THE 2022 Western Victoria Girls Shield kicked off yesterday with close to 20 teams coming from all over the state to compete across three age groups this week.

It is the first time Hamilton District Cricket Association (HDCA) has had a team in all three age groups, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18, which was merged with the Wimmera due to numbers.

Despite a few teams pulling out just before the carnival, the show went on and some of the best female cricketers in the state have been taking to the field.

The T20 games have been played all around Hamilton with games also in Tarrington, along with Monivae College, Clem Young Oval, College Turf, Melville Oval, KFC Oval, Hamilton Rec Reserve and PP3.

The coach for the Under-14 team rotate between parents each game, while Craig Williamson (Under-16) and Jodie Humphries (Under-18) will be in charge of the other sides.

The Under-18 Hamilton-Wimmera team will be captained by Wimmera’s Heidi Schneider with local star, Aisha Hendriks, the vice-captain.

HDCA president, Lloyd Ilett said despite the COVID-19 situation, it was great to have three teams in this year’s competition.

“It’s all ready to go … this is the third instalment of the Western Victoria Girls Shield, of course COVID has knocked a few teams around, but we are still going to have close to 20 teams here,” he said.

“We are really excited; it is getting bigger and bigger every year and the girls have only really been taking this on as their sport in the last 3-5 years.

“The skill level on display is great and we are really happy with the development.”

Sunraysia was initially going to come but withdrew because of the COVID-19 situation in Mildura, while Mount Gambier also withdrew one of its sides for the same reason.

Ilett said due to the current circumstances, postponing the country week competition until later in the year was previously a real possibility.

“The association did think about postponing until April school holidays … but it’s more likely to be good weather in summer rather than the April school holidays,” he said.

The Hamilton Under-18 side won the shield last year thanks to some grand final heroics from Eliza Jagger and Jess Field and Ilett said he was looking to seeing the next crop of talent in action this week.

“The 18s are the defending premiers, it was an outstanding team last year, a lot of them have moved on because they are too old, but have gone on to play premier cricket for Geelong and Essendon-Maribynong Park, which is what we want to see,” he said.

“The Under-16 competition was the most even last year, and we expect that to continue … hopefully it’s a solid comp and they are virtually on the same skill level.

“The more that we get in the Under-14 age group and as they get older, they will make the other competition stronger, it will build junior girls’ competitions here in the Hamilton area and across the western half of Victoria.

“It’s development work that was started 20 years ago by people like Stephen Field that we are seeing come to fruition, we are now seeing junior girls’ competitions in a lot of associations.”

Ilett said it was a great opportunity for local girls to be seen by some selectors from the biggest female premier cricket clubs in the state.

“This is where the selectors watch carefully and the good performers will be invited to play higher cricket for their area like Western Waves,” he said.

“Female cricket is taking off and we want to be at the forefront of that, we are very … and we couldn’t hold this carnival without the support of the shire, all the local clubs and Cricket Victoria.”

Teams

Under-14s

Charlotte Alderman, Amelia Bailey, Penny Burger, Alicia Eats, Lucy Fraser, Lillian Glazebrook, Kelsie Hunt, Bonnie Jackson, Phoebe Lazzari, Madi McLean, Eloise Millard, Ella Peters, Grace Potter, Ellivia Robbins, Sophie Satchell, Kirby Vise.

Under-16s

Coach – Craig Williamson.

Chloe Bradley, Ashley Brilley, Xarifa Christie-Hill, Drew Garratt, Alexis Hunt, Ella Jackson, Charlie McLean, Matilda Potter, Olivia Read, Lauren Sharrock, Sophie Taylor, Emilie Tonissen, Pippa Williamson, Sophie Walker.

Under-18s (combined with the Wimmera)

Coach – Jodie Humphries.

Heidi Schneider (c), Aisha Hendriks (vc), Amelia Barry, Tara-Lee Bradley, Bridie Curran, Leila Elton, Lucinda Holmes-Brown, Micaela Meyer, Ruby Pickett, Bridie Reid, Phoebe Russell, Isobel Schorback, Matilda Venn.