ALL-CONQUERING Supermarine Ladies are setting their sights on joining the English elite after being crowned league champions.

The South Marston side's 48-17 home victory over Worcester 2nd made it 11 wins out of 11 in Midlands One.

And the good news continued when they learned that their only challengers for the title Camphill had been beaten 34-32 by Shelford.

It meant Marine wrapped up the league honours with three games to spare but the work to gain promotion has still to be done.

The Swindon side will go into a draw with the three other winners of the regional leagues, with the winners of those two ties going into Premiership Two effectively English women's rugby's second division next season.

Rosslyn Park (South East One), Leos (North One) and Chesham (South West One) are all in pole position to join Marine in the end-of-season play-offs on May 4.

But for now they can bask in the glory of a job well done after securing the title in emphatic fashion.

Skipper Alex Parker said: "I've been incredibly happy with how our results have gone this season.

"It's been nice to go out on to a field and almost expect to get a good result, rather than going on with doubts.

"You can't rest on your laurels in any game and I think that is why we have been successful this season.''

Marine, who also reached the latter stages of the National Cup before losing to reigning champions Clifton, have reaped the rewards for switching leagues at the start of the season.

Parker said: "Last season, we were in South West One before the RFU restructured the women's leagues.

"We didn't want to play in the South West league again, we wanted to go into the Midlands section because we felt the competition would be much better and that's been proved this season.''

Marine's success has been achieved with a relatively small selection of players but the skipper is hoping their success can lift the profile of women's rugby, one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

"We haven't got a massive squad, maybe a pool of around 25 players,'' added Parker. "Promotion to Premiership Two would be a huge lift to women's rugby in this area.

"The two main teams in the west are Clifton, who we played in the cup this season, and Worcester.

"Otherwise, the main clubs are in and around London, so it would be nice to get in there and compete.

"Of course, it would be another level and we will need to work hard at it."

In Sunday's game, Marine played with determination from the off, defending strongly and asserting their authority in the scrummage.

Rachel Jelleyman's tactical kicking kept their Worcester opponents on the back foot, and Marine threatened through full-back Kirsty Hudson and wings Julie Boyle and Hayley Coles.

Jelleyman grabbed two early close-range tries with outside centre Claire Dykas also crossing over to give Marine a healthy lead.

Jo Bartlett and Hudson completed Marine's first-half try tally, sandwiching a touchdown from Worcester.

Marine continued to hold sway in the second half, flanker Shona Watt and scrum-half Alex Parker increasing the lead early on.

Marine were stung by two breakaway tries, but rallied with Dykas grabbing her second score to close the game.