The Valkyries began their National 1 league campaign in emphatic fashion on Sunday, securing a 115-0 victory over familiar opponents Bec Belles.

The two sides last met in January 2025, when the Valkyries came away with a 19-0 win, but this season’s meeting proved to be a very different affair.

As is often the case with a season opener, the game began with an element of early uncertainty before captain Zara Matthews settled the nerves. Breaking from the halfway line, Matthews powered through to score the Valkyries’ first try of the new league campaign and set the tone for what was to follow.

Her opening score sparked an outstanding attacking display from the visitors, with the Valkyries producing 18 tries across the afternoon.

Winger Amanda Neivens led the scoring with four tries, using her speed and power to repeatedly break down the touchline.

Scrum-half Eilidh Ashton, hooker Kitty Brooks, tight-head Tolu Duckworth, flanker Jasmine Hall and winger Zoë Hazelden all crossed twice, while outside centre Atlanta Jobson, fullback Simoine Maylor and second row Amelia Rose-Bristow also added tries to the tally.

Conversions from Samm Hart, Jay Badland-Shaw and Jasmine Hall completed the scoring as the Valkyries finished with a commanding 115-0 victory.

The result marks an impressive start to life in National 1 following a hugely successful 2025/26 campaign, which saw the Valkyries secure both league promotion and a national cup victory.

It was also a strong opening weekend for the Women’s 1st XV, who began their season with a 58-0 victory over newly promoted Beckenham at the Richmond Athletic Ground. Richmond ran in 10 tries without reply in a dominant performance, with Jazz Rampton and Megan Issac both producing standout displays. Issac was named Player of the Match as the 1st XV laid down an early marker and offered another positive sign of what could be an exciting season ahead for Richmond’s women’s programme.

Valkyries Lead Coach Fraser MacDonald-Lister said:

“Having secured league promotion and a national cup victory last season, all eyes are on the Valkyries this year in National 1. This performance speaks to the strength and depth we’ve developed across both women’s teams during the summer.

“We will take confidence from this result to punch above our weight against Hammersmith & Fulham, a Championship side, next weekend at Ladies Day.”

Attention now turns to Saturday’s Ladies Day at the Richmond Athletic Ground, where the Valkyries will face Hammersmith & Fulham in a 12:30pm curtain-raiser ahead of the Men’s 1st XV fixture against Worcester Warriors.