Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf.
'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ.
'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream.
'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible.
'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.'
The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended.
Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way.
Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium!
'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable.
'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Premier League free agent XI including Kevin De Bruyne, Arsenal star, cult hero
Dozens of Premier League players officially become available for a free transfer on June 30 with plenty set to find new clubs without much trouble as sides search for bargains The released lists have been published, the soon-to-be free agents are searching for new clubs and Premier League sides could find some bargains to fill gaps once July 1 rolls around. And while so much of the focus surrounds the likes of Florian Wirtz's potential arrival at Liverpool in a British record £125m deal or whether Arsenal end up signing Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres to finally fulfil the need for a new centre-forward, several familiar names with piles of experience are set to find new destinations. Or maybe they will be able to broker a last-minute deal to remain at their club - such as Thomas Partey and Arsenal. Here is a strong XI of those available without a fee after June 30. Wayne Hennessey - Nottingham Forest Welsh goalkeeper fell out of favour at Nottingham Forest behind Belgium's Matz Sels but there are worse second-choice options. Vladimir Coufal - West Ham Dependable Czech full back lost his starting role to Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the season just passed but can still do a job elsewhere. Victor Lindelof - Manchester United The centre back remains injury prone, the biggest hurdle to him fulfilling a career that offered so much promise when he first arrived at Old Trafford. Next destination remains unclear. Michael Keane - Everton A solid option for those in need of depth at the back. Featured sporadically during final season at Goodison Park. Kyle Walker-Peters - Southampton Endured a season of misery at St Mary's as the club went straight back down to the Championship but he is one of few players in that squad with a genuine claim to remain in the top flight. Pablo Sarabia - Wolves Spanish veteran made twice the number of appearances off the bench as he did starts during final season at Molineux and is being linked with a return to Sevilla. Thomas Partey - Arsenal Gunners remain hopeful that terms can be agreed with the central midfielder, especially after Jorginho confirmed his return to South America, leaving Mikel Arteta short of options in the engine room. Christian Eriksen - Manchester United Dane wants to keep playing despite mobility issues but his experience would still make him an asset to many dressing rooms. Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City Premier League legend has made his feelings about departure from the Etihad clear and has no doubt he can continue to be decisive at the very top. Napoli have appeared at the front of the queue and a deal could be concluded sooner rather than later. Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Everton Striker heading for exit after talks over an extension stalled. At his best he is very good but consistency has remained an issue. Jamie Vardy - Leicester Bid farewell to the Foxes and has been linked with a switch to upwardly mobile Wrexham in the second tier. The mess around him at Leicester should not undermine fact he might still have a season or two of finding the net left. Free agent XI: Hennessey; Coufal, Lindelof, Keane, Walker-Peters; Sarabia, Partey, Eriksen, De Bruyne; Calvert-Lewin, Vardy. Subs: Olsen, Dawson, Mee, Evans, Reguilon, Antonio, Wilson.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scots MP reveals celebrity A-listers he taught golf at world famous hotel
EXCLUSIVE: Brian Leishman taught footballers, singers and movie stars during his time at Gleneagles. A Scottish MP has revealed a list of celebrities A-listers who he coached at golf at a world-famous Scottish hotel. Labour's Brian Leishman taught footballers, singers and movie stars during his time at Gleneagles. The Alloa and Grangemouth MP gave lessons to Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, global pop sensation Shakira and Grease star John Travolta. He also taught Paisley actor Gerard Butler, Scotland football legend Gary Caldwell, English chef Heston Blumenthal and 66 Miss World contestants. But he said his work as an MP was "harder" than teaching A-listers how to swing clubs. Leishman said Shakira - best known for her 2006 number one 'Hips Don't Lie' - showed talent. He said: "Shakira was very athletic. From being a complete rank and file beginner, she took to it brilliantly. She had a lesson every day for about six or seven days and