Jacana is enduring a slow start to the season in Cricket Victoria’s Women’s Community Cricket north-west competition but the players remain upbeat.
The Jaguars have been hurt by rain affected games, as is the case with many sides.
They started the season with a bye, one of their games didn’t get under way and a second was called off before a result was decided.
Jaguars player and club secretary Jodie Shanks said the aim this season was to finish higher than last season.
“We’ve haven’t really got many games under our belts yet, but we’re hoping to get better as the season goes on and make finals,” she said.
“We had a really fun game against Craigieburn which we lost by two runs …against Plenty Valley they had nine players who have played district cricket, as we discovered after the game.
“The side had never played a team that scored like that before. We were happy with how we played.”
On Saturday, Jacana won against EMP/Williamstown Congs by forfeit.
The Jaguars have a similar line-up to last season, when several past players returned to the side.
Shanks said they have a pool of 16 to 17 players to choose from each week. Ideally they would like to form a second team next season.
The club also has a big focus on trying to establish a junior program.
This season it has no junior sides, but is hopeful of having some, including a girls’ side, next year.
The first step is running a Milo in2Cricket program this season for children aged between five and eight.
The program started last week, with discounted, subsidised fees available for Hume families.
“We need to start from the ground up,” Shanks said. “We don’t have any junior sides, but it is a big focus. Milo is something we can build on next year.”
In other results, Craigieburn easily accounted for Melbourne University.
Melbourne University scored 4-119 off its overs, with Craigieburn making the winning runs with eight wickets and 15 overs to spare.
For details about Jacana’s Milo program, contact Jodie on 0422 998 375 or at jacanacricketclub@gmail.com
