WEPL ‘Brilliant’ experience for female duo
UMPIRES Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper and Anna Harris reflected on an “absolutely brilliant” afternoon after the pair made history by taking their places in the middle for Downend’s West of England Premier League home clash with Bedminster.
It is thought to be the first time two women have stood together at the highest level of recreational club cricket in England and Wales. After officiating over a five-run Premier One derby success for Downend, they are preparing to team up again on Saturday for a South Wales Premier League encounter between St Fagans and Pontarddulais in an initiative to highlight the fact a growing number of women are now umpiring.
Weston-super-Mare-based Yvonne, 64, said: “The game was played in the best of spirits and we were made to feel very welcome from the moment we arrived.
“We were here to do a job and just got on with it. It’s been absolutely brilliant.”
Anna, 22, added: “We’ve stood together before but it’s been great to do this. There were a few loud appeals, a few close calls and probably more atmosphere than we are used to but that was all part of the fun.”
The game was a tremendous advert for Premier League cricket after it started on time despite days of heavy rain, and went right down to the final ball after swinging one way and then back again.
Downend had to battle all the way to reach 196-8 from their 45 overs after losing the toss, Gloucestershire’s Miles Hammond top-scoring on 52 before being smartly held by county colleague Dom Goodman, who was his side’s leading bowler with a return of 3-29. There was also a crucial run-a-ball 47 from groundsman Callum Loud, who had been on duty since 6am, checking the covers and protective sheets were doing their job.
In reply, Bedminster appeared to be in the driving seat at 129-4 with 15 overs to go, but Downend turned the screw to deny opener Max Tryfonos (97 off 125) a well deserved century and close out a tense
win, with Ollie Louch bagging 3-25 off seven at the death.
Captain Brandon Gilmour said: “We were aware beforehand that history was being made and that it was a big day, but once we got under way we were concentrating on the match and didn’t notice who the umpires were. In that respect it was a normal game and the umpires just happened to be women. They controlled the match very well.”
Bedminster counterpart George Drissell added: “It’s great for the sport that we’re finally going in this direction, in all honesty it probably should have happened before. The umpires did well.”