The season may have ended in disappointment for Craigieburn’s women’s cricket side, but it was one that well and truly exceeded expectations.
The Eagles made not one but two grand finals in the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket north‐west competition. On both occasions they lost to Edinburgh.
But on Saturday, after a loss in the one‐day final, Eagles’ coach David Woodgate said he could not be prouder of the side.
“They couldn’t have given any more,” he said.
“I’m as happy you can be after a loss.
“I honestly didn’t think we’d get into both grand finals.”
The Eagles were on the back foot early in the game on Saturday after the Burras won the toss and sent the Eagles in on a wet, slow outfield.
After the Eagles crashed to 4‐23, Samantha French and Taylah Logie set about rescuing the innings.
But after the loss of Logie for 11, wickets fell frequently for the rest of the innings and the last wicket fell on the final ball with the total at 79. French top‐scored with 22.
After 10 overs of the reply, Edinburgh was 2‐17, the same as the Eagles at the same point.
But in the end the Burras made the runs easily with four wickets and seven overs in hand.
Tegan French finished 46 not out and was named player of the match.
“At no stage did we get our flow running and we lost vital wickets at vital times,” Woodgate said.
“And they had Tegan [French]. She stayed there and did a good job and virtually stayed there throughout the innings.
“I think she came in at first drop and was there at the end.
“What we really needed to do was to break the Tegan and [Claire] Triall partnership earlier. If we’d broken that we would have got to the bottom part of their side and it may have been a different story.”
Tracy Armstrong was the pick of the bowlers for the Eagles, taking 2‐19, while Logie bowled tightly for her 1‐18.
“I’m glad it’s this mob [we lost to],” Woodgate said.
“They’re a lovely side and there’s never any bad blood and the cricket is played the way it should be.
“We’ll reshape and do it again next year.”
