Shannon Macey reached the milestone of 50 appearances for Watsonians last week and she and her team mates now have their sights set on trying to secure an Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership final place over the next few weeks.
Leaders Corstorphine Cougars have already secured their place in that final meaning that it is between the Myresiders and Stirling County for the other spot.
The play-off final is on December 14 and it is still all to play for, although Macey and co look set to be without rugby action this weekend given the weather.
“It’s been a competitive season and that has been shown by how close the top four teams have been as things have moved along,” 28-year-old back three player Macey, who has recently filled in at scrum-half too, said.
“We’ve had a good season so far, only narrowly losing out to both Cougars and Stirling away. We’ve been challenged a bit with injury and availability throughout the season, but we are looking forward to a big few weeks coming up.
“We know what we need to do and we have been working hard over the last few weeks at training to tweak things to make sure we are in the best place going forward into the batch of final games.
“I joined Watsonians during their Sarah Beaney Cup run of 2018/2019, but it wasn’t until the league season of 2019/20 that I found myself fully within the squad.
“Since then, I’ve helped the team win two Premiership titles in 2019/20 and 2021/22 and two Sarah Beaney Cups in 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
“I’ve found a rugby family at Watsonians with friends I’m proud to play alongside every week. My highlight so far has probably been our wins at Murrayfield. It’s always such a special day and I love having my family and friends there supporting me on such big occasions.
“Getting to 50 appearances crept up on me honestly. It was a bit of a surprise to be told that it was going to be my 50th cap when we played against Stewartry last week.
“I am super proud to have achieved 50 caps. I wasn’t sure where rugby was going to take me when I first started out, but it’s a massive part of my life now.”
On Macey’s 50th appearance last time out in a rearranged game, Watsonians won 33-8 at bottom side Stewartry with a bonus point with Briar McNamara, Laura Buckingham, co-captain Freya Walker and co-captain Ailie Tucker (2) scoring tries.
Macey converted four of those tries and Macey’s rugby journey began back in 2018 at university.
“I grew up in Glenrothes in Fife and I only first started playing rugby at Napier University in my fourth year in 2018 when I was 23,” the player, who away from the pitch is a vet nurse, explained.
“I’d played football growing up but got a nasty injury during my first year of university and took a break from it.
“I decided to try rugby because a friend at university played and was encouraging me to head along to training. The Napier team environment was great and I loved the way everyone worked for each other.
“I met Giselle Chicot, who joined Watsonians from Heriot’s this season, at Napier and I’m really enjoying playing alongside her again now and I am excited to see how the last stages of the league develops.”
Thanks to N50 Photography for the image of Shannon Macey
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