ON course for the second tier of English rugby, Northwich Ladies intend to entertain.

An attacking brand of rugby has seen Paul O’Keefe’s side lose just twice this season, failing to take a bonus point on only one occasion in RFU Women’s Championship North Two.

That was at Carlisle, a side with two games in hand and the only one able to overhaul the Moss Farm outfit if they pick up maximum points from their remaining matches.

But coach O’Keefe expects that to prove immaterial with Northwich knowing a win in their final outing at Preston Grasshoppers will secure them the title.

Should they finish first, they face either Lichfield or Shelford from Midlands Two in a promotion play-off to reach North One.

“I can take very little credit,” said O’Keefe, who guided the side to a third-place finish last year during his first season in charge.

“It’s the ability of the girls and their dedicated approach to trying new things in training.

“I’m quite inexperienced as a coach, but they are experienced as players and challenge each other to improve.

“We play good, attractive rugby with mobile forwards and backs. People like to watch us.”

Promotion would effectively see Northwich playing at the most competitive level in their history.

But O’Keefe says the greatest achievement lies with the team’s sense of identity.

“When there were a lot fewer teams – seven, eight years ago – Northwich reached a similar level but lost every single game and went back down,” he said.

“We would be up against sides like Waterloo, who’ve been knocking on the door of the Women’s Premiership, Loughborough and Eccles.

“With the amount of teams now this would be the highest level – the second tier – but I fancy us to be able to compete.

“Now this side is being looked at as equals, rather than just a girls’ side, which is a big testament to the rugby they play.”

Northwich have a link with Manchester Metropolitan University at Crewe, and that complements an experienced core of players with the likes of Coutts sisters Hailey and Jodie.

“We’ve got a reputation for playing good rugby and that attracts players,” added O’Keefe.

“The Coutts sisters have played for eight years while Lindsay Williams joined when she moved to Winsford after playing against us.

“Then there’s Thea Breau, who has been with the club about 10 years after starting with the youth team at 11 or 12.

“We’ve also turned people who may not have played rugby into skilled players; Hannah Tunnicliffe was a sprinter at school, but this year she made a regional representative squad.”