There have been plenty of laughs along with runs and wickets for the Westmeadows senior women’s cricket side.
For the Warriors, fielding a women’s side for the first time and playing in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, it’s as much as about having fun as getting the results.
Warriors coach Sonja Viehl said it had been a really enjoyable start to the season.
“The majority of our players, it’s the first time they’ve picked up a bat and ball,” she said.
“Only two had played before. We’ve got about 20 players, including a mother and daughter, and there’s a lot of mum’s coming for a hit.
“It’s a really good atmosphere and the women are getting along really well.”
The Warriors are yet to win a match, but Viehl said that wasn’t the main concern for the side this season.
“It’s more a social thing,” she said. “Some are playing for fitness and others for some fun.
“We make sure everyone has a bat and a bowl and we all have a laugh about it.
“If you don’t give all the players a go, you will lose them.”
Danielle Linton has been one of the standouts so far for the Warriors, including making a 50.
The Warriors had a bye at the weekend, with only three teams in the competition at this stage.
So successful has been the Warriors start to having women’s cricket, they will have two women’s teams from next week. They will make up two of the four teams in the VTCA competition.
She said they were still looking for more players to get involved – of any ability.
Viehl said getting female cricket up and going and thriving in the north-west was something she was passionate about.
After coaching one of her children’s junior teams, she got involved with the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association girls program.
She’s currently one of the association’s junior girls co-ordinators.
Anyone interested in joining the Warriors are welcome to attend training on Thursday nights from 7pm.