Here’s a quick look at some of the other sports making news in Hume and Whittlesea.
YOUTH GIRLS’ FOOTBALL
Twenty Calder Cannons players have been named in the initial 65-strong Victoria Metro youth girls squad for the national championships to be held in early May. The squad includes Mernda’s Deanna Berry, Sunbury Lions’ Madison Prespakis, Molly Hemburrow, Felicity Theodore and Stacey Smith, Yarrambat’s Marnie Jarvis and Epping’s Alexandra Pronesti. Gisborne’s Eshe Lane and Kyneton’s Alicia Rooth were both named in the initial Victorian Country squad.
WOMEN’S CRICKET
Three Plenty Valley players were in the Victorian women’s cricket team which finally won the under-18 national championships after four successive grand final defeats. The team, which included Plenty Valley’s Rhiann O’Donnell, Hope Irvine and Taylor Vlaeminck, won all its matches over the two-week competition and beat NSW Metropolitan by 59 runs in the decider. Victoria made 3-183, with Irvine not out on three . O’Donnell and Vlaeminck thentook two wickets each as NSW Metropolitan was all out for 124.
NORTHERN T20
Northern Metro Cricket Association’s top two sides will face off in the semi-finals of the Northern Region T20 competition. Rivergum defeated Lalor Stars and the Warriors beat Macleod in the quarter-finals of the competition, which was made up of teams from the NMCA and the Diamond Valley Cricket Association. Plenty will play North Eltham Wanderers in the other semi-final on February 2.
BOWLS
Bundoora RSL came away with the points against Mitcham in Bowls Victoria premier division on Saturday. Needing big wins to try to force their way into the top four, RSL won two rinks and split a third in the 79 (15) – 68 (3) win. RSL remains in seventh spot on the ladder, 18 points behind fourth. RSL’s second team beat Hurstbridge 81 (14) – 67 (4) in division 1, section 4. In the same section, Whittlesea defeated Lalor 73 (15) – 64 (3). RSL is second on the ladder, Whittlesea sits fifth and Lalor is eighth. Broadmeadows and Craigieburn suffered losses in division 2, section 2.
BIG V BASKETBALL
Basketball season has come early for Craigieburn Eagles, who will play in the Pride Cup on Saturday night. The cup, which is in its second year, will see both the Eagles men’s and women’s sides meet McKinnon. The women’s match will start at the State Basketball Centre at 6pm and the men’s game will follow. The Pride Cup is designed to promote gender and sexual diversity in basketball across Victoria and coincides with the start of the Midsumma Festival.
