Diamonds want to end regional era with silverware

LAUREN Winfield-Hill is confident the Northern Diamonds can bring down the curtain on the region’s five-year existence in style this summer with another trophy.

Winfield-Hill described 2023 as a “teething year” for the side.

They had to settle for group stage finishes in both 50-over and T20 cricket, though blooded a number of young players in senior cricket.

This is the last year of regional women’s cricket in England, with the eight regions to be replaced by as many Tier One teams who will be owned by county clubs. Yorkshire and Durham are amongst 16 counties who have put their names in the frame and should learn their fate in the next week or so.

Rewind to the start of the regional era in 2020, and the Diamonds started with a side full of experience.

Winfield-Hill was part of it, Jenny Gunn was, Linsey Smith, the SciverBrunts, Katherine and Nat.

Coach Dani Hazell guided her side to three successive Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy finals as well as the final of the inaugural Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2021.

Three successive final defeats came and went before the glorious RHFT triumph in 2022 when the Diamonds beat reigning champions Southern Vipers at Lord’s.

Immediately after that win, Gunn, Smith and the Sciver-Brunts all departed for either pastures new or retirement, and it was time for the Diamonds to look to youth.

“It wasn’t a free pass last year, but it was a teething year,” said Winfield-Hill.

“We put a lot of energy and effort into our youngsters and blooded them. This year, it’s only right that our expectations are higher in terms of challenging for trophies.

“Everybody’s a year experience wise, especially the youngsters, so I would say that this year is a great opportunity for us to compete for top honours again.

“The core of senior players have been around for a little bit now. Bess Heath was still coming through back then, but now she’s a fully fledged international cricketer. “Hollie’s a good bit more experienced now, and a lot of our youngsters have come through and done really well.

“I definitely see us being able to produce what we did a couple of years ago.”

Leah Dobson, Rebecca Duckworth, Katherine Fraser, Grace Hall, Emma Marlow, Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner and Jess Woolston are amongst those youngsters who played a decent amount of cricket last summer.

“We had to be patient with them last year,” continued the England wicketkeeper-batter.

“For a number of them, it was their first year of pro cricket when the pressures are different.

“You are playing for a spot. It’s not like age-group cricket where you will play every game. That’s a big transition.

“This year, they’ve had a taste of it, and hopefully we’ll kick on.”

Reflecting on the Diamonds journey, Winfield-Hill, pictured, added: “We’ve won a trophy as the Northern Diamonds, and hopefully we can win another.”

The Diamonds begin their summer with a RHF Trophy clash against Thunder at Durham’s Riverside ground on Saturday.