Historic Wonthaggi women’s cricket team take to the field

THE first team of 12 local women took to the field for Wonthaggi Club Cricket Club on Sunday, October 27.

Their debut match was against the Phillip Island women’s team in the Leongatha & District Cricket Association competition.

Wonthaggi Club president Luke McGuirk said all women taking to the field have little or no previous experience and come from all walks of life, but have shown enthusiasm and keenness to learn.

“We’re so excited to welcome our first women’s team, and wish them all the best of luck as they learn the ropes this season,” he said. 

“This is an exciting opportunity for our club, giving local Wonthaggi girls and women a pathway to getting involved in this great sport.

“Who knows, we may even have a future Australian women’s cricket player in our ranks.”

The Wonthaggi team enters a well-established local women’s cricket league, who this year for the first time is formally playing as part of the Leongatha & District Cricket Association. 

Over nine rounds they will face teams from surrounding towns including Inverloch, Koonwarra, Leongatha, Nyora, Phillip Island, Kilcunda-Bass, and Glen Alvie.

The results from Sunday, October 27 were as follows:

Round 1:
Kilcunda-Bass Hammerheads 110 defeated Kilcunda-Bass Great Whites 88.
Hammerheads top score: Fill-in (25).
Great Whites top score: Millie Gold (25 not out). 
Phillip Island 117 defeated Wonthaggi Club 44.
Phillip Island top score: Grace Webster (20).
Wonthaggi Club top score: Clare Guilford (15). 

Round 2:
Leongatha Town 120 defeated Nyora 113. 
Leongatha Town top score: Nat Challis (33).
Nyora top score: vice captain Krystin Wurzbacher (18). 
To find out more about the Wonthaggi Club Cricket Club matches, head to the club’s Facebook page.