"I was telling myself: Don't cry right now, Zoe. Do not cry right now.' But I just knew that we'd done it. Zoe Aldcroft is reflecting on the moment last month when she realised England had won the Women's Rugby World Cup. There were 12 minutes to play at a sold-out, increasingly euphoric Twickenham, but the hosts had created a 20-point cushion against Canada thanks to Alex Matthews's second try."
"A lifelong dream for her and all the Red Roses was about to become reality. I ran back to the line and I was like: Oh my God, we've done it.' I saw my family and they were like [she clenches both fists]: Come on, come on!' Another moment was when Ellie Kildunne put that spiral bomb up [before the final try]. I thought: We've got this in the palm of our hands.' And the final whistle."
"Aldcroft describes the weeks since as a massive whirlwind. Pressed to choose one word to describe the entire experience, she settles on phenomenal. It's back down to business now: the Premiership Women's Rugby season begins next Friday and the flanker has returned to training this week with the champions, Gloucester-Hartpury. After a run of three consecutive titles, they will kick off against Saracens at Kingsholm on Sunday week."
Zoe Aldcroft recalls England's decisive World Cup win, describing internal self-talk to hold back tears and certainty after Alex Matthews's second try made the score 33-13 with 12 minutes remaining. She sprinted back, spotted her family and celebrated alongside teammates, noting Ellie Kildunne's assist before the final try and the unforgettable final whistle. Aldcroft calls the weeks since a massive whirlwind and uses the word phenomenal to describe the experience. She took a short holiday with teammates, then resumed training with Gloucester-Hartpury, who begin the Premiership season seeking a fourth consecutive title.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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