U11 Girls Season Review

The junior season is wrapping up after another successful campaign, not least for the girls cricket offering at North East Cheshire which continues to go from strength to strength. Girls' Development Lead Paul Owen provided the following review of the U11 Lightning season...

What a brilliant season the U11’s girls have had. I could not have coached a more enthusiastic, determined and dedicated team. Whether practicing on the pitch, in the nets or playing a match, they have encouraged and supported each other on the field, whilst significantly improving both their cricket skills and their match play.

In a season hampered by Covid isolations we managed to play 3 league matches and maintain a 100% winning record.  We also played some friendly matches and won all bar one, against Stockport Georgians U13 girls.  We set ourselves a target early in the season of becoming the best fielding team in the league, appreciating that excellent fielding wins matches.   

A couple of  matches later the opposition coach and players told us at the end that our fielding was outstanding and we subsequently maintained that level in every match we played, often really limiting the other team’s scores.  I realised after our match against Lindow how high my expectations of the girls had become when I was frustrated that we had made three fielding mistakes in 20 overs!

The girls are constantly looking to improve and recognise that whilst we have been winning matches, there is still work to do on their batting, particularly when playing straight balls and trying not to get bowled.  However, they have worked hard in the nets on this and we’ll do more when we come back to winter nets later in the year. 

However, it’s not the cricket skills where the girls have really impressed, it’s how they have behaved as a team.  Constant encouragement, respectful celebrations, friendly to their opposition and welcoming of new players.  When we arrive at a match or training they just get organised and start playing without having to be told and you can tell they all love playing together.  When they go out into the middle they are smiling but then they play hard but fair, and when they win they congratulate their opposition.

I’m really looking forward to next season with the girls and watching them continue to improve.