Girls Under 13s
Our Girls Under 13s are in a transition year with only three of the squad having played hard ball cricket prior to this season, and all but three still in Under 11s. The focus for the season was therefore development and experience but we should know by now not to underestimate our girls.

At the half way point of the Durham Women & Girls Under 13 Hardball League we are sitting top with three wins form four games. Our solitary loss was a thriller against Seaham Harbour when the Sirs girls, Emily & Bella, finished just 7 runs short despite needing almost 50 from the final pair. The victory at Sedgefield was particularly impressing given the absence of star player Emily.

Perhaps the finest performance of the season so far was our National T20 game against Sessay Emeralds which was played under standard cricket rules rather than pairs. The visitors had a rich history in the competition and girls cricket whereas it would be only the 2nd game for most of our squad.

The Sirs girls were again to the fore with a partnership of over 70 as we totalled 160-2 in our 20 overs. Tight bowling and great fielding kept Sessay to 142-6 in reply. Our opponents in the Group Quarter Final conceded and we now await the winners of South Northumberland & Newcastle in the Semi Final. The format of the competition means the Group Semi Final is essentially Last 16 Nationally.

Girls Under 15s
So far the majority of our Girls Under 15s games have been in the Vitality National T20.

In Round 1 we visited local rivals, and great friends, Sedgefield where an all round performance from Tilly P (53 off 28 with the bat and 2 for 14 with the ball) ensured smooth progress via an 87 run win.

Rounds 2 and 3 were played on the same weekend, bad weather had meant Round 2 against our other good friends Seaham Park needed to be played on the Saturday so the winners could play Round 3 on the Sunday. Park chose to bat first but struggled to score, Matilda T bowling 3 maidens as her 4 overs gave up a solitary run, finishing on 30-5 in their allotted overs. Emily M & Tilly overhauled the score in under 5 overs.

Round 3 was a second trip to Blagdon Park in two years. Blagdon had beaten us at the same stage last year so the girls were determined to put in a good performance, and what a performance it was! Batting first Tilly & Amy H put on 129 for the first wicket, Tilly unlucky to be caught & bowled for 49. Amy kept going with support from the other girls and brought up her maiden century; Amy finished 118 not out as we piled up 212-4 in 20 overs. In reply Blagdon got off to a flier before Emily M put the brakes on and Matilda added vital wickets. Amy H then blew away the tail so secure victory by 103 runs.

The Quarter Final was trip to Yorkshire to play Rockingham Colliery CC just outside Barnsley. They had knocked of 248 in the previous round and had gotten a shout out on social media from the England Women so we expected a tough game. Emily M put the game in our favour from the off with 3 quick wickets, Matilda continued her excellent form in the competition with 2 and good fielding saw the home team dismissed for only 71. Suddenly we looked favourites. However, Rockingham bowler Maiya had other ideas, ripping through our batting with a magnificent 5fer. Amy H kept batting (coach’s instructions the same as always – “just bat”) and found support from Emily M, Matilda and Anna who batted solidly in an unbroken partnership of 17 to secure a 1 wicket win.

We now face either Leyland or Northop in the Group Semi Final, effectively the last 16 in the national competition.

So far we have only played a single game in the Durham Women & Girls U15 League, a 117 run victory over Seaham Harbour. Tilly with a 17 ball 50 plus scores of 34 from Emily S and 39 from Evie S.

Women
Our Women’s team has been developing and getting stronger since it formed two seasons ago. Whilst they had come close to victory a few times in those seasons, the stark reality was they hadn’t won a game on the field in that time. They’ve certainly corrected that now!

Our first Durham Women Hardball League game of the season was away to Brandon where Amy H with 53* and Tilly P with 37* saw us to 134-1. Brandon managed only 79-4 in reply and we had our first win.

A second win followed soon after with victory over Norton by 15 runs. Polly C & Amy H have developed a fantastic opening partnership and batted through the innings for 116 without loss – Amy with another 50.

Philadelphia are a powerhouse of north east women’s cricket and they inflicted our first loss. The visitors 120-3 looked achievable but their bowling proved too tight and we could only manage 82-3 (including another unbeaten 50 for Amy).

Then came the game which really showed we were a team to be feared. Durham City posted a huge 149-1 with both openers scoring fifties. However, led by Polly, Amy, and Tilly we overhauled it for the loss of only 2 wickets. Amy with a seasons best of 85*.

Polly & Amy continued to break club records with another unbeaten opening partnership of 151 against Willington in a comfortable 44 run victory.

A surprise loss to Shotley Bridge could not put a dampener on what had been a great league campaign and a washed out game away to Gateshead Fell meant we finished top of the initial group stage. We now progress to the Gold League for the first time.

A special mention to Amy H who finished the group with 367 runs at an average of 187.5 – more than 200 runs more than the second placed batter.

Our good form has continued in the Vitality National T20 as well. A first round trip to Tynedale was a difficult starter but 30* from Emily S got us to a competitive 100-6. Excellent fielding including three run outs tight bowling restricted the hosts to 78 and a 22 run win for our women.

Round 2 was at home to Stocksfield, another Northumberland club with a rich history of Women’s cricket. Batting first the visitors collap[sed from 63-2 to 81 all out. The two Emilys with 3 wickets each. The total was overhauled in only 11 overs and a 9 wicket win secured.

A walkover in the Quarter Final means we now host North Leeds in the group Semi Final, last 16 nationally, on Sunday 2nd July.

Girls Under 19s
We also entered our Girls Under 19s in the National T20 and have progressed to the Quarter Final of our Group. We host South Northumberland on Friday 7th July for a place in the group semi final and last 16 nationally.