Doncaster Demons firmly in promotion contention after third straight win

The ladies team have won nine of their 10 league matches this term to top the Women's National Challenge 2 North East.

They currently enjoy a 15-point gap between themselves and Hull Ionian Women in second, though their Yorkshire rivals are unbeaten with seven wins from seven and have three games in hand.

Each season just one team is promoted from the regionalised league, which represents the fifth tier of women’s rugby union in England, but clubs can also apply for promotion.

"I’m quietly confident,” said Demons manager and occasional player Gemma French.

"Hopefully we will be on the up.”

Doncaster were narrowly beaten 7-5 by Hull when the two sides met before Christmas, meaning the return fixture on Sunday, 12 March could be a title decider.

The Demons quickly put the disappointment of their sole league defeat behind them and have since won three games on the bounce.

They beat then second-placed Scunthorpe 22-10 in their first game of 2023 before demolishing bottom side York 49-0 and dispatching Yarnbury 36-14 in their last match.

Gemma said: "We have been really critical of ourselves in the last three games. We haven’t played our best but we are really confident that once we do get back to it those wins will become a lot easier.”

The Demons host second-bottom Harrogate at Castle Park on Sunday (kick-off 2.15pm).

Fancy getting involved?

Established in 2003, Doncaster Demons currently have more than 40 players on their books.

The club is always open to welcoming new players with training held every Wednesday from 7pm to 8.30pm at Castle Park.

Gemma said: “I can’t shout about rugby enough. Most people think it’s typically aimed at a niche group of people but it’s not. We have got people from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, and rugby is a place for all of them.

"Most people that give it a try fall in love with it. I’ve heard ‘I wish I had done this sooner’ so much.”