Clubs to create history with grand final spot on line

THE GEELONG City Sharks versus Lethbridge women’s semi-final will be a historic occasion in the Geelong Cricket Association this Sunday.

It will be the maiden first-grade women’s finals series for both clubs when they meet at Richmond Oval at 1pm.

Sharks captain Mary Rolfe summed up the excitement ahead of the 30-over match.

“It means heaps to us, especially coming up from two years ago, we were in C grade moving up to B last year and now in A,” she said.

“We definitely did not think we would be sitting top of the table or anything like that so we’re all really excited and pretty shocked to be honest.”

Rolfe credited the incredible rise to hard work and great coaches who make training fun.

“It helps that we’re such a tight-knit group,” she said.

“When I’m working out bowling orders or batting or setting my field; I’ve always got girls helping me out.”

Geelong City ended up minor premier after accounting for second-placed North Geelong to finish off the home and away rounds.

The Sharks’ Roseanne Cox stood out with 90 not out from 75 balls as the team posted 6-152.

“She’s just a player that you can always rely on and the 90 not out was an insane performance. We were all so shocked sitting back watching,” Rolfe said.

Meanwhile, captain Helen Jones says reigning premier North Geelong is determined to triumph again.

The Magpies didn’t get to play their grand final against St Joseph’s last year due to extreme heat and were awarded the cup as the higher-placed side in the decider.

Jones said the group would love the chance to play on grand final day.

“Last year we won because it was heated-off and there was a little bit of talk about that, the same as when our men’s team won their first premiership because of COVID,” she said.

“So we both won the men’s and the women’s because we were the higher teams on the ladder, so we do feel that we deserved to get it being the higher-positioned teams.”

To get there, the Magpies need to first overcome a Barwon Heads outfit inspired by new captain/coach Steph Theodore who averages 55.82 runs this season.

That semi-final is at Osborne Park on Sunday at 1pm.