An all girl team playing out of South Croydon came within .05% of playing finals cricket in the 14-3’s this year putting to bed any doubts that girls can play the game.

The concept of an all girls team playing in a regular junior boys competition brought girls together from a number of outlying clubs in the Ringwood and Ferntree Gull y area. Many of these girls were playing as the lone girl in their teams and were perhaps not getting the chance their talent deserved. When South Croydon decided to create an all girls team, 14 girls jumped at the chance. The side was competitive in it’s first year 08/09 with some individual performances making up for a lack of experience among some of the girls, however in the season just finished 09/10 the side found form particularly after Christmas, coming home unbeaten, and convincingly beating the eventual champions in the second last game of the home and away season. It truly was a case of what if, as the uneven draw had gifted one club in the four their final game against the bottom side, a team the girls never played during the season.

Siobhan Murphy finished the season with an average of 272 and took out the 14-3 grade batting champion trophy. Jas Harrison starred with the ball with 13 wickets at 10.92 well supported by Tayla Gregory.

7 different players achieved batting retirements during the season.

Such was the teams ability all players went on to represent the Outer East with 2 doubling up at U18 and U16 level and the remainder playing U14.

Siobhan Murphy represented Victoria at under 15 representative level and was a key contributor in that sides success winning the national championship.
And just to prove the girls commitment to the game 3 of them have already played a full season of senior cricket with South Croydon.

Team Manager Steve Hickman said “What I appreciate most is the welcome we have been given by our opponents and their families. For us every week is another game of cricket but for the boys they are probably playing against girls for the first time, fortunately the spirit is fantastic, certainly competitive, but they recognize good cricket and that’s what we deliver. The more people playing the game the better for everybody as it becomes easier to find opponents of similar ability. Playing against the boys really helps the girls also, as they are better for the experience when they play girls representative cricket. The South Croydon Cricket Club have been very supportive. The girls train as part of our junior club and like all our junior sides have their own coach, Bronte Stray, who has played for Victoria U19’s.

In the end though cricket is a social game and that is what it has delivered most to the girls who now have great friendships and an outlet for their passion for the game of cricket.
All junior girls up to Age 18 are welcome to play junior cricket and over 18 ladies can play senior cricket.

Contact: info@southcroydoncc.com.au