West Norfolk women end season on a high

With an precedent-breaking number of Eastern County representatives, an active playing Team GB member, two Hammerhead Sevens players taking the 7s series’ by storm and also coming third in a new league, West Norfolk’s women’s 1st XV team finished the 2023-2024 season on a high and with a clear plan for the next season ahead.

As they rejoin the Women’s NC 2 Midlands (East) league and play against fellow Norfolk and Suffolk teams like Diss, Crusaders and Southwold, West will be looking to take the successes from big-ticket games such as the Norfolk Cup and carry that into the 2024-2025 season, which has additional importance for this team as the club is celebrating a huge milestone – their centenary year. To mark that significant event, West’s women’s 1st XV will play a double header against the same club that is first on the record in their founding year of 1925 – Kesteven – while the men’s 1st XV will be playing against an invitational squad – more will be revealed nearer the time.

Head Coach Jane Middleton-Jones said “The progress the squad have made this season is to be celebrated, even if every fixture hasn’t been a win. The team have come together both on and off the pitch, and with exemplary performances seeing over half of the squad being selected for county or EC colours, the future is ours to take next season and the commitment from all is clear to see. We’re excited to see where the new season will take us..”

Building on that positive message, the team captain, Emma-Jane Watson (EJ) added “Not only did we see such a great effort from the team as a whole – we were also able to recognise incredible individual achievements from a number of our players – Rosie Lingham, Amber Wadlow and Sarah Hodgson were all recognised for playing 50 games in a West Norfolk shirt, which I know is a huge source of pride for them and the rest of the team as it shows the longevity and bond that the team and players have. We’re delighted – but excited for the new matches we will soon get to play.”