The famous Calcutta Cup was in town recently to help East Kilbride Rugby Club celebrate their Women’s Festival at Torrance House.
Almost 300 female players from across the central belt descended on the ground within Calderglen Country Park for an action-packed day of matches for youth teams and the senior women on May 29.
And those fortunate to take part were even able to get their hands on the Calcutta Cup, which is contested by Scotland and England during the Six Nations each year. The trophy is currently held by the Scots after back-to-back successes over the Auld Enemy in 2021 and 2022.
It was a day of firsts for EKRFC as they fielded their first ever U12 team, made up from girls who have been playing mini-rugby, and they performed fantastically to come in second in their event.
But the big occasion for East Kilbride was the fielding of their first women’s team since 1996.
EK played against Uddingston, Clydebank/Paisley and Irvine and we went on to win the “Because of Her” trophy, which is was dedicated to the memory of Marianne Strokosch, who passed away five years ago and played in the original women’s team.
She is the sister of former Scotland international Alasdair and their dad Alex presented the trophy to the winning East Kilbride team.
Elsewhere on the day, the club’s U14 girls won Pool 2 of the competition against some stiff opposition, while the U16 girls teamed up with Annan to play against the strong teams of Biggar and Dumfries.
The U18 teamed up with five other clubs to play against each other and had a good run out, as Biggar ran out winners.
EKRFC women’s section coach Elaine Martin said: “We would like to thank everybody who came to the event, the teams who turned up and made it an amazing day, and to the sponsors who supported the event.
“I’d like to thank HairPlay, Abbey Coaches, St James Carpets Centre, Precision Utility Mapping, Raer Craft Spirits, Dickie & Moore, D’Lish, Bailey & Tibbs, UK Paper Rolls, RL Cars, David McCann Tyres, Tuck Shakk, Direct Automation, Kelvin Auto Services, Lime Deli, Claymore Trophies, Sports Life Work and Finsbury Food Group for their support.”
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