London & SE retain Divisional title

Englands Womens Divisional Championship is a tournament for the leading players from outside the national squad and the Divisional Championship is a vital stepping stone to the England Squad, John Birch writes.

When it comes to identifying new talent it is the RFUWs Divisional Championship is the vital bridge between the grass roots and the England team.

The four-team tournament replaced the former 11-team Regional Championship last season the reduction in teams significantly raising the quality of the competition - and it has already helped lift to prominence players such as Ceri Large, Lydia Thompson and Hannah Gallagher, all involved in the 2011 Divisional Championship, and all now members of the full England squad.

For English womens rugby, the Divisional Championship is the nearest thing New Zealands NPC. London & South East (L&SE) were winners in 2011 with a 100% record Grand Slam over North, South West, and Midlands. 2012 would be rather closer.

After the first round of games were postponed, the tournament eventually opened at the end of February with the champions travelling South West, who had finished bottom in 2011. The result was 17-5 win for the champions, including scores from former England U20s Nicole Hoole, and Georgia Peedle. 2011 runners-up North also opened with a win, 24-14 over Midlands- England squad members Ruth Laybourne and Emily Braud scoring tries for each team.

The two first round winners then met in Sheffield on 11th March, with L&SE sweeping to a decisive 32-8 victory five tries to one, Nicole Hoole scoring again for the champions. Elsewhere, Mary Ann Gittings of South West also scored a second try in two games as the 2011 basement team recovered from their opening defeat to LSE with a 29-19 win away to Midlands.

And so to the final round, last weekend, with LSE favourites to beat Midlands for the title. Unfortunately two early tries from Midlands Natasha Jones and Liz Polson rocked LSE. The champions fought back, with a try from Georgia Peedle and a Hannah Edwards penalty closing them to within three points, but Midlands with two forwards in their backline for the final minutes held out for their only win of the campaign.

All eyes therefore turned to Hartpury College where 4-try win for South West or North would leave them level with LSE. With the teams 10-10 early in the second half the match was in the balance until Sally Tuson and Kate Hancock scored for the home team, giving South West a 20-10 win and the bonus point.

However, while as a result South West finished level with LSE at the top, a decisive points difference was enough to allow London & South East to retain their title. However, South West did finish with three of the top scorers - Mary Ann Gittings, Jessica Irvine and Tuson all finishing with two tries. along with LSEs Nicole Hoole and Midlands Liz Polson.