PLYMOUTH Argaum’s women’s team are loving their first season of competitive league rugby, even though they are still waiting for their first victory.
Argaum decided to enter the RFU pyramid after spending last season playing Inner Warrior fixtures.
They, along with Saltash, who were founded around the same time, were placed in National Challenge (NC) Three South West (West), alongside Camborne, St Austell, Falmouth and Kingsbridge.
So far, Argaum and St Austell are the only teams yet to claim a win in the league from their opening four games.
The Roborough-based side will face St Austell at Bickleigh Down in their next league match on December 14 and a win would move them off the foot of the table.
Ahead of that big game, Argaum hosted NC3 South West (Central) outfit Brixham at home on Sunday in a friendly to gain more match experience for some of their players.
Argaum’s forwards dominated the fixture and they had more possession and territory, but Brixham ran out 29-12 winners thanks to five counterattack tries from their backs, with full-back Brandie Squires bagging a stunning hat-trick and fellow back Lois Burry touching down for two and kicking two conversions. Argaum’s tries came from Tanya Jones and Lakaysha Lomax-Pay.
“We have played Brixham a couple of times, although they are not in our league with the way it has been split, but we really like them and we always have a good time when we play each other,” said Argaum team manager Shelley Smith.
The club are aware they were put in probably the harder of the NC3 South West divisions, with a number of long trips to Cornwall, but they are enjoying it.
“There are games we know are going to be really hard but there are games where we know we might stand a chance,” added Smith.
“We’ve had quite a lot of new players, which is really good. I think in one game our entire front-row was brand new to rugby.
“It is fantastic that we are getting new people wanting to give rugby a go and are enjoying it and loving the atmosphere, but we can’t expect to just dominate or be the best when you have brand new people to rugby.”
She added: “Yes, we haven’t won a game yet, but the girls are absolutely buzzing. The messages that come up after any match are all like ‘oh my God, I love being on the pitch with you guys’ and ‘we’re not worried about the score, we are having fun’, which is really, really nice to read. It shows how much everyone loves each other and loves playing.”
The club are pleased with how their forwards have done so far.
“One of the things we are proud of is our scrum,” said Smith.
“And teams don’t go through the middle of us – they always have to go around the outside, so we have to take that as a bit of a positive.
“I think we just need to keep working on our fitness and line speed.”
Although Saltash are in their league, they have built up a good friendship with them and even borrowed a couple of their players at the weekend.
“As it was a friendly and we were a bit short, we borrowed a couple of players just to make sure the game went ahead,” said Smith.
“We love playing against Saltash and we have friends there.
“It is so nice that two teams that are in the same league and compete against each other yet we are still happy to hold a joint training session together and get some live drills going.”
Argaum train on Tuesday and Thursday evening at Bickleigh Down and always welcome new players.
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