Summer Touch Rugby - starts 15th May

For the 3rd year, we will soon welcome back our Summer Touch Rugby competition. Registration and practice night is 15th May at 7pm with the league beginning on 22nd May.
Time to get your team together - team mates, friends, family, and work colleagues - all are welcome!
We would also love to hear from volunteer organisers or referees.
For further info see our Summer Touch Rugby website section.

Worthing Ladies 53 - 0 Beccehamians Ladies

Worthing Ladies Rugby team took to the field at the weekend to play their last home league game of the season. Enjoying some sunnier weather, the ladies were looking to secure another win and their final position in the top 3 of the table.

The first half demonstrated the home side at the peak of their season. From the onset the Worthing forwards, lead by Number 8 Lindsey Van Buiten, rucked and mauled with skill and aggression turning over numerous balls. Quick hands from scrum-half Kelly Marchi also enabled the backs to showcase their pace and full-back Jo Wakeford began the scoring spree with the first of what would become her hat-trick of tries.
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Congratulations to the Thompsons!

Matt and Ali Thompson are proud to announce the arrival of baby Hannah Louise over Easter weekend, weighing in at 7lb 1oz.

Matt (Senior 2's Captain) and Ali (Ladies Team Manager) are very active volunteers within the club, and we wish them all the best.

We hear Matt's weekend was topped off with the Senior 2's winning their league and promotion - well done!

Worthing Ladies 22 - Aylesford Ladies II's 0

Lorraine O'Connor kicks off for Worthing Ladies

Worthing Ladies welcomed Aylesford Ladies 2’s to Roundstone Lane at the weekend on the return league fixture. Worthing had clocked up their biggest league win on record away to Aylesford earlier in the season.

The home side kicked off with confidence and immediately pressurised the Aylesford attack through second row duo Symmie Tyson and Joe Curtis, forcing errors and turning over the ball. The first points came from a well worked backs move enabling full-back Jo Wakeford to score.
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King of dance Ashley Banjo brings street dancing to Worthing Rugby Club

Worthing ladies with Diversity's Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely

Worthing Rugby Club’s Ladies Team swapped their rugby boots for dance shoes recently as they took part in Sky 1’s Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew.

The group of five, which included Chairman of Ladies Rugby Alice Hayes, and Ladies Captain Jess Lovenbury, secretly learned a street dance routine choreographed by Diversity’s dance superstar Ashley Banjo.

Keeping rehearsals secret from the rest of the team, family and friends, the group took their sporting competitiveness and teamwork off the pitch and into the dance studios to begin a journey full of ups and downs!

Ladies group member Pip Bryant said “The whole experience was tough but also great fun. It pushed us physically and mentally as individuals, as well as testing our strength as a team. Working with Ashley and Diversity was amazing, and we couldn’t wait to deliver our surprise performance to all our friends and family”.

The Ladies and Girls sections at Worthing Rugby Club are thriving, with the players proud of being a friendly and social side, while playing competitive rugby across Sussex and Kent. The teams welcome new players throughout the season and encourage ladies and girls of all ages, levels of fitness and experience to come and try rugby.

The ladies episode of Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew will be aired on Sunday 24th March at 7pm on Sky 1.

Worthing Ladies 10 – Medway Ladies 12

Worthing Ladies took to the field last weekend for their first home league game of the new year, in a top two clash against Kent rivals Medway. After suffering a hefty defeat away to the Kent league-leaders at the start of the season, a much improved Worthing side had something to prove.

The conditions were atrocious, and the game looked set to be a bar-of-soap free-for-all from kick off. Worthing were pinned in their own twenty-two for much of the first half, with their defence being thoroughly tested by relentless forwards runs by Medway. Eventually the away side went over the line, going 5-0 up. And despite a few attacking runs from Worthing number 8 Marnie James and Centre Kelly Marchi, the score remained until half time.

A few shivering but inspiring words from Worthing skipper Jess Lovenbury, gave the home side the boost they needed to make a high impact return to the field for the second half. The back-row combo of Lovenbury, James and Van Buiten pushed Worthing far into their opposition’s half. Finally, Worthing got the ball wide and enabled Lauren Sandford to exercise her strength on the wing to bring the score even to 5-5.

Worthing were again next to score, with Fly-half Lorraine O’Connor setting up centre Rebecca Lovenbury to burst through the Medway line to put the home team 10-5 up. With just 5 minutes to go, Worthing were in the lead, 5 points ahead of the league-leaders.

A thrilling final 5 followed. Medway caught Worthing unaware, and found a gap in their defence. With a penalty awarded to the visitors just a few metres from the line, inevitably the forwards powered over to score. Also converting, Medway took the lead 10-12. A valiant final few plays from Worthing took them right within scoring distance but unable to find another try, the final score remained 10-12.

