On Saturday 16th June the Southampton Ladies hosted their 3rd ladies 7s tournament, hoping to raise a large amount of money for Southampton Hospital Charity's Red & White Appeal.

The event is organised annually to raise funds for local charities. This year the team chose the Red & White Appeal, a project which aims to build a specialist day treatment unit at Southampton General Hospital for patients coming from across the region to receive treatment for leukaemia and other life threatening disorders.

With a red and white theme, in keeping with the clubs colours & charity, spectators were asked to also come dressed in red and white to help support the day.

Matches kicked off at 12pm with 10 ladies' teams will competing for the shield. Right from the start, spectators were treated to some first class rugby, with all teams playing their socks off! Standing out from an early stage in pool A was Moseley RFC, a championship 15s side, proving their skills on a 7s pitch. Whilst in pool B Maidenhead took the lead. Other teams taking part included; Southampton, Newbury, Tottonians, Fordingbridge, Surrey Tornados, Portsmouth, Havant and Kilburn Kosmos. The final was a tougher match than the scoreline indicated with Moseley beating Maidenhead 39-0, whilst hosts Southampton took the plate beating Newbury in a very close match; 5-0!

The day was enjoyed immensley by all, despite a period of drizzly weather later in the afternoon and many teams stayed on for the evening raffle and games, helping to raise even more money for the charity. The total raised was an impressive £1,240.83, certainly smashing the target amount of £1,000!

Now the team is taking some well deserved rest before preparing themselves for next year's event, in which they hope to have 15 teams competing! Watch this space!

If YOU would like to get involved with the ladies team - please contact Kirsty on 07882 121503 or email southamptonladiesrugby@gmail.com
Any level of experience welcomed!