Modewarre looking to boost junior numbers

THERE are only a handful of cricket clubs situated in the Surf Coast Shire, but perhaps its smallest one will make the biggest jump participation-wise in the coming years.

Nestled away among the plains of Mount Moriac, the Modewarre Cricket Club hopes to make headway with its junior cricket program as numbers slowly continue to rise.

Modewarre now boasts eight sides: seven male and one female.

The breakdown of the club’s teams sees three junior outfits and five senior ones, but short-term objectives for the maroon, blue and white includes forming a fourth junior team for the 2022/23 season in the Under 15 age bracket.

Modewarre’s other two junior sides both operate in the Under 11 competition.

“The football club at Modewarre is really booming, which shows that it’s possible to draw numbers to a cricket club with a location like ours,” Modewarre junior co-ordinator Louise Kahle said.

“We have about 28 kids in our juniors who play on a Friday night and the friendships our juniors build keeps them coming back each season.”

Before Christmas, Kahle said that each Wednesday the club would cook around 60 meals to facilitate dinners for all the junior families, creating for a fun and inclusive environment each training night.

The club sees several holes in its junior pathways, particularly on the junior female side, despite its senior team’s success.

“Absolutely we would love to have a girls’ side at the club in the next couple of years,” Kahle said.

“Our senior women’s side is sitting third in its competition, which sets an excellent example for prospective girls’ players.”

The club’s senior women’s side competes in the Barwon Women’s Cricket Competition’s C Grade competition.

Modewarre’s efforts as a community remain strong, evidenced by the completion of its main oval’s traditional “white picket fence” costing the club $40,000 – the club’s most recent project.

The club with the assistance of its greater community within and outside of the organisation completed the purchase and construction of the fence back in November, adding to Mount Moriac Recreation Reserve’s picturesque views.

To show appreciation those who donated their money to the club’s new fence, the name of the individual or the family will be inscribed on either a panel or paling dependant on the amount of money.

It’s all happening at ‘Modda’ and the club remains optimistic for what will be a rewarding next two to three years.

If your child is interested in playing for Modewarre, you can contact [email protected] for more information.