By Tara Murray
Sydenham-Hillside has added more consistency to its game in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Women’s competition.
The inaugural premiers have continued to build from last season’s win and are on top of the ladder this season.
Storm captain Catherine Morrow said having a year under their belt had really paid off.
“It has been a pretty consistent year, despite not playing as much as we would have liked with the weather,” Morrow said
“The girls want to play every week.
“We’ve got a couple of new players who have done really well and those who played last season … have really improved.”
The Storm has started to blood the next generation of cricketers.
Teenagers Nikita Chaudhary, Holly Nagpal and Ellie Liron are three of those who have been given their opportunity in recent weeks.
Liron, who made her debut two games ago, became part of the club’s first mother and daughter combination to take the field.
Another talented junior, Hannah Brne, who is part of the women’s side, was part of the Vic Spirit under-18 team.
Morrow said there was good signs for the future with the players coming through.
“It’s been really great,” Morrow said.
“When they are ready to move up to premier cricket, they would have played with us and learnt a lot.
“We’re happy with the future, there’s a lot of talent coming through.
“There’s opportunities now in women’s sport especially cricket, it’s fantastic to see the hard work pay off.
“The sky is the limit.”
Photo Gallery: Sydenham-Hillside vs Greenvale Kangaroos
On Sunday, the Storm faced Greenvale Kangaroos for a third straight round.
Like the past two matches, the Storm came away with the win.
The Storm batting first, made 3-152 off their 20 overs on the back of 90 not out from Morrow. The Kangaroos could only manage 6-101 in reply.
Brne took two wickets, while Brooke Todero, Vicki Kokkinidis, Anna Calabretta and Lara Srbinovski all took one wicket.
The Storm have a bye this week, before playing their last regular season match on February 17.
The top two teams go through to the grand final the following weekend.
The Storm currently sit first, 15 points clear of second-placed Westmeadows.
Morrow said a second straight title was the focus.
“That’s the aim, but you never know what will happen,” she said. “If we play to our strengths and play our game and everyone contributes as a team, I think we can give it a shake to go back-to-back.”
Meanwhile in the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition inaugural Big Bash match, the East team came away with victory over the west team.
MORE VTCA WOMEN’S NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/westmeadows-to-contest-result/
