Old Albanian Saints vs Richmond: Becci de Garston-Webb confident ahead of Twickenham final

Today, Kick-off 3pm

By Bluebell Nicholls

Richmond captain Becci de Garston-Webb says her side are ready for their Twickenham rematch with Old Albanian Saints in Sunday’s Championship Women’s Final.

This fixture, the final of the community cup for the Women’s Championship 1, represents the highest level of amateur women’s rugby in England, division two below the ring-fenced PWR.

For many it’s a high point in their sporting careers, being able to walk the hallowed halls of the institution that is the home of English rugby.

To play on the same pitch as the Red Roses, whose last outing at the same venue was their dispatching of Ireland in the Six Nations opener in front of 76,000.

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Titans

These two clubs are titans of women’s rugby.

In the semi-finals, Richmond breezed confidently past Sale FC 1861 at home 20-7.

Meanwhile Saints fought a fierce Cheltenham Tigers on the road (a match up with a chequered history itself), scoring in the final minutes to close the game 24-21.

But for many on both teams, this is a familiar experience.

Last year’s Championship Women’s final comprised the exact same match up.

Saints, having failed to beat Richmond in all the regular season, triumphed at Twickenham in a 36-19 thriller and took the title back to North-West London.

Richmond will be looking to inflict revenge and re-write this chapter of these two teams battling it out.

Key match ups

Key match ups include GB 7s and ex-Leicester Tigers Emma Mundy at fly-half for Richmond.

A clinical and precise game manager, she has been instrumental in running the Richmond backline all season.

If she is able to unlock Jamaican international wingers, Jazz Rampton and Makeda Lewis, they will cause havoc.

Makeda Lewis, interestingly, represented OA Saints in last year’s final and scored two blistering tries.

Will she prove decisive in this year’s fixture as well? Serge Betsen’s daughter, Jade Betsen starts in the row and has been a physical addition to the season.

For OA Saints, look out for their international combinations, with coach-player and ex-England international Sarah McKenna and Scotland international and Saracens‘ centre Beth Blacklock marking the midfield.

Such is the partnership between OA Saints and Saracens that eight Saracens dual-registrations representing Saints on the day, with Chloe Broom and Sydney Mead also signed for Saracens, but running out in the Richmond colours instead.

Saints have lethal finishers of their own through Shaniah Herelle and last year’s try-scoring Alex Kane.

Saints captain, Charlotte Hamlyn-Williams, will run out for her final game of rugby, and hopes to close her illustrious career with a win.

Highlight

In addition to this, both OA Saints and Richmond will also have their second teams competing in community cup finals at Allianz as well. Clearly both sides are focal points as centres for women’s rugby.

We had the opportunity to speak with Richmond captain Becci de Garston-Webb ahead of the match.

She said, despite last year’s result, Richmond were confident heading into this weekend.

“Having two teams both heading to Twickenham means that we can really challenge ourselves in our preparation,” Garston-Webb said.

“We have been working to make our technical elements, defensive pressure and communication on point to ensure we head into Sunday fully focused on our performance

“It’s finals like these and the Championship as a whole that really helps to highlight the top level of women’s community rugby.

“The quality, tactical and technical ability of championship players shows how good rugby is at this level.

“As the women’s game continues to strengthen, the Championship provides not only a high level of community rugby but a strong platform for players who may transition across to the professional level.”

Commitment and discipline

She added: “Taking the title this year would mean so much, the team have worked so hard to get here, and winning would represent the commitment and discipline that has been put into this season by everyone.

“No doubt that this season’s success is a collective effort of everyone involved.

“Credit to the coaches, medical, S&C and the rest of the support team each who have played a vital role.

“The players themselves have formed such a tight and inclusive environment which has been fundamental to this season.

“This team’s culture, along with the quality of players across the board, has set the standard and driven us to put out top level performances, ultimately winning us the Southern league and getting us where we are today.”

The Women’s Championship Final will be available to watch live via Youtube available on the England Rugby YouTube channel.

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