slide down the league pyramid. Teddington Women however have never lost their spirit, and they have hung in there when results were not going their way, training hard with the firm belief that their fortunes would eventually change. On Sunday that day finally arrived. It’s been five years since Antlers women triumphed over Plymouth Albion in their last league victory, but on Sunday they came out on top against Chobham, proving that if you keep getting up enough after the being knocked down, success will eventually come.
This season, Teddington have been boosted by the services of experienced coach Dave EVANS, who has stripped things back to basics, getting the girls concentrating on their core skills of passing, tackling and ball retention and the girls, many of whom are new to rugby, have reaped the benefits. The results from the first two games may still have not looked good from an Antlers perspective, but the progression was clear to see. Possession was being retained for numerous phases of play and trys were being scored. On Sunday everything came together. The newfound tenacity in their play earning them an early score. The teams cohesion, borne from many training sessions, ensured the opposition didn’t breach the Antlers defence. The hard work continued in the second half, and Teddington stretched into a 19-0 lead. Chobham pulled one back with a well deserved try out wide, but it was too late to affect the result and a famous win for the Antlers women (19-5).
Huge credit needs to go to the squad for their unfaltering enthusiasm and commitment over the past few seasons in very challenging circumstances. They have continued to recruit new players from local clubs, universities and those that are completely new to the game, and that is a credit to the welcoming nature and inclusiveness of the squad. There will no doubt be more tough challenges ahead this season, but under the leadership of Clare CHAMBERLAIN, captain Rosie NEWTON, vice-captain Molly BEHLING and coach Dave EVANS, the first green shoots of recovery are now clear to see, and it certainly won’t be another 5 year wait until the next win.
If you are interested in joining a women’s rugby team, whether young or old, experienced, or inexperienced, then Teddington Rugby is the place for you. Reach out to Clare at clareisabellachamberlain@gmail.com for more details. Be part of a friendly team with a bright future.