Girls’ sport on rise as cricket club fields first all girls side in North Lakes

A bunch of ladies have proved themselves capable of mixing it with knights as they join their ranks for the first time in North Lakes.

Bianca Rolley, 12, Lydia Rolley, 10, Johanna Rolley, 12, Aleasha Rogers, 9, and Molly Schafferius, 12, the first girls team members of The Lakes Knights Cricket Club. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese)

GIRLS will now be able to take a knee as knights at a local sports club.

North Lakes Knights Cricket Club has welcomed its first all girls team into the Girls Under 11 Brisbane North Junior Cricket Association competition this season.

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Club president Haydon Carroll said the Lakes Knights Under 11 Girls Green Machine, aged eight-12, has been together for a few years and was thrilled to join the bigger competition.

“They had their first win last weekend so were very excited,” said Carroll last week.

“The competition goes for 17 weeks and they are ready to go.”

The club president said the team’s formation will have a compounding effect at the club.

“It means the sport is growing and it is good to expand the game in North Lakes,” Carroll said.

“We’ve got another 12 girls aged six-nine playing in the Junior and Master Blasters Competition who can now look forward to play in the more advanced competition.

The Lakes Knights Cricket Club president Haydon Carroll with manager Craig Rolley. Bianca Rolley, 12, Lydia Rolley, 10, Grace Elfverson, 10, Johanna Rolley, 12, Aleasha Rogers, 9, and Molly Schafferius, 12 are part of the club’s first girls team. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese)

“The Brisbane North Junior Cricket Association has a goal to have one in three girls playing cricket by 2023.

“And having the new team allows us a club to aim for that goal.”

The Green Machine, coached by Aaron Schafferius, lost by 20 runs to Valley Emeralds in their third outing over the weekend.

Carroll said the result was encouraging despite the loss with the team two players down.

The girls had better luck in their previous game on November 2.

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“Lakes Knights Girls Green Machine was 2 for 99 off 20 overs versus Valley Ruby which made 7 for 65,” said Carroll.

“Bianca Rolley got 12 runs off 15 balls including two fours.

“When fielding, Molly Schafferius took one for five off her three overs and Grace Elverson one for eight off her three overs.

“Eryn McAulay had three run outs.

“Team Manager Craig Rolley said all the girls played well on November 2 and were very excited to have won their first game.”