World Cup Beth Mooney stars in Sandgate-Redcliffe Katherine Raymont Shield grand final win

Beth Mooney last Sunday starred in Australia’s women’s T20 World Cup win and now she is on top of the world in club land as well after spearheading a young Sandgate-Redcliffe team to the Raymond Shield grand final win today at Allan Border Field.

Beth Mooney last Sunday starred in Australia’s women’s T20 World Cup win and now she is on top of the world in club land as well after spearheading a young Sandgate-Redcliffe team to the Raymond Shield grand final win today at Allan Border Field.

Mooney powered her way to 112 from 97 balls as the Gators came to rest at 238 from 50 overs.

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In response Gold Coast gave it a good shake and, with eight wickets in hand, needed to come home in the last 15 overs by scoring 110 runs.

But Iris Zwilling claimed the vital wicket of Rebecca Van Helvoirt which meant a new batter had to get going from the outset.

In the end wickets tumbled as Jemma Barsby enjoyed the complete performance – 85 runs, two wickets and four catches.

Sandgate-Redcliffe won the Raymont Shield for this season.

Mooney said it was a special moment to return to club cricket and win a final while playing in front of a host of past players enjoying a celebration of women in cricket,

“It is always nice to come back to club land and see the smiles on the girls’ faces and have a run around because it is not that often we get to do that anymore,’’ Mooney said.

“To be able to do it in front of the 90th anniversary celebration, I played cricket with some of those girls and they have had a great day and it is just great to feel the love from those girls who did it tough.

“It is a really exciting time to be playing cricket in this country, whether it be playing a final at the MCG or a club final at the Allan Border Field.’’

Earlier, Mooney and Barsby (85, 122 balls) combined in a 147 run partnership for the second wicket to set up the match winning total.

Lilly Mills made her debut for the Heat this season. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Such was Mooney’s domination that she scored 112 of the first 173 runs scored

It was a special moment for Barsby who is as Sandgate-Redcliffe as they come, having grown up around the Deagon fields playing as a child where her dad Trevor, a Bulls legend, and brother worked their batting magic on the field.

“It is always nice to win for the Gators, especially playing since under 9s. It has a special place in my heart,’’ Barsby said.

“Going to my brother’s game and even when the older girls were playing, going down and seeing how they do it was an awesome experience.’’

Sandgate-Redcliffe player Jemma Barsby at the grand final winning scoreboard.

Barsby said Saturday’s exciting semi-final win against Wests was an awesome experience for the younger players going into today’s final.

“It went down to the wire and they felt that pressure. The more tight games they play, the better off they will be.’’

Grand final victory capped a “massive season with a lot of learning curves’’ for Barsby after also playing with Perth in the WBBL.

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Schoolgirl rookies Julia Cavanough, Olivia Roche and Caitlin Mair also had a wonderful day, with Cavanough claiming a wicket.

“It has been a really long season and it is good to get a win at the end.

“All of our friends, with have worked together and trained together and it is just good to get there in the end,’’ the Mt Alvernia student and Everton Districts junior said.

Winners are grinners for Sandgate-Redcliffe as Kristen Davey, Olivia Roche, Julia Cavanough, and Caitlin Mair enjoy the Raymont Shield win.

St Rita’s student Roche added. “The girls have been really close this year and it is good to get a win and see it all come together.

“It is going to be good in a couple of years when we are a bit older.’’

Gators coach Bruce Arrold was proud of the players.

“The best part about them is we are only a junior side, with lots of girls aged between 14 and 21. They worked so hard and we worked so hard led by Tess (Cooper) while Beth (Mooney) is another calibre.’’

The Coast actually did well to bowl Sandgate-Redcliffe out from a position of strength as Eliza Flynn (4-30) and co worked their way through the remaining batters.

Caitlin Mair playing for Queensland. Picture supplied: Brody Grogan

Fortunately for the Gators, Barsby pushed on to be second last batter out.

Lilly Mills (18) did well to form a partnership with Barsby before she became one of Flynn’s four wickets.

Georgia Voll claimed the Betty Wilson Medal for player of the tournament at the under 18s National Championships.

Sandgate-Redcliffe have a pool of exciting young talent headed by the likes of Cavanough, Darling Downs product Georgia Voll and Mair and the experience they gained from yesterday’s final and Saturday’s semi-final will only benefit both the club and the Queensland Fire.

In January Voll won the Betty Wilson Medal for player of the tournament at the under 18 championships.