“We want to win the title for Peter White.”

Those are the words of Dursley Ladies rugby player Nicola Davies, who believes it would be the best possible tribute to their former coach who died suddenly last month.

The 69-year-old had been coaching Dursley Ladies, who play in National Challenge 2 South West (North), for the past two seasons and Davies said: “Pete told us that he thought we could win the league this season, we went close last season.”

And they’ve certainly made a good start to the current campaign, leading the way after their opening three games.

First-team men’s player Simon Camm is coaching the ladies at the moment, but the positive impact of their former coach is still very much felt by the ladies’ section.

“He changed the way we played,” said Davies, a 48-year-old prop. “We’d always played the Dursley Way which was a very forward-focused game. It was quite traditional and simple, we kept the ball in the forwards.

“He wanted us to play a more expansive game, he wanted us to play with more flair. He introduced a lot of moves from set-plays, he taught the backs a lot.

“It was painstaking and painful at first, but I’d say from January onwards it was starting to work.”

And it’s really working this season because after being given a walkover by Oxford Harlequins 2nds, Dursley thumped Greyhound Ladies 78-0 before going to Witney Angels and winning 67-7.

A minute’s silence was held in memory of White before the home game with Greyhound and Davies added: “We called one of Pete’s moves during that game and we scored from it. That was great and it was even better that his wife Linda was watching too.”

White also introduced the players to the joys of 7s rugby and ladies’ captain Julianne Thomson added: “I can’t be thankful enough for all the time and effort Pete put into the ladies’ section, we definitely aren’t the easiest to manage even on our good days!

“Hopefully we can put all your hard work into practice and do you proud this season Pete.”

Dursley Ladies host Tewkesbury Women in a league game on Sunday.