Ladies Coach Andy Duckworth said “I am extremely proud of the performance from the ladies today, and the team showed an obvious improvement from the previous fixture that Medway just weren’t expecting.”

The team always welcome new players, please see the Ladies Contacts section to get in touch!

Aylesford Ladies 12 v 43 Worthing Ladies

Worthing Ladies team

Worthing Ladies Rugby travelled to Aylesford at the weekend to play their third away fixture of the season. Worthing kicked off with venom, and immediately made ground up the left wing allowing centre Rebecca Lovenbury to score the first try of the game. Rachael Ferris converted, making the score 7-0 within the first 5 minutes.

With spirits high, it wasn’t long before Worthing breached Aylesford’s wing again as Saz Longhurst went over. However, the home side quickly retaliated, putting a converted try on the board, 12-7. more...

Worthing Ladies 26 – Old Caterhamians Ladies 15

Worthing Ladies took to the field last Sunday for their second home league game of the season. Worthing were desperate to show improvements after a disappointing 34-5 loss away to Kent rivals Medway last week.
Fired up by Captain Jess Lovenbury the home side started with passion and were quick to push into their opponents half. A quick pick at the base of the scrum from Number 8 Alice Hayes was shipped out to the wing by Scrummy Jo Baldwin, allowing Jo Wakeford to use her pace to put Worthing 5-0 ahead.
Old Caterhamians were quick to respond. And although they’ve been unable to field a team this season until this game, they showed some great handling in the backs to outwit the Worthing defence and draw level on 5-5.
Some tough words from Lovenbury re-focussed Worthing. And some relentless rucking from forwards Pip Bryant and Gemma Morgan, Worthing began to open up space. A crash ball through the back line from Centre Bex Lovenbury put her over the line. Converted by Rachael Ferris, the half time score was 12-5.
The second half was a great display from Worthing, both of how their dedication to fitness training is paying off, but also how well the team can work together. A strong attack, led by Fly Half Lindsey Van Buiten picked holes in the Old Cats defence getting the ball wide to debutant Winger Chloe Braybrook, who’s incredible acceleration left the opposition standing as she sprinted 50 metres to cross the line. Worthing’s final try came from Lovenbury, leading by example as she too blasted through the Old Cats back line. A further two conversions from Ferris put Worthing 26-5 ahead.
The last ten minutes was a reminder to Worthing not to sit back and think the game is won. Two tries came from Old Cats in close succession. However, the Worthing defence held strong and worked hard to retain the win. Final score 26-15.
Ladies Head Coach Andy Duckworth said “This was an awesome result from a fabulous team effort. The ladies have worked hard this season, and those efforts paid off today.”
Worthing Ladies are still actively recruiting new players. For further information and contacts please visit www.worthingrfc.com

Worthing Ladies 25 St Francis Ladies 17

Worthing Ladies Rugby kicked off their first home game of the season at the weekend playing newly promoted St Francis Ladies in front of a large home crowd. The team, with new Head Coach Andy Duckworth, have been training hard and were determined to improve after last week’s away defeat to Dover.
Worthing began fiercely from kick off with some notable runs from Prop Pip Bryant and Flanker Steph Dewar. An energetic attack put an early try over the line for Worthing thanks to Prop Rachael Abbott. However, St Francis came back hard finding holes in the Worthing defence. Half time score 5-10.
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WORTHING LADIES V MEDWAY - 4TH MARCH

Worthing ladies hosted Kent opponents Medway ladies on Sunday, in the return league fixture. Their last encounter saw a close fought Medway win and Worthing were keen to secure another league victory.

Medway kicked off and from the start Worthing held possession. The back row combination of Alice Hayes, Marnie James and Jess Lovenbury continued to ensure safe rucking and Worthing played in their opponents half for the first 20 minutes. But as hands became colder and muddier a loss of possession gave Medway a chance to score, putting the score at 0-5 at half time.

In the second half Worthing began to really dominate but Medway's strong defence meant that Worthing failed to find the opportunities to put points on the board. A strong run down the wing gave Medway another try, to make it 0-10 with less that a quarter to go.
Worthing kept their composure and with 3 consecutive penalties given their way, Marnie James powered through to score for her home team. Uncoverted, the score stood at 5-10

A final flurry of sleet and exciting rugby almost enabled Worthing to get through again. An impressive try-saving tackle by Worthing full-back Jo Wakeford kept the final score 5-10. Worthing Captain Rachael Abbott said "we played some excellent rugby against the league-leaders and were very close to scoring on several occasions. It was a tough game but we grow in confidence every match."

Worthing Ladies next league fixture is away at Lewes, 18 March.