Rugby is back at Old Deer Park with a weekend packed with rugby in TW9. It was a strong weekend for London Welsh as a club and the women’s team finished it off with another win to the club's winning weekend!

It was an overcast match with rain scheduled to start at kick-off off but it held off. A strong warm-up set the tone for the day of bringing together new players, returners and the London Welsh legend that is Paula ‘Coops’ Coopers’ 300th Cap for the club.

This was going to be an epic showdown having beat us last season. This Welsh squad was ready to face this new season with a bang.

Kick-off at 2:30 started with Welsh kicking south away from the pagoda. Coops leading this kick-off for her 300th cap was a fitting start to this game. Chobham caught the ball with Welsh quickly regaining possession and setting up the attack. Quick passes and offloads lead to a try by Rhi Ellis!

At 14 minutes in Welsh are 15 points up with tries from Alice and Bianca coming on the wing from some great offloads and line breaks.

3 minutes later and another 5 points from Isabel.

Chobham Women are really feeling the Welsh dragon burn as try after try is going past their defence. Chobham are also facing a newer team having been regulated to NC2 along with Welsh last season. However where Welsh took this as an opportunity to rebuild and grow stronger Chobham have had a big player turn over.

This can be seen really clearly when after the  2nd scrum the rest of the game went uncontested. The forwards of London Welsh women are a force of nature and this change was now to Welsh’s disadvantage as the possession couldn’t be won back.

Despite that and going down to 12 players by the end of the second half to match Chobham’s numbers which is a rule in NC2 another 2 tries were scored. Another try for Alice the Vice Captain and Isabel!

The end of the first half signalled a much needed water break and regroup due to so having to match the dwindling numbers of the Chobham women. This stop start play resulted in the first half being 60 minutes long 30-0!

Into the second half and 90 seconds after the whistle another try for Welsh from Kat making it 35-0. Another reduction in numbers make it down to 10 for Chobham which Welsh had to match. A real testament to the fitness and cohesiveness that was emphasised in pre-season training that even when down 5 players and getting closer to a 7s game the team stayed strong in defence and made gains in attack.

After around 10 minutes of first half play the game was abandoned by Chobham Women. Final score 35-0!

What a mentally challenging game for Welsh having to change their game plan and structure in the fly time and time again. However this is nothing the experience and feisty Welsh team can’t do. Especially with London Welsh Legend Coops finishing her 300th game on a win. A true game maker in the backs and a leader on and off the pitch.

The celebrations for an outstanding win and Coops’ 300th cap went into the night with port being passed around the changing room. Bring on the next game!!