The Gisborne and District Cricket Association women’s competition continues to go from strength to strength.
The competition this season will have 11 teams from 10 clubs, up from eight teams last season.
All eight teams from last season, including two from Lancefield are returning this season.
East Sunbury will field a women’s side for the first time this season, while Melton Centrals has moved its women’s side across from another competition.
Broadford will also have a women’s team as well.
GDCA president Simon Ovenden said it was exciting to see the growth in the competition.
“Eleven teams is really good,” he said. “We’ve had Broadford come in and East Sunbury is getting a side for the first time which is terrific.
“Cricket in the Sunbury region is strong so it’s fantastic. Melton Centrals have come across too.
“We’re really proud of the women’s competition and the way it is growing.
“We can’t be happier with the growth and it’s been a steady growth.”
Ovenden said they were working hard with the clubs to ensure that they were all on the same path with the women’s competition.
He said the ultimate aim is to have two divisions and they’ve getting closer to achieving that.
The association will again have representative women’s matches this season after a successful first year of implementing the program.
On the junior side, the growth in the under-18 competition has stagnated with just four teams.
Ovenden said they were hoping this was just short term pain with the competition having the most number of under-15 girls teams ever.
There’s also good numbers of under-13 girls teams.
“Clubs are better for having female cricketers,” he said.”Clubs need to be representative of the society that we live in.”
Any interested players can contact their local clubs.
The season is set to kick off on October 12.
Tara Murray
