Kenilworth Women have it "all to play for" as they face Novocastrians this Saturday in the opening game of their first Championship North One season.

Kenilworth, who were promoted at the end of their last campaign, have not played a competitive match since their 35-7 win over West Bridgeford back in March 2020.

And, despite the step up in quality they will face this year, the team is "excited" for the challenge this weekend's trip to Newcastle presents.

Novocastrians, who finished sixth in the shortened 2019/20 season, will be a tough first test for Kenilworth, with first team captain Becky Hill stressing the "crucial" importance of building on a strong preseason.

"A good start on the 25 [September] is crucial," she said, "but we have had some really strong performances in our pre-season games which has been great for the team."

Above all though, Hill has encouraged her teammates to enjoy the experience.

"The performance is always the most important thing," she added.

"Results will take care of themselves if we perform, we obviously want to get the win, but enjoyment and performing well are the foundation of this."

Kenilworth player Ffion Davies-Cale echoed the excitement within the squad and added: "I believe the 22 players who will be travelling up to Newcastle will be really keen and excited to get on the pitch and play a good, quality game of rugby."

Preseason

Since full contact rugby resumed Kenilworth Women have featured in three full preseason games, with a 29-22 victory over Lichfield last weekend the standout result for the Kenilworth XV.

First team player Felicity Baldwin said the final preseason game was the perfect "nerve settler" before the new campaign.

"It was a hard, competitive match," she said, "I think we proved to ourselves that we deserve to be playing at this level."

The victory over Lichfield added to a 31-7 victory over Sutton Coldfield and the charity match against Crewe and Nantwich.

But with the standard of opposition expected to be much higher this coming season, is it this level of performance that Kenilworth will hope to deliver throughout the season.

Baldwin added: "I think the higher up the leagues you go, the main thing is that you have to be more consistent.

"If we have an off-day, we will definitely be punished for it at this level and the result will show."

The season ahead

Following the season opener on Tyneside Kenilworth Women will host their first home game when Harrogate travel to Glasshouse Lane on October 3.

A strong turnout of home fans is expected for the Harrogate visit with Hill stressing the importance of the local crowd.

"They have been a huge source of support for us and it is great to see more and more people supporting the women's game," she said.

And whilst he is "grateful just to play rugby" again, head coach Rich Bennett has identified both home and away matches against Lichfield as highlights of the fixture calendar.

"For me personally the Lichfield matches will stand out because it's local and I coached them for 11 years," he said.

Most of all though Bennett is relishing the opportunity to challenge at a higher level.

And with some new faces brought into the team, he has a squad that is equally eager to compete in the division.

"We want to really push ourselves and the challenge is to produce consistent outstanding performances," says Bennett.

"We have worked very hard to get into the Championship North Division and we want to stay there and see how far we can go.

"It's all to play for."