Tara Murray
Caroline Springs women’s side will look back on this season as one of positives, despite losing the Victorian Turf Cricket Association women’s grand final on Sunday.
Searching for their first premiership since forming in the 2019-20 season, the Falcons fought until the final ball against Westmeadows in the grand final, but didn’t quite have enough runs on the board.
The Falcons, who had previously played in one grand final, made 4-85 from their overs after a slow start with the bat.
Caitlin Pretty was the stand out and got the innings going, making 35.
The Warriors looked good early in their innings and appeared to be on track. A run out and a couple of other wickets, brought the Falcons back into the game.
After a few scary moments, the Warriors made the runs with 14 balls remaining, finishing 5-86.
Pretty took two wickets and was named player of the match by the umpires for her all-round performance.
Falcons captain Alisha Fowler said the team continued to fight throughout the match.
“I think the first 10 overs, Westmeadows was sitting pretty comfortably,” she said.
“We pegged it back the next five and with five to go, we were in the game. It was a really good fight by our girls, they really dug deep.
“I’m so proud of them for doing that.”
Fowler said Pretty was their best all-rounder and that she stood up when they needed her to.
“I’m super happy for her to get some runs today,” she said.
“It’s been a bit of a slog this season, but she deserved her runs. It was a well deserved best on ground.”
Fowler said the group had really grown together this season. She said for the older players, it was about providing support to the younger players and giving them an opportunity for the younger players to play cricket.
“We’ve got four or five players playing their first year of cricket. Tiana Baba, Zoe Kelty, Kyah Tessari and Emma Meissner are among them.
“Tiana took her first wicket a few weeks ago and she’s got four for the season.
“It goes to show they’ve put in a lot of hard work and they did improve a bucket load from the start of the season.
“We had five of younger girls go on to EMP [Essendon Maribyrnong Park] from from last year, that’s what we’re about.”
Tara Murray
