Cadets first ever Girls cricket team

Saturday, March 6th, was a first for Otumoetai Cadets Cricket Club as our first ever girls cricket team played agaisnt a Tauranga Girls College team. Before saying any more I wish to extend a huge welcome to all the girls and their parents to Cadets Cricket Club. Girls cricket has been identified by New Zealand cricket as a big growth area anf for the last couple of season's we have had discussions at the club about trying to get a pathway for girls on this side of the bridge to play in a girls team rather than having to travel to Papamoa as the currently need to do.

Thanks mainly to the efforts of Graig Grant we managed to get a team, or most of a team, onto the field to play against a pretty raw Tauranga Girls team. It is a bit of a feeling out process at the moment for all with Saturday cricket being new to some of the girls. There was some good talent on display though this weekend with a good all-round bowling and batting performance from the team highlighted by 43 runs from Grace Duncan including 4 sixes. The team won convincingly but, more importantly, early indications are that enjoyed the experience. Fortunately the caps and shirts that had been on order for a while turned up in time to kit the team out in the white Cadets shirts and make cap presentations to the girls. Hopefully we can continue to facilitate girls and women's cricket at Cadets into the future and a big thank you toCraig and these girls for getting the ball rolling.

From left to right in the photo:

Craig Grant, Maddy Duncan, Maih Smith, Grace Duncan, McKenzie Duncan, Summer Turuia, Abby Duncan