Women’s Section - Report 2011 season
There were 21 women's teams representing 12 LCU clubs who took part in the 2011 season competitions. Pembroke was the only club to field 3 teams with 2 teams each from Clontarf, Leinster, Malahide, Merrion, North Kildare, Rush and The Hills. Dublin University, Phoenix, Railway Union and Terenure each fielded one team. This was Terenure's first season to enter a womens team for a number of years and we were delighted to welcome them back. The women's branch would encourage any club who has not currently got a women's section to consider starting one, as women's cricket is growing in popularity internationally. This is evidenced by the inclusion of teams from Japan and the USA in this month's women's world cup qualifiers being held in Bangladesh.
Over 100 matches were completed in the 3 divisions of the 20 over women's league with very few fixtures not getting played due to weather or other factors. There were many exciting and entertaining matches mostly played on weekday evenings and these included a rare tie. Division 1 fixtures are played according to international T20 rules and show case our best players who also represent Ireland internationally. In division 2 there are many developing players who may represent Ireland in the future and division 3 players range from young beginners to those who have played more seasons than they care to remember. League winners this year were Merrion in division 1, Rush 2 in division 2 and Railway Union in division 3.
The women's cup competitions reverted to 25 over matches this season in an attempt to make cup ties different to league matches. Woman of the match awards were also reinstated for each cup match. The cup finals day was held in Pembroke CC on 6August and unfortunately due to bad weather could not be completed until the next day. Once again the day was used to promote breast cancer awareness with lots of pink being worn. Our LCU umpires even agreed to umpire while wearing pink hats (very fetching). The senior cup was won by Pembroke, the junior cup by Clontarf 2 and Railway Union did the double by adding the minor cup title to their division 3 league victory.
The women's section also runs a 50 over competition – the Pilkington Plate. The purpose of this competition is to give women a chance to play the longer version of the game and for our international players to gain some experience in the ODI format. Players from clubs who do not field a 50 over side may play for another club in this competition so that the opportunity to play 50 over cricket is available to all. There were 5 teams in this year's competition and after each team had played all the others the teams stood at 2 wins each. A final was played in Rush CC on 27 August between Pembroke and Rush and thanks to a blistering display of hitting by woman of the match Clare Shillington, Rush won their first 50 over title.
Congratulations to this seasons individual award winners especially Ireland Captain Isobel Joyce for the Howard all rounder cup, Elena Tice, who this year became the second youngest international cricketer on record, for the most improved player award and Carol Cromer for the Clarissa Pilkington Fair Play Award. Other individual winners were:
Womens Division 1 Batting Kim Garth (Pembroke)
Womens Division 2 Batting Fiona Manning (Clontarf)
Womens Division 3 Batting Carol Mackenzie (Railway Union)
Womens Division 1 Bowling Laura Delany (Leinster)
Womens Division 2 Bowling Sharon Corbett (Pembroke)
Womens Division 3 Bowling Vanessa Johnston (Railway Union)
Womens Division 1 Wicket Keeping Valmai Gee (Leinster)
Womens Division 2 Wicket Keeping No Award given
Womens Division 3 Wicket Keeping Veronica Fay-Watt (The Hills)