By Tara Murray
Gisborne is hoping the start of the cricket season will attract more players interested in joining its women’s side.
The Dragons, who play in the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket north-west B T20 competition, are short of players and looking for people to come and join them this season.
On Sunday, they kicked off their season with a win against the Greenvale Kangaroos. The Kangaroos made 9-87, before the Dragons made 3-89.
Dragons women’s co-ordinator Jodie Bannan said they had lost a few players and were struggling to attract new ones.
“There’s a few from last year missing through injury and some have families,” Bannan said.
“There’s also some who want to go and play at a higher level.
“Hopefully with a bit of word of mouth, we can get a few more players.”
The side will be coached by Ian Broome, who has previously coached men’s sides.
Bannan said training had gone well. The team has been training on Wednesday nights from 5pm at Gardiner Reserve.
In a promising sign, the Dragons’ junior girls program continues to grow.
They will have an under-12 team and two under-16 girls teams.
Bannan said the next step is getting them to progress through to the women’s team.
“A lot are 13 or 14 at the moment,” Bannan said. “Some don’t want to play against women yet. It’s a bit of a stepping stone.”
The season will start with T20 matches before Christmas and possibly longer-format games next year.
Bannan said this year there was less travel as most of the sides were from the north west area.
Two clubs, Greenvale Kangaroos and Caroline Springs, are fielding teams for the first time, while Melton Centrals and St Anthonys are second year sides.
Sunbury was unable to get the numbers to form a women’s side for the first time.
Bannan said anyone interested in playing was welcome to attend the club.
“Even if you just want to come down to training and see if you like it.”
Contact Jodie on 0422 268 002.
