Clevedon Rugby

"Gordano Doubled"

This very local derby had everything - sunshine, a big crowd, drama and controversy. It also drew a lot of former players from both sides to The Vale for this last league game of the season.

Some of these old players like Hughes, Derrick and Lester played for both clubs back in the day, so their loyalties must've been torn, but they weren't letting on.

With a temporary outside bar selling only cider of lager, the atmosphere became party-like as the verbal exchanges between both sets of supporters became robust and entertaining.

All local derbies should be like this!

"Wasps FC Ladies article courtesy of The Daily Telegraph"

Kate Alder juggles City career with Wasps captaincy as underdogs look to stage Saracens Premier 15s upset.

Kate Alder looks every inch the City professional in her smart pencil skirt sipping on a peppermint tea in a restaurant close to her office. But when asked if she partakes in happy hour cocktails in similar upscale establishments, she chuckles: "Where would I find the time? I train with Wasps Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday."

The 26-year-old club captain is the perfect example of what many in women's rugby circles refer to as "professionals with a small p", meaning they invest the same time and dedication as professionals but must hold down a day job. Although there are 28 full-time female professionals contracted by the Rugby Football Union, there are more than 600 players involved in Premier 15s and Alder's lifestyle epitomises the majority.

It is apparent that Alder, originally from Somerset, leads something of a double life. In the evenings and at weekends, she trades her demure persona as a recruitment specialist for delivering rollicking team talks. Also at a diminutive 5ft 2in, she relishes bringing strength and aggression to her game.

"You have chosen to play a physical sport, so you need to be physical and aggressive on the right side of the law," she says. "My job in the team talk is to get their adrenalin levels to the stage where they want to tackle and hit people hard because that is how you win games. I have to get the girls ready for battle."

Alder, a graduate of Exeter University, is yet to be capped by her country, so had a daunting task as captain when a raft of big-name England internationals past and present joined the club last season. With another laugh she recalls: "I get really passionate with my team talks and, for some reason, I just couldn't swear for the first time in my captaincy career the first time I did my team talk with Rocky Clark, Amy Cokayne, Danielle Waterman. So, I was saying, 'Flipping hit them really hard' and Rocky said, 'I think what she means to say is 'f------ hit them' and that just broke the ice."

Despite attracting top England players and Ireland international Claire Molloy, considered one of the best back rows in the global game, Wasps FC Ladies have minimal links to the men's professional side now based in Coventry and as a result do not have the same resources as the likes of Saracens, their opponents this weekend.

Earlier this week The Daily Telegraph revealed that Saracens, along with Bristol Bears, are offering their players contracts, albeit unpaid.

It is paving the way for professionalism in the women's club game but such is Wasps' situation, players still prepare all their own meals and pay for essentials such as supplements.

Alder says: "There is no surprise that Quins and Sarries came out as the top two. You look at their social media, their support packages, their gym facilities, they have more opportunities and they run with them. As a result a cycle develops where they attract more players, get better players and they get more funding. We are still very much that rough and ready squad but we have amazing players with an incredible and tough coach in Giselle Mather.

"I think we have a good balance where we are professional in that we train four nights a week, have incredible strength and conditioning and analysis but we still have that more rough-and-ready vibe, and I love that."

Mather, a 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup winner, has been a trailblazer as the first woman to become an RFU level four-certified coach and worked nurturing young male talent at London Irish such as Anthony Watson before taking up her role with Wasps.

It is through Mather that a fusion of professionalism is being met with fun and although all eyes are on upsetting Saracens, Alder concludes: "It has to be fun because it isn't as if our weeks aren't stressful enough. We play rugby because we absolutely love it. For whatever weird reason, we like running into people with our bodies, we choose to do it.

"If there are moments where it gets too angsty, one of the girls will say, 'I didn't drag my arse here not to enjoy myself' because we have given up so much to get here."