Big Summer for Women & Girls’ cricket
There’s been an action-packed Summer of Women & Girls cricket in Shropshire in 2024 – with the achievements celebrated at Friday’s Presentation Evening at the Wroxeter Hotel.
It all started in April with the Astroturf festival and was followed by softball festivals and hardball and softball leagues from May through to September.
The girls’ softball activity included festivals in June, August and September – unfortunately July’s event was fell victim to the weather.
The festivals gave the girls the opportunity to play small-sided friendly matches against other teams from across the county.
The festivals involved girls from a mix of age groups who supported each other throughout the matches to improve. A big thank you to host clubs Allscott Heath, Frankwell, Newport and Wellington and to all the clubs who entered teams.
There were also two girls’ leagues running across the Summer for Under 12s and Under 16s.
The U12s league focussed on developing the girl’s confidence with a hardball, with matches played using an Incrediball and hardball, and players wearing protective equipment for both. We had six teams taking part in the league, which saw Allscott Heath CC crowned the winners.
The U16s league was hardball-based and provided a further opportunity for girls to engage in competitive fixtures. Five teams were involved in the league this year with Codsall CC being crowned the winners.
Women’s Softball Festivals also ran throughout the Summer at multiple clubs across the county. These were well attended and supported, thank you to the host clubs and to the teams entered.
These festivals were supplemented once again by the Super 10s Softball League. This was split into four divisions for 2024, a county division consisting of the highest finishing teams from 2023, and three regional divisions consisting of four teams each.
The county division teams played each other home and away, both pairs and T20 format. The regional division focussed on pairs format for their home and away fixtures.
At the end of the season, Oswestry CC were crowned the county league winners alongside Shelton, Renegades and Bomere Heath, who all finished top of their respective groups.
The three regional league winners were schedule to play off against each other to see who will be promoted to the county division in 2025, however the poor weather meant the fixtures could not go ahead. These will now be played at the start of the 2025 season.
During the summer the regional league teams also took part in the inaugural Shropshire Cricket Regional Women’s Softball Anna Shore Cup.
Following an initial cup draw, teams played their usual format against teams from across the county. Congratulations to our finalists, Wem, Whitchurch, Bomere Heath and Pontesbury, who were scheduled to play off against each other at the start of September, however again the weather put paid to these plans.
The Finals Day will also be scheduled for the start of the 2025 season.
Alongside the softball activity many clubs were also involved in the various hardball leagues.
The mid-week hardball league saw five teams compete in both pairs and T20 over formats, with Shifnal CC claiming victory in a closely fought battle.
The Shropshire 8s activity saw twelve teams compete across three divisions in the 8-a-side sixteen over pairs and T16 format.
Congratulations to league winners Quatt, Shelton and Oswestry, the three teams were also due to play off against each other in a Finals Day however the weather once again intervened, and the matches will now serve as an opener for the 2025 season instead.
Cricket Shropshire Women & Girls Recreational Cricket Officer Katie Rushton said: “I would like to pass on my thanks to all the teams involved over the summer, to the coaches, team managers and captains for their year-round hard work, time and effort, it is very much appreciated by ourselves and the women and girls at your clubs.
“We look forward to celebrating the Summer’s success and starting the indoor activity once again.
“Thank you also to our Women and Gils Sponsor Rachel at Strategic Leisure for her continued support, which enables the Women & Girls programme to run and thrive all year round.”