Venus announce new sponsor!

I am delighted to announce a new sponsor for the Venus team.

The Canary Wharf Group has supported the club for a long time and now the Canary Wharf Contractors Fund is going to help the ladies team in a key period of growth. 

This is in return for having their logo printed on to the current match shirts, ready for next season, and to have their logo on the Venus section of the website.

Scott and I went to collect the cheque at a special presentation in Canary Wharf Group's One Canada Square offices on Tuesday evening.

Cormac MacCrann of the Canary Wharf Contractors Fund (also pictured) said “Canary Wharf Contractors Fund is delighted to add Millwall Ladies to the wide range of local sports clubs which, along with Canary Wharf Group, it supports. Millwall Rugby Club already does great work in Tower Hamlets and beyond by providing sports opportunities for local people and the developing Ladies team will significantly enhance their profile in the community. We wish the Ladies team every success in the coming season.”

Canary Wharf Contractors Fund (CWCF) is a charity established by Canary Wharf Contractors (CWC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Canary Wharf Group Plc, in 2001. CWCF  is administered by representatives of CWC and its supply chain and together it raises funds to support local and national causes with particular emphasis on children, the local community, sport and the construction industry.

If you know of any business that you think could sponsor another area of the club, please let me know.

Sophie Morris

Development Officer & Press Officer

Millwall Rugby Club

sophiemorris@millwallrugby.com

Venus dominate the sports pages!

Millwall Venus were dominating the sports pages this week for being shortlisted at the Canary Wharf Sports Awards and for their win over LSE at the weekend.

Sophie Morris

Development Officer & Press Officer

Millwall Rugby Club

sophiemorris@millwallrugby.com

Canary Wharf Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2012

Millwall Venus were shortlisted for Senior Team of the Year award at the Canary Wharf Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2012, held last Thursday evening, 31st January.

The main award went to a futsal team (who have been national champions for the last five years) but Venus were presented with a trophy for their outstanding achievements in rugby. 

Their presence at the awards evening itself attracted the attention of some potential new players, including Baroness Oona King, who was the Special Guest of the evening. 

Her interest in the Venus team was surprising given that the Women's Chair, Caroline Dieleman, made her think we were a wheelchair rugby team by saying she wasn't able to stand (she's currently on crutches) when taking the microphone in a Question and Answer session with the Baroness! The audience were a little shocked when the otherwise able-bodied team walked (not wheeled) up on stage to collect their trophy. 

The team's nomination and being shortlisted for the award was a well deserved acknowledgement of the dedication and hard work put in by all the players, management, volunteers and coaching staff who turn up every week and have helped to get the Venus team into an established league for the first time in their history. Congratulations!

(Left to right) Scott Vinnicombe, Kiki Oyemhen, Adrienne Meehan, Andrea Bielska,
Ellaine Gelman, Johanna Sicler, Louise Norris, Caroline Dieleman, Sophie Morris,
Edna Schweizer, Tim McDonagh and Kirstie Hargreaves.

Sophie Morris
Development Officer & Press Officer
Millwall Rugby Club

sophiemorris@millwallrugby.com

Millwall vs. East London

Millwall Venus vs Kilburn

Playing at Millwall Park in the first home game of the season, each team managed ten (eventually becoming eleven) players for the Millwall Venus vs Kilburn Cosmos Ladies game. It was an open, flowing game. With strong direction from their flyhalf, Kilburn struck three times in the first half but Millwall kept at it and were unlucky not to get a breakaway try through Jen Faithfull. The first successful play came just before half time through an insightful quick tap by halfback Nandana Thomas (in just her second appearance in this position), who was able to dive over in the corner after Millwall was awarded a penalty near the 22m line.

The second half found more aggressive defence and a greater share of possession by Millwall. A brilliant try was scored from halfway by Millwall's Jen Faithfull, breaking through the midfield and having her thermal sleeve nearly torn off as she eluded the would-be tacklers. Unfortunately one try was also conceded in the second half, leaving the final score 10-22.

Special mentions went to winger Abi Denison's first appearance, Michelle Gavagan's great all around game as lock and number eight rolled into one and a triumphant return from injury by Andrea Bielska. Most importantly, these three (or their nominated replacements) absolutely smoked the MVPs from Kilburn in the clubrooms drinkoff following the match.

Millwall Venus v Old Dunstonians - Girls on top!

Venus Ladies 37-12 Old Dunstonians. With numbers fewer than expected the teams played 10's, with Michelle Gavagan nobly volunteering to be the 10th (wo)man for the opposition.

The game plan was to keep it simple, and stick to the solid drills and techniques that had been practised in training. Ruth Hartley kick started the proceedings with a try run in from the half way line, and Caroline Dieleman rounded this off with a conversion.

After a punchy start to the game the backs tore up the space, with further tries from Caroline and Michelle Ryan, who carved a sharp line through the opposition before sprinting away with the ball.

After some good defensive practice and the points gap being reduced, the backs once again made the most of opportunities presented to them by the forwards in what was a cream crackering second half with further tries from Ruth and Louise Norris.

Huge thanks go to Scott who stepped in when needed and provided the girls with a formula they can work with and improve on in future games.

The game also made the newpapers, Click here and go to page 39!

Millwall Rugby Club's First International

Millwall Rugby Club is abuzz with the announcement of their first female member selected to play at international level. Having tried rugby at school, Leigh Dargan began training with the club's women's team, Venus during the 2008/09 season. On Wednesday she was named to play for Ireland.

“She was a sprinter when she was younger so she’s a natural athlete,” said co-coach Darryl Gera, “She’s an unstoppable talent and regularly scored multiple tries for Venus.”

Dargan moved on to play second row and number 8 for Saracens. This season she joined the new Irish Exiles team where she came to the Irish coach's attention.

“Having had two kids, it helped that both Venus coaches kept telling me I could play internationally. They’re my friends and their regular encouragement helped drive me to put in the work to get here at 30,” said Dargan. “It just shows you’re never too old to try a sport.”

Venus has welcomed many beginners, with a squad including English, Welsh, French, Dutch and Polish. “They’re a very talented squad. We’re confident at least two more of them could gain international honours but they’ll have to work hard like Leigh has,” said co-coach Andrew Bates.

Millwall Rugby Club's Venus Ladies team trains every Wednesday at 7:30pm at Mudchute Farm and plays or trains on Sundays. The Club also runs non-contact touch rugby sessions on Sundays at 3pm throughout the winter.