she could strike it really well." But Welsh footballer Giggs struggled: " I'm never going to [say who was the worst celeb I taught]. It's a sliding scale from being very good to not being so good. " I'll never ever say a golfer's the worst, but Ryan Giggs should stick to football." Leishman added that the Machester United legend was not as good as former Celtic centre-back Caldwell - who scored the only goal of Scotland's famous 2006 victory over France. Gerard Butler, star of historical action film 300, and American actor Travolta both received one-off lessons in the driving range at the hotel. Leishman was a professional golfer before being elected as an MP in July last year. He said he loved his job at the Perthshire resort: "I was there from November 2007 to January 2012. "I was a teaching pro so I would do individual lessons, group lessons. Playing rounds on the golf course, which is an absolute treat. Getting to play the course three or four times a week - it was brilliant. I loved it." Leishman said the celebrities "were absolutely brilliant, honestly. Really, really pleasant. "The kind of unwritten rule was that you don't ask about their professional lives. They're there to rest and relax." Leishman said his current job was more difficult: "Being an MP is much more important. It's much harder but it's also much more rewarding as well. " I've basically got about 72,000 bosses now in my constituency that I'm answerable to. " I've been a golf pro for 23 years, I've been an MP for now 11 months. This is the best job I've ever had. What a responsibility it is, what a privilege it is." But he refused to pick one celebrity he would love to teach: "Heroes are for kids. You should never meet your heroes or you'll be disappointed."
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Welsh Rugby Union pays tribute to Sir Billy Boston
The 90-year-old rugby legend was awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours, becoming the first player from the rugby league code to receive the honour. Born in Cardiff's Tiger Bay, Sir Billy was also a pioneer in rugby union, becoming the first black player to represent Wales in a representative side. Abi Tierney, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), said: "The WRU is delighted to join in the celebrations of the honour bestowed on Sir Billy Boston. "His playing achievements in rugby league speak for themselves and he was a hugely promising rugby union player in his youth. "He has been a magnificent ambassador for both his sport, his 'home' city of Cardiff and for his adopted home of Wigan. "He was a trailblazer in his day and remains one of the greatest names in Welsh sporting history." Sir Billy's rugby journey began at Cardiff Schools U15, where he won the Dewar Shield in 1949. The team included future Wales captain Lloyd Williams and heavyweight boxing champion Joe Erskine. At 17, he captained the Boys Clubs of Wales in a 32-0 win over England in February 1952, scoring 17 points, including a hat-trick of tries. He later played for Neath and Pontypridd before beginning his national service. In March 1952, he was capped by the Wales Youth team and became the first black player to represent Wales at any level in rugby union. Despite never playing for Cardiff's senior side, Sir Billy's talent drew attention. After a standout performance for the Cardiff & District XV against Cardiff, Western Mail journalist JBG Thomas wrote: "The District had a splendid centre in W Boston, who should be in the Cardiff Athletic XV." Instead, Sir Billy turned professional at 18, signing a £3,000 contract with Wigan on March 13, 1953. During national service at Catterick, he starred for the Royal Signals XV, scoring six tries in the 1953 Army Cup Final and four in the Army's 1954 win over the Territorial Army. Rugby writer Pat Marshall of the Daily Express wrote at the time: "If he had not signed professional forms he must have been in the current Welsh Rugby Union side. "Quite simply, he is one of the greatest running back I have seen." Sir Billy made his Wigan first team debut on November 21, 1953, against Barrow, scoring the first of his 478 tries in 488 appearances for the club. He went on to score two tries in his second game, three in his third, and four in his fourth. In 1954, he became the youngest player to tour Australia with Great Britain, scoring 36 tries in 18 games, including seven hat-tricks. He also became the first black player to tour Australasia with the team. Sir Billy remains a towering figure in the sport, inducted into the British Rugby League Hall of Fame, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, and the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame. He was made an MBE in 1996 for services to the community in Wigan. Statues in his honour stand at Wembley, Wigan, and Cardiff Bay. He twice topped the rugby league try-scoring charts, scoring 60 tries in the 1956-57 season. Sir Billy won the Challenge Cup three times, and in the 1960 Championship final, scored twice to help Wigan secure their first title in eight years.
