Hooker Tara Jones admits the Saints Women's team are in high spirits and cannot wait for derby day on Sunday as neighbours Wigan Warriors Women visit the Totally Wicked Stadium for Challenge Cup Quarter Final action.
Jones, who played her rugby at Thatto Heath before joining Saints Women is seen as one of the future stars of the game both as a player and a match official.
She officiates at Division 1 level and has also officiated in the Challenge Cup and at Wembley, but her focus on Sunday will be to help guide the Saints Women’s side to a second derby defeat of Wigan Warriors when our noisy neighbours make the short trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium for Sunday’s Challenge Cup Quarter Final tie kicking off at 12noon.
“Derby day is always something you look forward to and it is part of why you play,” said Tara. “It’s always a big game, it will be big tough and physical but we are ready for it and ready for them to come to us.
“One of our aims is to town some silverware so it makes this game even bigger. This will be one of our first opportunities to go and do that and there is a reward on the end of it. Every game is a big game, but this is a derby game and a reward at the end of it so it makes it a massive game for us.
“I think it will be very tight and another close result. Sometimes it comes down to the physicality of the game, who wants it more, the skill level, completion and just staying calm and composed and keeping to the game plan.”
Saints Women arrive into the derby in red hot form having scored over 160 points in our last two games with defeats of Wakefield and Stanningley and Jones admits the girls are feeling good and has urged fans to get down to support the girls.
“The feeling in camp is great. The girls are really, really up for it and we are ready for a squad. We know we can go and score points and put points on the board given our last few games and we have a got a good defensive record as well and we re confident as a squad.
“It’s unbelievable, the backing from the club and the fans so hopefully we can get a nice decent crowd down here for a stand alone game at the stadium – it is massive for us girls. To get fans down would be great to show what we can do.”
