NQ YOUNGSTERS SHINE AT TITLES
“THESE girls are no slouches, they just love playing cricket.”
A North Queensland invitational side sent a clear message to the rest of the state this week, as they made the finals of the Queensland Primary Schools State Championships.
It was the first time a North Queensland side had been in the annual tournament, and they were quick to make up for lost time. North Queensland won four of five of their pool games to finish in the finals, and had an opportunity to play off for third against Met West yesterday missing out by eight wickets.
But it was a historic tournament the side could be proud of, according to coach Billy Green.
“This has been a long time coming. In the past there have been a lot of girl cricketers who have had to go to other regions to play but not now,” Green said. “It was fantastic, we weren’t expecting that good of a result for the first time at the championships. The girls played out of their skin and they just jelled as a team. They were buzzing from day one into the last day.
“We have proved to ourselves and the state that we are a competitive team and we have good girl cricketers coming out of North Queensland.”
The region is also home to the latest Queensland representative as well after wicket keeper Karina Guglieimi was selected in the merit squad following the tournament. The Atherton cricketer proved her credentials with the willow bashing her way to a stack of runs including an unbeaten 30 off 14 balls in the final pool match against eventual thirdplace getters Met West.
But Karina was also strong with the gloves, keeping in every game and only missing out on 13 overs across the entire tournament.
“She had the gloves for more than 120 overs across the tournament, she had a fantastic carnival,” Green said.
“She batted at No. 3 and she had to come in early a few times and had to get the ship back on track.
“The other day she came out in the second over and went whack, whack, whack and had to retire on 30 after 13 or 14 balls.”