Women’s cricket flourishes

Women’s cricket is in thriving in Manawatu¯, with player numbers growing and the region hosting national tournaments.

Manawatu¯ Cricket Association general manager James Lovegrove said Manawatu¯ was becoming a centre of women’s cricket in Central Districts.

Palmerston North has recently hosted the senior women’s Central Super League franchise competition for the top women’s players in CD, as well as the national girls’ secondary schools championship, and the national intermediate school girls’ and boys’ competitions. The city also hosted the CD year 9 and 10 girls’ tournament.

Lovegrove was pleased they had hosted three New Zealand tournaments at the end of the year.

‘‘We’ve been nominated for a national prize for our female programme because our numbers of girls playing has had the greatest increase across New Zealand. We’ve got a really strong women’s club competition, we’ve got a strong rep team and everything is going well, having Georgia [Atkinson] and Jess [Watkin].’’

Atkinson andwatkin are Central Hinds players and work as Manawatu¯’s women’s community cricket co-ordinators. They had made a big difference, he said. Some senior rep players coach juniors.

In Manawatu¯ 200 per cent more girls are playing than three years ago. There are about 300 girls playing and he said there had been continued growth.

Lovegrove said the award wasn’t the important part. Girls enjoying playing was the biggest thing.

The women’s club competition grew to six teams this year.

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF The number of females playing cricket in Manawatu¯ has undergone a big increase in the past couple of years. Here Bridie Mcfadzean bowls for the Manawatu¯ year 9 and 10 team.

GETTY IMAGES As well as playing for the Hinds, Jess Watkin is working to grow women’s cricket in Manawatu¯.