Hooker Kendall Waudby believes the Allianz Cup period has been ‘massive’ for Loughborough Lightning in preparation for the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby season ahead.
The squad has been heavily impacted by international call-ups running into double figures throughout the first four competitive fixtures that spanned a five-week period.
But under new head coach Nathan Smith, the squad has showcased its depth with victories secured over Harlequins and Trailfinders Women, as well as keenly-contested losses to Saracens and Gloucester-Hartpury.
Starting every game has been 21-year-old Waudby, who has witnessed first-hand the team grow as a group – both on and off the pitch.
“During the time we’ve had together, characteristics that have come out of people that wouldn’t necessarily otherwise get shown because they might be too shy,” she said.
“I think it’s just a really good environment that we’ve all created. That’s down to the coaches as well.
“We all get on really well as a squad, we’re tight, you can speak to anyone about anything. This first block of games has been massive for us.”
Kendall Waudby
Saturday’s 31-12 victory over Trailfinders Women saw Lightning get off to a fast start through Abby Duguid’s try, but they went in ahead at the break only a successfully-kicked conversion ahead.
Problems that were apparent in the first period were erased in the second, as Loughborough scored four tries to pull ahead with Ellen Scantlebury crossing twice along with efforts from Bo Westcombe-Evans and Jess Weaver.
Waudby added: “I think we started off well in the first few minutes, but we lost quite a bit of momentum and slowed down with no more scores in the first half.
“We problem solved at half-time, tried to fix a few things. It obviously worked, we came out firing and we ran away with the game. The subs came on and made a huge impact.
“During half-time we split into forwards and backs to just to solve what was going on. We changed a few of the lineout options. I’m not quite sure what the backs said but then it all came together, we tried to problem solve as a team.
“It’s always a good feeling when you start to run away with the game. Make sure not to get complacent, but you can start to enjoy it more instead of having to dig really deep.”
💬 “This period has been a really good opportunity for Nathan to understand the depth of the squad and start putting his print on it. The girls have bought into that fully.”
— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) October 29, 2023
Reaction from attack coach @ALEXrhysWHITE12 after yesterday’s Allianz Cup win 👇https://t.co/NeZwQ0LLwN
The fixture was Lightning’s only competitive match that will be played at their former home at Epinal Way, with all of their Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby fixtures being played at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this term.
There’s a three-week gap before Lightning kick-off their league season at Saracens (18 November), with their first home match then coming on Saturday 9 December against Bristol Bears.
“It’s our only game at Loughborough this year and we ended it well,” Waudby said. “The last two wins in the Cup period we’ve finished it off well.
“We’ve got a week off now which we go into in good spirits. We will come back in fresh after some down time and look forward to the challenges ahead.”