By Art de Roche
Valkyries Director of Rugby Roy Davies has praised his players for securing a landmark first-ever Tyrrells Premier 15s victory.
Valkyries returned from Blundellsands with a 27-19 bonus point win over Firwood Waterloo on Saturday, which was reward for their hard work after some improved performances in defeat this season.
“We’re delighted to get our first win. It feels like it’s been a long time coming but the girls really deserved it,” Davies said.
“They fronted up and all bought in. Their togetherness was excellent and I’m extremely proud of them.
“It was a great performance which is the main thing which led the victory.”
The win came after a break of almost two months from league action during which Valkyries captain Lark Davies became a Grand Slam winner with England.
While Davies was away the remaining Valkyries players worked hard in training at Sixways to prepare for the trip to Waterloo and this Saturday’s final match of the season against Darlington Mowden Park at Sixways (kick-off 3.00pm).
“We spent a lot of the last five to six weeks looking to bring the group together and give them structural reference points going into games,” Davies said.
“That’s worked very well and, credit to them, because it’s one thing telling the group what to do but them actually doing it is another thing.
“The way we delivered on those things really impressed me. It’s easy to get lost in the game and go off task but they stuck to the plan.”
Valkyries had come close to tasting victory in the Premier 15s before with a 12-12 draw away at Waterloo last season and losing by just one point to them at Sixways this early season.
“The win will be massive. Going the period of time we went without a result kills self-belief and performance,” Davies said.
“But now we know that we can win a Tyrrells Premier 15s game and that’ll give us the belief to go on and win more.”