A LANDMARK occasion for the women's section at Basingstoke RFC came with a first-ever national league game for the under-17s.

Such has been the growth over the past two seasons, particularly among younger girls taking up the sport, that the Swifts have entered the RFUW national league.

With vital sponsorship funding from Alberto Culver, the 'Stoke teenagers were able to play and defeat Burgess Hill, from Surrey, at Down Grange.

Team manager Annie Touhy said: "It was a very proud day for all the girls to represent Basingstoke in the national league for the first time.

"We have been running the girls' under-17s side for two seasons now, although this is our first year in the league set-up.

"We were really pleased to win the first game and the rest of the season is something we're all looking forward to."

Like the Sirens, the senior women's team, the Swifts have benefited from the work of 'Stoke community rugby coach Ollie Rogers and his initiatives in local schools to get more girls playing rugby in and out of curriculum time.

Aided by Sirens captain Sarah Paddon, a PE teacher at Brighton Hill Community College, Rogers has set up Friday afternoon coaching for schoolgirls to continue their improvement.

Talking about the side, Touhy said: "Although there are many stars in the team - seven of them made it to the Hampshire county squad and last year we had three of them playing for the south-east regional side - the camaraderie is excellent."

Touhy, herself a Siren, added: "Alicia Galway, our No 12, and Lissy Richards, our No 7, are the two stalwart members of the team. Both have been with us for a number of years now.

"They have come on in leaps and bounds since playing with the Swifts, and I see a big future in women's rugby for both of them.

"But playing in the national league is going to help all of the girls develop, which is great for them and the club."