Tennent’s Women’s League Champions Crowned

In the Tennent’s Women’s Premier League, it was Hillhead Jordanhill who were the league winners. The Glasgow side were the team to beat the whole season. They secured the league win prior to the final match of the season. This final match against Watsonians was their only loss of the season. Watsonians were comfortably in second place in the league with only one less win than the Glasgow side.

ouise McMillan, captain of the Hillhead Jordanhill team, said “I’m incredibly proud of what the girls have achieved this season. This season, more than any I’ve played, has seen us lose some key players and we have had new girls step up their responsibility. Although not all of our wins have been pretty, we’ve shown our determination for every victory.

“We’ve demanded a very high standard of ourselves from day one and this has pushed us on to play better and better every game.”

The Tennent’s Women’s National League 1 was a slightly closer affair. Ayr RFC secured the title with a final win against Oban Lorne in the last match of the season. Finishing on 40 points with both the second and third placed teams on 39. Garioch RFC just pipped Oban Lorne RFC to the second-place spot with the points difference being the only thing to separate them.

Stuart Fenwick, Ladies Head Coach Ayr RFC said, “The past season has been a great experience for our young squad. The reduced intensity of the National 1 compared to the Premiership has allowed us the opportunity to give experience to a number of new players and players transitioning to senior rugby. We now look forward to the challenge in the new Premiership and feel that we will be better prepared for the increase in intensity and physicality.”

In the Tennent’s Women’s National League 2, Kelso were the clear winners. This was thanks to their almost unbeaten record allowing them to finish with 40 points. The battle in League 2 was for the second-place spot with three teams all within a point of each other. West of Scotland FC secured the second place with a final match win against Aberdeenshire Quines.

Director of Rugby for Kelso RFC Stephanie Dalgliesh, said, “We have a real mixture of age and ability, but everyone plays for each other. To win the League in just our second season playing league rugby is incredible. It has been a tough season as we have prepared hard for every game. I am immensely proud of everyone in our team for training every week, in all weathers and committing to the structures that we have put in place on the pitch”.

The Tennent’s Women’s North League saw Shetland storm the league. Orkney did make it tough for them with a draw earlier in the season but a close 27-31 win in the final match gave Shetland the advantage.

Women’s teams across Scotland are going to be drawing their focus towards cup matches which begin in March. Teams will be placed into Regional pools with the Sarah Beaney Cup, National Plate and National Bowl finals days all taking place on Saturday 27 April 2019.

Photo credit:
Top – Hillhead Jordanhill
Bottom – Gavin Horsburgh Photography