WOMEN AND GIRLS ENJOY THE SECOND MEET IN THE SUNSHINE

The phenomenal growth in WOMEN’S & GIRLS’ CRICKET in the Liverpool Competition was further evidenced at the second Meet of the L&DCC Softball League on Sunday 09 June. The league, in its first year, has 5 girls and 11 women’s teams representing 12 clubs from Colwyn Bay in the west to Skelmersdale in the east. The dazzling sunshine was matched by the dazzling skills on display, spread across 4 pitches at Northern CC which proved a magnificent venue for this latest fiesta of female cricket.

The 8 a side/8 over format again produced exciting and dramatic games, played in Great Spirit and with true competitive endeavour. Northern’s women’s team, making their league debut, got underway in impressive style with 3 wins from 3 games including a notable win by 8 runs over Firwood Bootle, who top the League with 5 wins out of 6. Southport & Birkdale achieved the same record on their debut; the 2 Sefton clubs are only separated on wickets taken. In the U15 Girls League, newcomers Rainhill top the table. In total, around 100 women and girls took part, with more confidently predicted when all teams gather at the final meet at Liverpool CC in August!

Paul Bate, Women & Girls Cricket Officer for the Liverpool Competition is delighted with the response from the clubs for this new initiative. “The growth of female cricket and buy in from the clubs has been exceptional. It bears out the League’s growth strategy and funding, now in the implementation phase. The associated communications campaign has been highly effective in inspiring clubs and encouraging them to engage positively with the rapidly growing women’s and girls’ game. It is also hugely encouraging to see the quality of play and tactical awareness increasing as each round of games goes by.”

The quality of the events we put on is down to careful organisation and planning and is very much a collaboration between league and club and Northern CC have been outstanding in every respect. Thank you to them. We take this now to North Wales with our next Meet at Colwyn Bay on the 30th June. Truly, the excitement is already building.”