Cricket is back at Wallington

CRICKET in Wallington is back with soaring junior participation numbers and eight all-girl teams announced as the Bellarine club held its preseason information night on Friday with plenty of families in attendance.

The Wallington Cricket Club has seen numbers skyrocket in the lead up to cricket season, particularly in its Cricket Australia Woolworths Cricket Blast (WWCB) program and junior teams.

Wallington’s WWCB numbers have grown five-fold since implementing the junior pathways program, seeing participation increase from 15 to 110 kids over the past three seasons.

Nevertheless, after what has been a challenging 12 months for Wallington CC and other community clubs, cricket will again provide a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with friends, families, and bring together the community this summer.

“The thing that I am most excited about is having the kids back playing sport,” junior coordinator of Wallington CC David Brockway said.

“I have three young boys and they are mad for playing sport and being outside, and for me to see the smiles on all the kids’ faces on a Friday night having a hit and running around is priceless.”

Cricket Australia’s head of programs and participation Stuart Whiley said that its WWCB program provides a wonderful introduction into the sport for new cricketers.

“The WWCB product does a really great job of catering to everyone to come in and enjoy lots of fun, colour and activity,” Whiley said.

“Just being able to pull together all of those factors in an action-packed program where the kids pick up some skills, play sport with each other and make a connection with their mum and/or dad, it creates a wonderful entry point into the sport. We are really excited for cricket to pick up in the next couple of weeks in Geelong and on the Bellarine.

“In the community, there is almost a feeling of ‘Christmas is coming’ and to be able to get the kids back out there and moving after another impacted winter season, we are really thrilled.”

A major talking point for Wallington is their increasing female participation.

Wallington will field its first senior women’s side this season with the help of its president Marc Occhipinti, as well as eight all-girls sides being produced at the junior level.

Brockway noted that COVID-19 has played a huge role in providing more of a female reaction participation-wise, but Wallington’s efficient junior program has been the key in keeping its new recruits.

“Off the back of the pandemic last year, the key fact that kids haven’t been able to play a sport in the last 12 months has been the main reason for our increased participation this year,” Brockway said.

“We also run a really good junior program which has enticed the word of mouth to become massive for us, especially around the Bellarine.

“We’ve also had a recent change in the committee where we created a new five-year plan to have three senior female sides. At the moment, we look to be ahead of that goal.”

Go to play.cricket.com.au to find out more about your local club or Woolworths Cricket Blast centre.