Women’s cricket competition gets underway in Narrabri

Women’s sport in Narrabri continues to go from strength to strength, and the introduction of the town’s first ladies’ cricket competition has only added to that.

After nearly two years of preparation, a five-week T20 campaign finally got underway on Saturday night.

A come and try day cricket match for ladies was held at Collins Park in March 2020. It attracted a large group of female cricketers, and planning for a structured comp began almost immediately after.

The debut season was scheduled to go ahead early last year but was reluctantly delayed until 2022 due to the uncertainties surrounding the COVID pandemic.

The 2022 competition features four teams. They include Pink Posse, captained by Chloe Tough, The Green Machine, captained by Carmel Harvey, Lavender Ladies, captained by Alecia Griffiths, and Boggabri Blues Sisters, captained by Bec Mcmillan.

Boggabri Blues Sisters - back, Angie Knox, Molly Welsh, Amanda Smith, Anni Wenner, Bec Mcmillan, front, Mackenzie Knox, Lilly Mcmillan and Neessa Armstrong. Absent - Georgia Hardman, Krista Zarka, Kristie Toomey and Taneika Cochrane. Boggabri Blues Sisters - back, Angie Knox, Molly Welsh, Amanda Smith, Anni Wenner, Bec Mcmillan, front, Mackenzie Knox, Lilly Mcmillan and Neessa Armstrong. Absent - Georgia Hardman, Krista Zarka, Kristie Toomey and Taneika Cochrane.

The Green Machine - back, Sarah Packer, Kate Johnstone, Jess Lauritsen, Monique Houguet, Teegan Daley, front, Sally Clarke, Carmel Harvey, Louise Tout, Mereka Gleeson and Emily Flood. Absent - Emily Hartnett, Jo Hamilton, Melissa Hancock and Ellie Hatton. The Green Machine - back, Sarah Packer, Kate Johnstone, Jess Lauritsen, Monique Houguet, Teegan Daley, front, Sally Clarke, Carmel Harvey, Louise Tout, Mereka Gleeson and Emily Flood. Absent - Emily Hartnett, Jo Hamilton, Melissa Hancock and Ellie Hatton.

Pink Posse - back, Candice Nicole, Shona McFarland, Michelle O’Connor, Christina Watkins, Bec Clenton, Mandie Simpson, front, Toni Laws, Bec Cope, Chloe Tough, Katie Norsworthy, Michelle Wheeler and Kylie Finlay. Absent - Fiona Redfern, Zoe Watkins and Zoe Tomlinson. Pink Posse - back, Candice Nicole, Shona McFarland, Michelle O’Connor, Christina Watkins, Bec Clenton, Mandie Simpson, front, Toni Laws, Bec Cope, Chloe Tough, Katie Norsworthy, Michelle Wheeler and Kylie Finlay. Absent - Fiona Redfern, Zoe Watkins and Zoe Tomlinson.

Lavender ladies - back, Mia Baker, Tash Nolan, Ness Rose, Jenni Cooke, Lucy Suttor, Dannika O’Brien, Emma Rose, front, Kristie Tubner, Bec Di Maio, Alecia Griffiths, Sam Lubke-Wood and Jess Dowdell. Absent - Mikaella Thorn, Katrina Fox and Milly Adams. Lavender ladies - back, Mia Baker, Tash Nolan, Ness Rose, Jenni Cooke, Lucy Suttor, Dannika O’Brien, Emma Rose, front, Kristie Tubner, Bec Di Maio, Alecia Griffiths, Sam Lubke-Wood and Jess Dowdell. Absent - Mikaella Thorn, Katrina Fox and Milly Adams.

Boggabri Blues Sisters and The Green Machine were both victorious in round one on Saturday night after successfully chasing down the totals set by their respective opponents.

The atmosphere was electric as large crowds descended on both grounds to watch the entertaining games that both went into the night under lights.

The Green Machine took on Pink Posse at Collins Park and won by six wickets.

Pink Posse batted first after winning the toss and managed to reach 8-67 at the completion of the 20th over. The Green Machine only lost four wickets as they chased down the required total in 17 overs.

Pink Posse’s Michelle O’Connor top-scored in that match with 22 runs, while the best bowling figures went to her teammate Bec Cope who took two wickets in the first over of her side’s defence before finishing with 2-6 from three overs.

Sally Clarke (2-8 from three overs) was The Green Machine’s best with the ball on the night, while teammate Sarah Packer (20*) guided the team to victory in the second innings of the match with an unbeaten knock.

Fellow round one winners Boggabri Blues Sisters challenged Lavender Ladies at Hogan Oval, where they won by eight wickets.

Lavender Ladies batted first after being sent in, and they made 6-94 in 20 overs. Boggabri Blues Sisters produced a remarkable showing with the bat in the game’s second innings as they only lost two wickets before reaching the required total in the 18th over.

It was a phenomenal win for a side that only had eight players on the night.

Angie Knox (31*) and Anni Wenner (20*) guided Boggabri Blues Sisters to victory with unbeaten knocks after both also took a wicket in the first innings of the game. Their captain, Mcmillan (2-11 from three overs), finished with the game’s best figures.

While there have been women’s cricket matches played in Narrabri in the past, including come and try days and Pink Stumps charity events, this senior competition is the first of its kind in ‘Australia’s Sportiest Town’.

The women’s competition organiser Christina Watkins told The Courier that the first round went “even better” than she had envisaged.

“It was a whole lot of fun. That’s the only way I can describe it,” she said.

“There were so many laughs.

“We have a lot of women who played when they were younger, then we have a lot of others who were playing for the first time.

“There were a lot of nerves, and there were a lot of people who weren’t sure how they’d go personally, but it all just came together.

“Also, the crowd that showed up – the support was just awesome.”

While Watkins is the chief organiser of the competition, she received help from several individuals for which she is incredibly grateful.

They include the talented ‘Michelle duo’ – Michelle Wheeler and Michelle O’Connor – who have served many years on the Narrabri District Junior Cricket Association committee and knew exactly how to turn Watkins’ vision of a competition into a reality.

They also included her husband, Chris Watkins, who is the chairman of Narrabri RSL Cricket Club and the vice-president of the Narrabri District Cricket Association, who she has called on time and time again for help and guidance.

Finally, she thanked the entire NDCA board, who she said had been very supportive of the women’s comp.

While the focus will remain on the 2022 season, Watkins said that the competition would more than likely expand in season two.

“We were definitely happy with the numbers down there on Saturday night,” she said.

“Once other ladies found out we have a cricket comp going, more and more have said they would have played if they had known about it.

“Next season, it could definitely grow, even to six teams.

“We have a couple of ladies playing from Gunnedah that are coming over, so there’s potential next season to get a full Gunnedah side.

“So six teams and five different towns – Narrabri, Wee Waa, Boggabri/Baan Baa and Gunnedah.

“We are hoping for a longer comp too next season. We even want to start it before Christmas.”

Round two of the 2022 campaign will be played this Saturday from 6.30pm.

Pink Posse will return to Collins Park, where they will challenge the Boggabri Blues Sisters, while The Green Machine and Lavender Ladies will go head-to-head at Hogan Oval.