page revision date : Sunday 28th june 2009
Sara starts to catch the
eye in ladies’ rugby
When Whitland Ladies RFC team manager Sue Davies announced the winners of the awards at Whitland’s recent annual dinner there was no more surprised or delighted recipient than Sara Davies because the 17 year old who plays at hooker has only been with the club for a season.
First Sue announced Sara as the ‘Most Promising Forward’ and no sooner had Sara sat down than she was being recalled to her since she had doubled up as ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ which many regard as the ultimate compliment since it is recognition from one’s colleagues. Sue had this to say about Sara’s involvement during the season:
“She has been a breath of fresh air with her willingness to train hard and learn from good advice, We have seen her develop into a very strong front row player and I would expect her to go on to higher things if she can retain her current level of enthusiasm and commitment. I am sure the Welsh selectors know she is about and I hope that recognition will come next season.”
High praise indeed for Sara from a lady who knows her rugby onions!
Bitten by the ladies’ rugby bug
Sara used to swim for a couple of years when she was younger but got bitten by the ladies’ rugby bug when a friend in school named Jacqueline Morgan told her about taking part with the under 17 team at Carmarthen Quins. Sara went along, tried a few positions before settling into the hooker’s role – and has been involved ever since. The team did quite well there and Sara was delighted to win the ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ award with them too. She still helps out with the under 18 team – but it is at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn that she has found her real niche after another stalwart player in Victoria Owens asked her to join and Sue Davies bumped into Sara’s mother, Jane Kimpton, and asked her to persuade Sara to join them at senior level.
Sara hasn’t looked back
Sara joined the Borderers’ Ladies last season and has never looked back since, with her two awards at the dinner as the icing on the cake since she has also started playing for the Scarlets Ladies at under 18 and has already played for them at Carmarthen Park, Cardiff and Whitland, where she was amazed at the large crowd from the town who turned out on a Sunday afternoon to cheer her on.
She is full of praise for the coaching provided by Meinir Walsh, Andy Webster and Graham Williams, having recently improved her leg and body placement in scrums and already worked having worked at her throwing in at the lineout and tackling. She is rightly regarded a strong tackler and readily admits that snatching a strike against the head in set scrums is something that builds her confidence
Sara is regarded by Sue Davies as a good trainer who rarely misses the Tuesday evening training sessions and who doubles up with Wednesday evening sessions on the pitch with Carmarthen Under 18s. Ask her about her ambitions and Sara would readily admit that she still needs to work at her fitness and will then hopefully find a place in the Welsh Under 18s Girls’ squad.
It is an ambition that Sue Davies readily believes is within Sara’s grasp and she has every encouragement from mum Jane and dad Roy Davies, both of whom are eager to do well. So are the rest of the Whitland Ladies’ team, coaches and club supporters because Sara Davies is a modest and unassuming young lady who is a credit to Whitland RFC, but on the pitch she gives100% commitment to the Borderers’ cause and is really appreciated for that very fact!
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