SECURING a first-ever competitive 15-a-side win left Dunfermline Rugby Club’s ladies’ team “buzzing”, their captain has said.

Sheryl Wilson said that their success last month, which came against Liberton in the opening game of a women’s bowl competition, was a reward for their hard work since the team were created.

In January 2019, then Dunfermline Rugby Club head coach, Mark Dobson, who is now Scottish Rugby’s regional manager for the Caledonia Midlands area, first organised a free training programme for female players at McKane Park.

Two months later, a Dunfermline team had played its first match, against a combined Strathmore and Lismore team, and took to the field in September last year for its maiden league season.

Although that was described as “tough” by Sheryl, the team have continued to improve and, last month, won 12-0 against Liberton to spark wild scenes of joy.

Their bowl campaign continued last Sunday, against a combined Perth and Crieff side at McKane, and the squad built on its earlier success with a 59-17 win.

“It was a tough season as we were playing teams that had been in the league for years,” Sheryl told Press Sport as she reflected on last season.

“We were brand new and didn’t know what to expect. We played loads of players in different positions, and were getting used to playing as a team.

“The scores never really reflected the way we played. There wasn’t much in terms of wins that we’d have liked but we managed to build up some experience playing in a team environment.”

That helped them in their win over Liberton, as Sheryl continued: “We put in some effort and there was a lot perseverance from the girls.

“The last quarter was spent defending our last 22. It felt like a lifetime but we stood strong. We’re proud of ourselves.

“We had no subs so every player played the full game together. We knew we could take home the win so were adamant about coming out with a clean sheet.

“When the final whistle blew, everyone was knackered, but we were buzzing to see our hard work over the previous season pay off.”

The team is always on the lookout for new players and, while there are opportunities to play – which has seen former player, Katie Lindsay, selected for a Scotland Futures team – anyone who wants to go along for fitness and the social side is just as welcome.

“I’ve never been part of such a friendly sport before, and Dunfermline ladies are such a friendly bunch,” Sheryl added.

“I’d encourage anybody to come down. There’s no pressure to get on the pitch; a lot of people come down just for the social aspect.”

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