Valkyries ready for league bow

Myers, who skippers the side under the watchful eyes of coaches Tomasz Chadwick, Alex Conlin and Niki Duncan, said: “Obviously coming into a league where there are a lot of established teams is more difficult, they all have good squads.

“With the more regular games, the emphasis is on fitness to try and stop injuries to our players.

“If we consistently train and make sure we are fit we should be able to prevent them.

“We’ve had four or five new girls join us so far this season, as well as another one return, so we’re strengthening well.”

Myers singled out Mel Halstead and Danni Rowley as her key players this year.

Myers added: “Halstead is quick, determined and confident. She’s a massive asset to the team and the club.

“Rowley has blistering pace, is decisive with every movement and is also a leader on the field.”

The skipper also pointed out that her forwards would be key to how the season goes for her side, with their quality possibly being the difference between a victory and defeat.

“League rugby will be our biggest challenge,” added Myers.

“With two or three fixtures a month we need to learn how to prioritise recovery, and who to rest for each game, we can’t afford injuries at crucial points in the season.”

Despite the Valkyries 92-0 win over Acklam in march, Myers won’t allow any of her players to underestimate their opening opponents.

She added: “We will try to guard against complacency early on this season.

“We’ll try to over-prepare for those games, we can’t underestimate them or we’ll just lose out.

“When we played them at their ground, a new fly-half just dictated the game for them, dropping the scoreline to 15-37.

“We need to make sure we can combat any other new players they have.”

The option of fixtures being played at any point of the weekend isn’t going to help matters though.

With games being able to be played on Friday nights under the floodlights, or on Saturdays before the first team games as well as the scheduled Sundays, Myers isn’t a supporter of the variation.

“I’d prefer a set day and time for games,” the skippersaid.

“Lots of people work on weekends and when they have to keep booking different days off it doesn’t become a routine.

“Sunday’s would attract bigger crowds as well, because more people would travel to watch the men play on Saturdays than coming to watch us.”