NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield, elimination finals

With the opening week of the finals done and dusted, four sides remain in the race for the U18s Brewer Shield. See who starred and what the coaches have to say.

Jason Hosken

@HoskenJason

4 min read

March 3, 2025 - 1:27PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Manly are still on track for another Brewer Shield grand final appearance. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

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With the opening week of the finals done and dusted, four sides remain in the race for the U18s Brewer Shield. See who starred and what the coaches have to say after Sunday’s elimination finals.

U18S BREWER SHIELD STATS: EVERY PLAYER RANKED

SWANS FLIP THE SCRIPT

The Southern Swans’ title dream is still alive after the Illawarra girls ended Greater Hunter’s premiership defence by nine runs in a final over thriller at Port Kembla.

The victory, Southern’s second in three outings against their regional rivals this season came after opener Amelia Valdez (69 off 119 balls) and Ella Yates (54* off 84) guided them to a commanding 6/188.

Evie West was the only Hunter multiple wicket-taker with 3/39, but found solid support from new-ball partner Layla Graham (0/24, 10 overs) and spinner Cosette Thomas (1/21, 10 overs).

Hunter were cautious in reply, and when Mia Gentle (29 from 110) departed it was 2/76 in the 35th over. Evie O’Brien top scored (40 off 82) before she became the first of five run outs in what turned out to be a chaotic finish.

Graham (30 off 26) and skipper Felicity Wharton (24 off 23) picked up the pace and with two overs remaining it was 6/171 and still anyone's game.

Cosette Thomas took 1/21 off 10 overs for Greater Hunter Coast. Picture: Andrew McCrae

Desperate to keep their season alive, the Hunter girls challenged the Southern fielders but finished on the wrong end of the scoreboard when Bronte Morgan was the last fall with the score on 179 after she became the fourth run out in the space of 11 deliveries.

“It got a bit crazy at the end again, just like when they beat us two weeks ago,” said Swans co-coach Aaron Hudson.

“Both sides are very similar, a lot of them play cricket together in country carnivals and against each other and are good friends as well. But it was a great game, probably too good a game for one side to be eliminated.”

Amelia Valdez plays square for NSW Country at this season’s U16 Female National Championships in Ballarat. Picture: Cricket Australia

On a ground not traditionally known for producing high scores, Hudson was delighted with his side’s top order

“The girls posted a great score. Our home ground is not renowned for big totals at the best of times,” said Hudson.

“Amelia has probably been due a big score, so to get one in a finals match was good. And it was good to see Ella return to scoring form as well.

“It was a strange game, both the opening attacks cancelled each other out for about 20 overs. I guess we had the benefit of runs on the board, so they had to chase with the added pressure.”

Now one game shy of a grand final, Southern head north on Sunday for a clash with St George-Sutherland.

“It looks like we’ll have everyone available,” said Hudson.

“We did have a little injury scare with all-rounder Ebony Winston. She cut the webbing in her hand, but at this stage it sounds like she will be available on the weekend.”

Southern Swans 6/188, 50 overs (Valdez 69, Yates 54*; West 3/39, Thomas 1/21, Morgan 1/24, Wharton 1/35 ) defeated Greater Hunter Coast 10/179, 49.5 overs (O’Brien 40, Graham 30, Gentle 29; Valdez 2/38, Cody 1/5, Dragovic 1/25, Egan 1/35 ) at King George V, Port Kembla

MANLY MARCH ON

Manly have moved one game closer to consecutive grand final appearances after they eliminated Penrith with a clinical seven-wicket victory at Manly Oval.

Charlotte Allen (3/20, eight overs) set the scene for the home side. The energetic quick removed both openers to make it 2/11 before Japleen Kaur (47 off 115) continued her breakout season, holding the innings together before some late fireworks from Charli O’Hare (21 off 33) and Karly Woods saw Penrith finish their 50 overs on 8/145.

But it was never going to be enough. Keira Terrey (61* off 89) and Matilda Brown (29 off 35) added a quickfire 72 for the first wicket before Brown was run out in the 14th over.

With the damage already done, Manly cruised home in the 28th over to book a semi final clash with minor premiers Gordon.

“Charlotte really started off well for us,” said Manly coach Bill McLerie.

“She had a real glint in her eye and was aggressive at the start with the ball, which set the tone for our whole fielding side.

“But credit to Penrith, they rebounded and it was a only a magic catch from Eve Burke that ended Japleen’s innings. She held it running along the boundary, and managed to control her steps so she stayed in the field of play - it was a game changing moment.

“Then Karly Woods threatened to take the game away at the end of Penrith’s innings. She was hammering the bowling, so it was a relief when Matilda (2/39, 10 overs) got her out.”

Manly’s Charlotte Allen struck two crucial early blows against Penrith. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

Far from comfortable with making the finals, McLerie continues to tinker with his side for maximum output in an effort to go one better after going down to Greater Hunter in last year’s decider.

“We’ve turned Keira into an off-spinner and that has worked really well. She bowled 10 overs and took 1/11 with six maidens, she just puts the ball on the spot every time,” said McLerie.

“We made changes to the batting order too. Matilda opened and really came through for us, picking up the run rate with Keira who continues to shine at the top of the order.

“Now we look forward to playing Gordon again. We had a good game against them earlier in the year, they beat us by 20-odd runs, so the girls are looking forward to having another crack against them.”

Penrith 8/145, 50 overs (Kaur 47, Woods 29, O’Hare 21, Mellis 21; Allen 3/20, Ford 2/11, Brown 2/39, Terrey 1/11) lost to Manly Warringah 3/147, 27.5 overs (Terrey 61*, Brown 29; Gill 1/16, Mouwen 1/22) at Manly Oval