June 26 will go down as a significant day for Rugby League in the South West, with the Cornish Rebels making their debut in the Betfred Women’s Super League South in a double header also featuring a Southern Conference League draw between Devon Sharks and the All Golds.
Both games were held at the SGS College Stoke Gifford Stadium, the home of the All Golds and now also the Golden Ferns on the outskirts of Bristol.
The Rebels travelled in style on the regular team bus of their rugby union partner club Cornish Pirates, and received a good luck message from England Women head coach Craig Richards the morning after his team’s victory over Wales in The National Lottery Mid-Season International.
They acquitted themselves admirably but went down 32-10 to a Golden Ferns team who were also making their debut, and for whom there were three tries for Trish Brown and two for captain Annie Allen, the player of the match.
That was the second fixture in the new BWSL, following London Broncos’ victory over the British Army in the opener in Aldershot, and there are two more games this weekend – with the Golden Ferns hosting a Cardiff Demons team who will draw heavily on the Wales team who competed so bravely against England, and Bedford Tigers due to make their debut at home to the Broncos.
The Southern Conference League is more advanced in its second season, with Wests Warriors making the running in the East Division with six wins from as many matches. They host South London Silverbacks this weekend while the two teams behind them, London Chargers and the 2019 champions Hammersmith Hills Hoists, face each other.
In the West, Valley Cougars are making the running, and they will take on the All Golds on Saturday in the second part of another double header in Bristol.
Devon Sharks have home advantage against Swindon St George in the other West Division fixture, and will hope to maintain the momentum from the 28-28 draw against the All Golds secured by a last-minute penalty from Ash Lewis – after an impressive performance from stand-off Jack Carlisle.
