ROSES are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and lady rugby players are - Blue! Women are homing in on Reeds Lane as, for the first time in its 123 year history, the ambitious Wirral club launches a women's rugby section.

Playing as the Blue Birds, New Brighton Ladies will be competing for playing honours on Sunday afternoons next season. Guy Hughes, mastermind behind the resurgence of New Brighton second team fortunes over the past two years, moves into the hot seat as manager of the Blue Birds.

Hughes steered the Blues 'twos' to their best season for years, culminating with a late season 49-0 drubbing of Liverpool St Helens 2nd XV before lifting the Home Base Cup for the second successive year.

"We start training on Wednesday, July 1," said Hughes. "I invite the women of Wirral to take up the challenge and join with us in one of the country's fastest growing team sports."

Support for the Blue Birds has come from Wirral's England Women's World Cup star Jane Molyneux, who is also the Assistant Sports Development Officer for Wirral.

Pete Buckles, veteran of many first team seasons at Reeds Lane, will be directing the Blue Birds' coaching, and Linda Roberts has been elected Chairperson of Woman's Rugby. The New Brighton Club committee, too, has pledged its full support.

Meanwhile, preparations for New Brighton's historic National League season are going nicely . . .

"It is important we get away from Reeds Lane for a change of scenery in the close season," said Coach Tony Atherton. "Our routines are designed to bring the lads to a much higher level of power and fitness when they report for the start of official pre-season training in July."

New Brighton players certainly appreciate Tony's expert training. "The modern game demands 15 players of athletic ability way beyond the levels required just a few years ago," said North of England Colts star, and first XV aspirant, Jez Lamb. Tony's coaching skills has attracted academy players from Liverpool University to Woodchurch Sports Centre, Birkenhead, for Thursday evening sessions.

Meanwhile, Hefin O'Hare is at Leeds for a week's trial with the Premier League club. O'Hare remains contracted to the Blues for another season. Should he cross the Pennines and join Wirral's Christian Saveramoto in Leeds' ranks, then he would become the first player to bring a transfer fee to New Brighton.

Efforts are still ongoing to keep both O'Hare and Alex Guest, who is also pondering his future. Said a club spokesman: "A big sponsor at this time could prove really helpful as we try to keep our best talent. We are in good shape for next season, but to find a backer for the club, like Saracens, Worcester or Newcastle have done, would be really helpful at this time. If Wirral does have a Sir John Hall, please contact us - there is a great future for you here!"

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.