Wensleydale Heifers WRUFC

16/06/2026

We had the pleasure of welcoming Rishi to the club to present the Heifers with their Plate trophy! What a fabulous evening it was 🏉🏆 From trophy presentations to questionable conversations… what do you think was said in the last photo? 😅🏉🏆

30/05/2026

✨Presentation Awards Night was a fantastic evening enjoyed by all, celebrating the success of the season and recognising the players who truly stood out throughout 2025/2026.✨

Choosing award winners was no easy task, as every single player gave absolutely everything this season. The commitment, effort and growth shown across the squad made decisions incredibly difficult, but these individuals really shone and fully deserved their recognition.

🏆First up, our Players’ Player award went to Katie Oliver, also known as our “hybrid” player. Whether she’s playing 13, 10, or probably anywhere else on the pitch if needed, Katie always delivers. After spending a large part of the season at 12 + 13, she stepped into the 10 shirt for a good third of the season whilst our usual fly-half was injured, absolutely smashing it week in and week out. A player every team wishes they had!

🏆Next, our Coaches’ Player award was deservedly awarded to Steph Bradley. Steph has led the pack to an incredibly high standard all season, whilst constantly encouraging and supporting players both on and off the pitch. Well done Stephy!

🏆Our captain Abbie chose Grace as this season’s Captain’s Player. Better known as “G Dog,” Grace brings the perfect balance of chilled energy and enthusiasm to the squad. Her positive attitude is infectious, and she’s someone every team needs around. Never change, G!

🏆Most Improved Player went to Josie Bennett. Although Josie joined the Heifers not too long ago, you’d honestly think she’d been playing with us for years. Her development this season has been incredible to watch, and the skill, determination and happiness she brings to the squad make her a huge asset to the team.

🏆Our Best Newcomer award went to Helen! Whilst Helen may be new to the Heifers, she’s certainly not new to rugby. From her calm and positive attitude off the pitch to transforming into “Dr Destroyer” on it, crashing through defensive lines and making huge metres, Helen has fitted into the squad perfectly. A very well deserved award!

🏆Last but definitely not least, our Top Try Scorer award went to Mary Stones. Mary’s questionable ballet-twirling side steps somehow continue to send defenders the wrong way, resulting in try after try this season. A complete menace on the pitch but always bringing great spirit and energy off it too. Keep going Maz, we’re all proud of you!

🍾To wrap up the evening, we just want to say how proud everyone is of what this Heifers squad has achieved this season. Not only are we continuing to grow as a rugby team, but also as a family🍾

Roll on the 2026/2027 season… BRING IT ON 💪🖤💛

28/05/2026

🏉 WENSLEYDALE HEIFERS ARE RECRUITING A HEAD COACH 🖤💛

The Heifers are looking for a passionate and committed Head Coach to lead our fantastic women’s team competing in NC2 League rugby.

We’re a welcoming and ambitious group made up of players of all abilities, with a brilliant team spirit both on and off the pitch. 💪

📍 Tuesday & Thursday training sessions
📍 Commitment to Sunday game days required
📍 Coaching experience preferred or a strong knowledge of the game

If you’re looking to be part of a growing club with a great atmosphere and exciting future, we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Contact the club at: [email protected]

Please share to help us find the right person for the role! 🏉

20/05/2026

🏆 WOMENS JUNIOR PLATE FINAL CHAMPIONS 🏆

What a day in Coventry.
A performance full of heart, grit, passion and pure determination from every single player on that pitch. From the first whistle to the last, the girls gave absolutely everything and came away with a HUGE 29-15 win over Cheshunt RFC 💛🖤

This team has worked tirelessly all season — through tough training sessions, bruises, setbacks, long journeys and countless memories — and it all paid off. To lift that plate together is something nobody will ever forget.

So proud of every player, coach, volunteer and supporter who’s been part of this journey. The atmosphere, the energy and the fight shown out there was unbelievable.

