With Northern Rivers representative teams, local clubs and the opportunity to play women’s A grade cricket — one thing was still missing.
And that was the opportunity to represent Goulburn Murray Cricket.
This season, it finally came, as the GMC fielded a side in the Junior Girls Country Week.
And their opening game against Cricket Shepparton brought a win.
Batting first under T20 rules, Echuca’s Grace Moyle starred for her side, scoring a quick 20 before being retired.
BLU’s Bree Styles made her way to 11 before she also was forced to retire.
Tongala’s Sienna Johnstone (16 not out) and Courtney Thompson (11) were also in the runs.
At the close of the GMC’s 20 overs, the side had produced a strong score of 5/103.
With Shepparton in to bat, Moyle again played the role of chief destroyer.
In a strong three overs she claimed 2/8, while teammate Styles took 1/9.
Helena Hosie retired on 22 as Shepparton’s top scoring player, though her side would fall just short of victory with 4/100, giving GMC its maiden win.
They would follow this match with a loss at the hands of the Bendigo District Cricket Association, despite 33 from Millie Hill and two wickets and 37 not out from Johnstone.
Coach Paul Colbert said the team would not forget the opportunity.
‘‘We spoke at length on the day about how they were trailblazers,’’ Colbert said. ‘‘It came up a few times that this is one of the moments that a player will remember for the rest of her life. There was only ever going to be one opportunity to be a part of the first GMC youth girls side, and I wanted them to make sure they took in how special that moment was.’’
Colbert spoke highly of the performance against Shepparton. ‘‘We came up against a really high-quality side,’’ he said. ‘‘They had some really good Northern Rivers talent as members of that side.
‘‘For the girls to play as well as they did in that game, it’s something that I’m really proud of them for.’’
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