HISTORY was made when Colchester’s first women’s touch rugby team – organised by Clacton’s Nikki Light and featuring other coastal players – took to the field against the Billericay Bees.

It was the Boudicca Belles first-ever competitive match and took place at Colchester Rugby Club, on Sunday.

The team, who train once a week and are coached by Paul Mills, demonstrated their skills with a good win against willing, competitive opponents.

They ran in ten tries to Billericay’s one.

The game was played over four ten-minute periods to allow regular player rotation and coaching opportunities.

The opening stages were tight and tense, as both sides got used to the occasion and each other.

The first try came from club organiser Light, who intercepted a loose pass and raced away from halfway to score.

This seemed to settle the home side and, from this point, they had much the better of things.

Showing good structure and organisation in defence, they limited Billericay’s threat, while creating regular scoring opportunities of their own.

As the game progressed, the hosts utilised the width of the pitch to good effect and, with quick ball movement, created space on the outside to give the home wide players some good ball to run with.

They scored a further nine tries throughout the game, with their scorers being Sian Smith (two), Rosie Mankee, Sian Fahie, Beth Blacklock (two), Laura Parker, Kay Blackman and Christina D’Andrea.

To their great credit, Billericay remained competitive throughout and the away side scored a consolation close to the end.

Boudicca Belles squad: Nikki Light, Rosie Mankee, Beckie Hare, Sian Smith, Christina D'Andrea, Frances Davies, Lorraine Boggis, Laura Parker, Kellie Dove, Jade Seal, Sian Fahie, Helena Butcher, Phoebe Stringer, Kay Blackman, Sally Wai, Beth Blacklock and Tracey Seal.

The team are always on the lookout for new players and anyone interested can e-mail Light via nikki.light7@gmail.com