Positive signs for boys and girls players as new season fires up
Ipswich junior cricket is back up and running with a boost in teams and improved representative focus. See how the new season has taken off.
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Ipswich junior cricket is up and running with an increase in teams and improved representative focus.
The first Level 1, 2 and 3 matches of the new season were played last Saturday with Ipswich’s 13, 14 and 15 years sides beating Logan in the latest round of representative selection matches.
Level 0 games start this week.
Cricket Ipswich junior co-ordinator Jono Gibbs said an increase in teams was pleasing after Covid challenges in previous summer seasons.
“Numbers are little bit up on last year, which is good,’’ Gibbs said, pleased to see extra sides in Level 1 and Level 2 this season.
“Numbers were probably a little bit down last year because of Covid . . . but this year people are coming back.’’
The Level 1 (under 11) and Level 2 (under 13) competitions started last weekend with 15 teams.
Eight sides are preparing to play in the first Level 0 games this weekend.
In another positive sign, Gibbs said all clubs were reporting increased numbers in the Junior Blasters learning programs for the youngest cricketers.
“I’m happy with how the season has kicked off,’’ long-serving official Gibbs said.
“Just crossing the fingers and hope it all runs smoothly from here.’’
Centrals (Level 1), Strollers (Level 0 and 1) and Fassifern (Level 0) are also fielding girls teams playing against the boys.
“It’s a growing base and hopefully next year we will be able to have a girls-only competition,’’ Gibbs said.
Gibbs is a finalist in the volunteers section of the City of Ipswich Sports Awards being named on October 29.
He is continuing his valuable junior cricket development work under the Cricket Ipswich structure including the Ipswich Hornets Queensland Premier Grade sides.
That includes an Academy set up in the off-season to help the better cricketers.
Players in the Ipswich representative teams that beat Logan last Sunday are pressing for spots in SEQ sides for the state titles in December.
The selection matches between Ipswich and Logan continue for two more weeks.
Northsiders Level 2A coach Marcus Hillier watched his team play its first game against Strollers at Keith Sternberg Oval last Saturday.
Although the Tigers went down, Hillier was impressed with the promising players in his side.
“The 2A comp will be really strong this year. There’s some good 13 year olds going around,’’ Hillier said.
“Strollers have a very good side.’’
Hillier is back coaching at Northsiders with brother Robert (Level 1), Brad McDonald and recently inducted life member Kev Cumming.
After being with the Tigers Level 2B team last year, Hillier has joined McDonald helping the Northsiders 2A boys this year.
The under-13 cricketers play in a 30 over format on Saturdays.
“We’ve got a very good bunch of kids,’’ Hillier said.
“We’ve got a couple of kids that haven’t played before and a couple of younger kids trying to challenge themselves and a couple of older kids probably the leaders of the team now.’’
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