NMCA 2018-19: Holy Trinity’s female cricket program thriving
WHEN the North Metro Cricket Association women’s competition launched with four teams three summers ago, Holy Trinity was not one of them. Now the Knights have two sides.
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WHEN the North Metro Cricket Association women’s competition launched with four teams three summers ago, Holy Trinity was not one of them.
Preston Druids, Olympic Colts, Keon Park and Heidelberg West contested the inaugural Lorraine Ireland Shield, with Druids making history as the first premier.
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Holy Trinity waited an extra year to enter its first team, intent on ensuring its women’s program would be a long-term success.
The foresight of that decision has become evident this season, with the club expanding to field two women’s sides for the first time.
“We didn’t want to just enter a side and then for it to fade away after a year or two,” president Alex Pettolino said.
“It took us that extra year to get everything lined up.”
Under the guidance of coach Jon Hyde and assistant Emily Whitfield, both Knights sides are in finals contention.
Pettolino said the club recognised the importance of developing a dedicated senior women’s program to give its junior girls a level to aspire to.
“We’d love for the club to reach a stage where the girls can come and play all their junior cricket with the club and then progress through to the seniors, just like the male side of things,” he said.
“We know that’s a bit away, but that’s the vision and everything we do is with that in mind.”
The club also has two girls teams competing in the Eastern Cricket Association this summer.
Carly O’Brien, one of the driving forces behind the growth of female cricket at the Thornbury-based Holy Trinity, has been appointed women’s cricket co-ordinator.
“The key for us was to make sure it was a program that made people want to keep playing and want to come back season after season,” Pettolino said.
“In this day and age, we’re there to enjoy ourselves and have fun, but I think there is a level of competition and seriousness the girls like to play with.”
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