Information on Loughborough

Rachel leads East Midlands to national trophy

Posted on 16/05/2008

Rachel Jones

Rising local girls Rugby star, Fly Half Rachel Jones, has captained East Midlands to become national champions at under 15 level for the first time.  Other Leicestershire girls in the successful team were Jenny Maxwell, Scrum Half, Hannah Smith, Wingback; Nicky Spencer, Winger/centre and Charlotte Parker.

In the annual inter-regional tournament at Lichfield, last Saturday, Rachel started with a powerful captains display against the strong South East Region, scoring an all-important try as East Midlands narrowly won 12-10.

In the following game against Yorkshire, Rachel scored both East Midlands tries, in a 10-5 victory which took them to the top of their mini-league and through to the semi-finals.

This brought them face to face with South Region, winners for the last two years. Despite intense pressure from South, and inspired by Rachels crunching tackles and motivational captaincy, East Midlands were still level with two minutes to go. They were then awarded a difficult penalty chance which the manager asked Rachel herself to take. Rachel later admitted to her knees shaking as she lined up the kick, but it went over clean and true and East Midlands were in the final.

Wales were the opponents in the final, but East Midlands were now full of confidence and, following another great run from Rachel, took the lead and led 12-0 at the interval. When the second half was well underway, with no change in the score, the other squad players were given a run out in a much easier victory.

As she went up to collect the Trophy, Rachel says her mind was in a whirl, and tears of joy were not far away. Parents and supporters of the Leicestershire girls were in jubilant mood as they celebrated the regions best ever performance.