Dolphins teens proving why Gold Coast cricket is on the rise

MEET the Gold Coast school girls taking down some of Australia’s most established cricketers.

MEET the Gold Coast school girls taking down some of Australia’s most established cricketers.

The Gold Coast Dolphins have a plethora of players aged 15 or younger playing in their two senior women’s teams, including Grace Parsons who is in the premier Queensland-wide Katherine Raymont Shield squad.

Floating around in that competition are established stars Delissa Kimmince and Sammy-Jo Johnson on the Dolphins’ side and the likes of Grace Harris, Holly Ferling and Jemma Barsby in opposition ranks.

Jemma Barsby. Picture: AAP Image

Dolphins women’s coach Garry Lovett is excited by the young talent coming through the ranks at Bill Pippen Oval.

“We are such a young group. Even though they are 15 or 16, they have been in our system for about three or four years,” he said.

“They have had a taste over the last couple of seasons and know what it’s like now.

“They don’t get nervous anymore. It’s not such a big thing coming up against state players now.

Gold Coast Dolphins young guns. Back-row from left: Grace Parsons, Carlia Blunt, Sophie Squires, Ella Cornelius. Front-row from left: Emma Taylor, Hayley Campbell and Elana Nairn.

“It just goes to show that our women’s program is strong and working well and the depth in our juniors is huge.

“There is a flow-on effect from grade to grade when our senior players are unavailable; girls in seconds step up and move into firsts and our under-11 girls move up and fall into seconds.

“This is our second year with our girls playing in the under-11 local boys competition and in fact they had a win last week against Helensvale.

“To be sitting in first place in firsts is a huge effort – not only by our senior girls, but from our younger girls as well.”

Gold Coast host Sandgate-Redcliffe in the Katherine Raymont Shield on Sunday.

Delissa Kimmince (right) plays for the Gold Coast between her representative commitments. Picture: AAP Image

THE YOUNG BRIGADE

Grace Parsons

Age: 15

Position: Right-arm medium/leg spin, right-hand bat

From: Lismore

Team: First grade

Carlia Blunt

Age: 15

Position: Right-arm medium, right-hand bat

Lives: Tamborine

Team: First/second grade

Sophie Squires

Age: 14

Position: Right-arm medium, right-hand bat

Lives: Ormeau

Team: First/second grade

Ella Cornelius

Age: 15

Position: Right-arm medium, right-hand bat

Lives: Pottsville

Team: Second grade

Emma Taylor

Age: 13

Position: Right-arm medium, right-hand bat

Lives: Gold Coast

Team: Second grade

Hayley Campbell

Age: 15

Position: Right-arm medium/off-spin, right-hand bat

Lives: Gold Coast

Team: First/second grade

Elana Nairn

Age: 14

Position: Right-arm medium, right-hand bat

Lives: Gold Coast

Team: Second grade