Gold Coast Dolphins women ready for first grade season opener after major changes to 2017-18 team

GRACE Parsons’ Katherine Raymont Shield debut will be a memorable experience in more ways than one as the Gold Coast Dolphins enter a new era of women’s cricket.

GRACE Parsons’ Katherine Raymont Shield debut will be a memorable experience in more ways than one as the Gold Coast Dolphins enter a new era of women’s cricket.

With the club’s first grade women to launch their Queensland Premier Cricket campaign with a one-day trip to Sandgate-Redcliffe on Sunday, Parsons, 15, is one of seven changes from the XII that played the final fixture of 2017-18.

A national title winner with the NSW under-15s last season and a member of the NSW Academy, Lismore product Parsons has only ever played in boys’ teams at club level.

SUCCESS A MIND GAME FOR DOLPHINS’ MEN

But far from daunted by the prospect of facing last season’s one-day and Twenty20 grand finalists tomorrow, the young all-rounder is keeping things perfectly simple.

“(The goal is) just to get wickets, get runs and have fun,” Parsons, from the village of Caniaba on the outskirts of Lismore, said.

Chelsea Gan, Georgia Sandford and Grace Parsons are among the new faces in the Gold Coast Dolphins’ first grade women’s team. Picture: Richard Gosling

“I’m pretty excited to play first grade, it was a nice little surprise. I’m really excited for the experience to be able to play women’s cricket for the first time. I’m used to playing with the boys and I’ve always played against the boys back in Lismore.

“A lot of our more experienced players (like Delissa Kimmince and Sammy-Jo Johnson) are away playing for the Queensland Fire and other rep duties so I think there’ll be a few of the younger girls coming through (against Sandgate).

“Coming up (to the Dolphins) I’ve found it’s a really inviting club and everyone’s so inclusive. It was really nice experiencing that. It’s easier than travelling 20 hours down to Sydney.”

CLUB HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION, SAYS SKIPPER

All-rounder Delissa Kimmince will miss the Dolphins’ season opener. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

The Dolphins underwent a rebuild in 2017-18, winning just two of eight one-day games to finish last on the five-team ladder.

An identical record in the T20 format left them second from bottom.

TIGERS BARING TEETH IN COAST T20S

With Kimmince and Johnson on Queensland Fire duties, Tara Wheeler, Rebecca Van Helvoirt, Roxanne Thomson, Laura Lovett and Carlia Blunt are the only surviving players from the final game of last season.

The Dolphins will play eight one-dayers to start the new season, while the club’s second grade women begin their season at home to Valleys next Sunday.

DOLPHINS WOMEN’S TEAM TO PLAY SANDGATE-REDCLIFFE

Tara Wheeler

Chelsey Gan

Rebecca Van Helvoirt

Hayley Campbell

Aby Godfrey

Shareene Ferrier

Grace Parsons

Georgia Sandford

Roxanne Thompson

Laura Lovett

Sophie Squires

Carlia Blunt

DOLPHINS WOMEN’S DRAW

September 23 - away to Sandgate-Redcliffe (one-dayer)

September 30 - home to Ipswich-Logan (one-dayer)

October 7 - home to Valleys (one-dayer)

October 14 - away to UQ (one-dayer)

October 21 - away to Wests (one-dayer)

October 28 - home to Sandgate-Redcliffe (one-dayer)

November 4 - away to Ipswich-Logan (one-dayer)

November 11 - away to Valleys (one-dayer)

COAST REP STAR STILL FINDING PLAYER-COACH BALANCE

November 18 - home to Sandgate-Redcliffe (T20)

November 18 - home to Valleys (T20)

November 25 - away to UQ (T20)

November 25 - away to Wests (T20)

November 30 - versus Ipswich-Logan at Wests (T20)

December 2 - away to Sandgate-Redcliffe (T20)

December 9 - home to Wests (one-dayer)

December 16 - home to UQ (one-dayer)

January 6 - away to Valleys (T20)

January 6 - versus Ipswich-Logan at Valleys (T20)

January 13 - home to Wests (T20)

January 13 - home to UQ (T20)

February 3 - away to Sandgate-Redcliffe (one-dayer)

February 10 - home to Ipswich-Logan (one-dayer)

February 17 - home to Valleys (one-dayer)

February 24 - away to UQ (one-dayer)

March 3 - home to Wests (one-dayer)