All-girls team smashes barriers in junior cricket

A GROWING group of girls are breaking down barriers to help boost female participation in junior cricket on the Far North Coast.

The Lennox Head Pirettes are an all-girls team playing in the Ballina District Junior Cricket under-12 division two competition.

It is a first for the club and the only female team playing in the junior competition.

Some of the girls come from cricket families while others have joined the team during the season.

Coach Terry Rose said the formation of the team was something the club had been working on for a few years.

“Plenty of girls have been brought up with cricket, but haven’t had the opportunity to play in this environment.

“We found over the years that they don’t mind playing against boys, but they also enjoy having their own team.

“We’re picking up new girls now who have found out at school or had a bit of an interest but weren’t really sure where to go.

“We’ve competed well, the girls really enjoy themselves and they just keep improving.”

They had a big win in their first game together when they took on the Lennox Head boys’ team in the local derby.

“A couple of them were playing against siblings and cousins in that game,” Rose said.

“One girl was stoked to get her brother out and another was devastated when she got her cousin’s wicket, so that was an exciting day for a few families.”

Rose hoped more clubs across the competition would introduce girls teams over the next few years.

The rules allow for them to play two years down in age division while the Pirettes also have girls as young as 10 playing up in age.

If the club retains most of its players, there is every chance they could add an under-14 team in the next few years.

“I think Murwillumbah are trying something similar in their competition and it would be great to add more teams,” Rose said.

“We’ve had a lot of people come out of the woodwork who didn’t know it was happening and think it’s great what we’re doing now.

“It all helps with development and pathways, if we could get an all-girls competition in the next few years that would be fantastic.