RUGBY and East Warwickshire Hockey Club’s Ladies’ 1st XI have been promoted to England Hockey’s National League.
The promotion marks the first time any team has reached the prestigious level in the club’s history.
And the Ladies secured their place in the National League with a dominant 3-1 victory against promotion rivals Matlock Baileans in a winner takes all clash.
Despite trailing the Derbyshire side by 12 points at Christmas, REWHC embarked on a 10-match winning sequence to close the gap to two points heading into the final fixture.
And after an early penalty stroke settled any nerves, REWHC controlled the match to clinch the Midlands Premier Division title.
This continues the remarkable rise of the club who have achieved five promotions in just seven full seasons with captain Belinda Stephens, Nicki Siarbawa, Sarah Naylor, Emma Olifent, Charlie Woolliscroft and Katie Woolliscroft playing in all five.
The club are coached by Sue Sutton with five more members of the squad aged 16 to 21 and have all been developed through the club’s outstanding Junior Programme.
Next season, REWHC will compete in the Midlands Conference and take on opponents including Loughborough Students, Oxford University and Olton and West Warwickshire.
