IVYBRIDGE women’s head coach Georgina Gulliver says reaching a Twickenham cup final is a fitting reward for all the players’ efforts this season.
The Bridgers booked their spot in the RFU Women’s Intermediate Cup final on May 24 by beating Guildford 55-5 away last weekend.
They will now face Old Albanians Saints II in the final as they look for a league and cup double after already securing the Championship South West 2 title.
“We set out our intentions for the league and the cup results have been a bit of a bonus for us,” said Gulliver.
“But I am so, so pleased. To get to play at Twickenham in our last game of the season is a really nice reward for how good the players have been this season and how special this group is.
“This is a really special group of players. Our focus was the league, but now we have our eye on the double as well – and why wouldn’t we?
“We will be going into that Twickenham final with loads of confidence.
“Playing at Twickenham is just immense. For every grassroots player it is just such an incentive.”
She added: “Last weekend, everything just clicked and we put in a really good performance. I think it was one of our best performances of the season, to be honest.
“They were a tough Guildford side. That was the third time we had played them in the season, and the other results had been much closer than they were last weekend.
“I think the unbeaten run for us is just giving us a real confidence in the way we are playing.
“We really want to go unbeaten all season now.”
Ivybridge should have been hosting Oxford Harlequins this weekend in the penultimate league game, but their visitors, who sit bottom, have handed them a walkover.
It means only Cullompton now stand in their way of finishing their league campaign with a 100 per cent record. They will visit their Devon rivals on May 3.
Gulliver admits the club are already planning for life in Championship One, which is the second tier of women’s rugby, which currently features the likes Richmond, Bath and London Irish.
“We have already started,” she said.
“Kelly Taylor played against Launceston and came off the bench against Guildford last weekend. She’s our key marquee signing for next season. She’s an ex-Gloucester and England player who can play full-back or wing.
“Her baby has just turned one, so she feels ready to get her boots back on.
“To get a few games out of her at the end of this season is a real bonus for us. She’s been a massive boost to our squad. The girls just love the quality that she brings.
“We are already speaking to a few players about next season and the prospect of Champ rugby, which is exciting.
“It will be a level up and a new challenge. However, I plan to keep the same squad that I’ve got, but your squad never fully stays the same as people come and go. But I do stand by the players and squad that I have got. All I am doing is looking to bolster and just bring in a little bit more quality.”
She added: “Financially it will be pretty tough (going up), but we are working hard on finding sponsorship.
“We have some exciting things in the pipeline, but we are still looking for new sponsors as travel costs will go up and we are looking to implement an exciting strength and conditioning package for the players as we feel that has been the reason behind our success this season.”