“We did better than England’s rugby team!”

And no, those aren’t the words of an all-conquering All Black or a Welsh rugby supporter from the 1970s, they are the words of Severn Stars netball player Tracy Frankland, who also happens to be a bit of an England rugby fan herself.

So what was she talking about?

“We went 23 games unbeaten which is five more than Eddie Jones’ England team managed when they lost to Ireland earlier this year,” laughed Tracy.

“Severn Stars were unbeaten last season, winning all 16 of their Gloucestershire League Division Four games, and we were unbeaten for the last four of the previous season and the first three of this season.”

They’ve made a pretty decent start to life in Division Three as well, although unsurprisingly they’ve been unable to maintain the blistering form of the previous campaign.

The club run three teams and the team that play in the Gloucestershire League are the flagship side.

“We’ve also got two teams in the Monmouthside League,” explained Tracy. “They play their matches on Tuesdays. That’s attractive for quite a few players who are unable to play on Saturdays although there is some crossover between the Tuesday teams and the Saturday side.

“The Severn Sapphires who play in the Monmouthshire League are up and coming and doing much better than they have before.”

Severn Stars, who train at Five Acres Leisure Centre, near Coleford, on Mondays came into being seven or eight years ago. They were formed following the demise of Forest Flyers and have made quickfire progress in the County League after starting life in Division Seven.

“We want to go as high as we can,” said Tracy. “We are always trying to improve in every aspect of our game. But the main aim is to enjoy it.”

Tracy has certainly enjoyed her netball even though she has only taken it up in the past few years.

She used to play hockey and do cross-country and said: “I got involved because my daughter Gemma started playing netball.

“She’s 23 now and I play in the first team with her.”

It all sounds very positive – and it is – except… “We both like to play goal attack,” laughed Tracy.

So who is first choice?

“Well,” said Tracy, still laughing, “fortunately Gemma is very versatile and can play just about anywhere. She’s very tall – 5ft 10in – and I’m only 5ft 4in, it’s very annoying!”

Tracy and Gemma are two of the stalwarts of the team along with Kate Bellingham, who also plays for the first team. “She does a lot, she’s been there since the year dot,” added Tracy.

Kate and Tracy, at 47 and 46 respectively, are the “golden oldies” in the team and it’s fair to say are probably happy to channel all their energies into the game of netball.

That’s not the case with some of the other club members though, with quite a few of them playing rugby on Sundays.

One of the young ’uns to have been converted is Gemma who plays on the wing or at full-back for Drybrook. Emma Gibson is another who combines netball with rugby at Drybrook while Claire Rees plays at Berry Hill.

Tracy never played rugby and has no intention of starting now – “I damage myself enough playing netball,” she laughed – but enjoys watching Gemma play. Her son George also used to play for the club.

You don’t get too many people playing rugby deep into their 40s – particularly in the first team – but netball is a game which offers players a longer shelf life.

Tracy certainly has no plans to stop playing any time soon.

“I know someone in the Gloucestershire League who is playing in her late 60s and she’s still running rings round the younger ones,” she laughed.