A WOMEN'S rugby team going from strength to strength is appealing for sponsors to boost its drive to the top.

Ripon Ladies RUFC has only been league-affiliated for four seasons. During that time the club has fought two successful promotion campaigns, including a season when the team retained a 100pc unbeaten record to be crowned champions of north national division two.

This year saw the club promoted again after a tough season. It means the women are now a division higher than their male counterparts and only one division off the Premiership. The club's achievements attracted the attention of the national team coaches. Miss Katie Bell is one of five Ripon players selected to train at the national high performance academy in Durham this September - the first step to winning a place in the England line-up.

"We've started training up there every other Wednesday and have a fitness programme we have to follow in our own time," she said. "Even if I don't get any further I have learned such a lot already. We got to train twice with the England team and that was brilliant."

The club's rapid rise has seen squad numbers soar to 40 with players coming from Hawes, Hull, Skipton, Leeds and York. But promotion means the club has much further to travel for away fixtures and is facing a big bill for the long road trips.

Miss Bell said: "We have to travel as far as Norwich for some of our matches and that is going to cost a lot. We are planning some fundraising events such as discos to help but we really need a sponsor."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Ripon Ladies RUFC can contact Miss Bell on 01845 587155.