birkEnhead PARK
panthers
league. And at the end of that first season
we were promoted up to the next league.
And at the end of that season, another
promotion meant we were catapulted into
the Championship North One League, just
one below the Women’s Premiership.
But last season our mettle was tested. A
tranche of the experienced players left
the team, and combining that with playing
against some formidable teams who were
a muddy boot away from promotion to the
Premiership, it was a real hard battle to
stay up in that league.
Of our experience last season, Sam Hillas,
Chair of the Panthers, explains: “Very
tough competition coupled with us having
to replace a number of experienced players
with less experienced new players meant
it was a hard season. But by mid season
we found our inner strength, dug deep, and
turned it around. Through everyone really
pulling together we managed to stay up by
winning on the last day of the season.”
So, entering our sixth season we have
taken a long, hard look at ourselves as a
team, as a body whose common goal and
ethos has always been, and continues to
be, about enjoying rugby. We have a new
coaching team and had a recruitment
campaign throughout the summer months
which is now paying dividends.
Jess Whitehead, flanker, founder and
team captain said: “Rugby to me is all
about being part of a team. The fitness is
good and gives me a reason to go out and
exercise. I set the team up as rugby had
been such a big part of my social life at
university and at school, I didn't want to not
carry it on. Starting the team at BPFC was
the best thing I did - I have met girls who
have now become not just team mates but
close friends. It opened up opportunities
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