29-15. Champions. 🏅🏉

💛🖤

Match Report 👇

Wensleydale Heifers make history in National Rugby final.
The Heifers made the long trip to Coventry to contests the final o the NC Junior Plate against Cheshunt Ladies RFC.
Liv Ward got the heifersoff to a great start with a try on 3 min, making the line with a handoff Steph would have been proud of following 5 phases, which was accompanied by funk legend JamesBrown on the PA with "I feel good" This kicked Cheshunt into action and they responded on 6 mins following some indecision in the Dale defence.Cheshunt then got into gear and put Dale under alot of pressure, and had one attemp held up, but they eventually scored again on 30min following series of good flowing moves. The Dale support could sense the danger so decided to deploy their version of the Lavian entry of the Eurovision song contest and took off their shirts and sang a version "Free from desire". This spurred Dake into clearing their line when Katie O kick over the top for Mary to run onto, but unfortunately the ref thought she was a bit high and promptly binned her for the next 10 mins. Halftime arrived with the Heifer trailing 10 7. In truth Cheshunt played the better rugby but didn t take thier chances.
The second half started the same with Dale needing to clear their lines on a coupke of occaions, and had to rely on a coupke of trade mark Abbie B,s lioness tackles to keep Dale in the game. Things started to turn on 50mins following some good work by Dale clearing Cheshunt out of the way, assisted by the ref who sent them back a further 19 yard for dissent. The Latvian choir continued to make a noise with Ewan Haigh impersonating Freddie Mercuy (badly) and the Heifers respinded with a great move through the hands which Katie O finished well on 60 mins. This proved pivotal and spurred Dale into their best spell of the game. With more confidence Dale passed the ball well and released Steph to score 2 mins later. with twirly whirky Mary back on the pitch she capitalised on a Cheshunt mistake to put dale further in front, which made funk legend James Brown "Feel really good". Cheshunt weren,t done though and hit back with another try to make the final minutes a nervy affair. Dale put the contest to bed straight from the kick off following a scrum and lovely passing move which ended with Twirly Whirly Mary handing off a couple of Cheshunt players to cross the line. Final Score 15 - 29 to the Heifers who deserved to win in the end but were made to fight for it all the way by Cheshunt. After the game the teams exchanged plaque to mark the occassion and had the traditional downing of pints for the players of the match, which Mary is still finishing.

19/05/2026

Congratulations to the Wensleydale Heifers WRUFC on their fabulous victory over Cheshunt in the National Junior Plate Final in Coventry.

A fitting finale to a fabulous season!

19/05/2026

15/05/2026

Here it is… the squad heading to Coventry this weekend for the Women’s Junior Plate Final! 🏆🏉

📍 Nick Newbold Stadium, Coventry
🗓 Sunday 17th May
⏰ 10:00 KO

It’s set to be a fantastic day of rugby, with a supporters’ bus heading down in the early hours to cheer on the Heifers as they walk onto the pitch.

Good luck, Heifers — bring that plate home! 💛🖤

29/04/2026

Fantastic result for our last league game!

A real team performance from one side to the other! And thank you Darlington for travelling and finishing the season on high spirit!

This isn’t the end of season as we have our junior players final on the 17th of May! 🤩
Check our previous post about supporters buses! Let’s get the support down for the heifers and cheer on the sideline!



Match Report 👇

Dale hosted Darlington in their final league game of the season and ran out comfortable winners 84 -5. Dale approached the game with the right attitude and were in no mood to play it east with Coventry looming and played some excellent rugby throughout. That intensity had Darlo running out of substitutes at one stage as they struggled to cope with the tough tackling Heifers, and had regular visits by their physio. Mary opened the scoring on 6 minutes with a typical catch and dash from a Darlo kick, this was followed up 2 minutes later when French Em was set up by Mary, and she sprinted to the line with gaelic flare. On 12 minutes Dale scored what could be their best try of the season, when they moved the ball across the whole pitch with some style using 6-8 different player to set up Sophie on the wing to finish the move. Helen then poached another try from a Darlo mistake. Steph was getting bored playing full back at this point and on 17mins decided to venture forward, and following a neat move, Kim decided to show off her circus skills (no not the trapeze) and juggled the ball to the delight of the crowd and somehow got it to Steph, who then ran free of the Darlo defence to score. Mary Chipped in again with a trademark solo run on 22min before Emmee capitalised from some good forward play to jink her way through the Darlo defence, which was all the more impressive considering the hangover she had. Josie scored on 32 mins with another good move, and the half was rounded off by Steph (who had vacated full back duties again), following some good passing between Katie and Liv. 53-0 had the digital score board officials thinking about the prospect of The Heifers going over 100 points for a second time and wondering where the chair and stick were kept to prop up the “1”. Emmee took sick leave from the half time huddle to offload last nights kebab, much to the amusement of the sidelines.
With the Heifers making a few changes throughout the game the second half started with Darlo coming back into the game and they were rewarded with a try on 48 minutes after some good pressure, which they drove over the line. The Heifers lost their way for a few minutes and revert to individual breaks rather than using the whole pitch and all the players which work effectively in the first half, but they did piece together another good move which Steph finished off. Emmee got back on the score sheet with some very quick thinking when Darlo stopped playing, thinking the Referee was going to blow (or reveal some more intimate tattoo’s), and darted through the defence before they realised. Steph scored again following good work from Gabby, which Mary and Liv capitalised upon and found Steph AWOL again, but she finished well. The game allowed the Heifers to try out a number of moves in preparation for Coventry, and on 75 minutes Mary tried a kick and run, which worked well, but she was beaten to the ball by Katie, who charged off to cross the line. Mary did score again right on the final whistle, but rather than convert her own try, Kim “juggles” Duke stepped up to take the kick. Unfortunately her circus skills training didn’t cover kicking things.
Emmee and French Em excelled after the game with the boat race, with Emmee almost finishing her pint before disappearing around the side of the club house to finish off loading her kebab, and French Em taking two gulps before deciding Theaktons Best Bitter is better than L’oreal Professional for hair care.
The Heifers now head to Coventry for their Junior Plate final against Cheshunt where they’ll need to reproduce the flowing moves and variation in play which worked so well today. Up The Heifers !!