Central North's under-15 women's country championships campaign wasn't their best showing on paper but all signs point to a positive future. The girls only managed one win at the tournament in Raymond Terrace last week. Head coach Luke Knight said with the age and experience of the majority of the squad, they were looking for improvement to build for future tournaments. "We are in a re-building phase at the moment with our under-15s," he said. "The majority of our squad was 11 and 12 so that plays a part. "We only had three senior girls, three girls that were 14 so that plays a massive part to anyone's campaign when they go to a country champs. "Some of them have got three more years to go. "This is the first time Central North has been put in this position for quite some time but we knew that before we went to the country champs." To open their campaign, the Central North side was bowled out for 36 against eventual grand finalists Riverina. The Riverina team secured the total with only two wickets down - Armidale's Vanessa Simpson and Tenterfield's Amelia Wishart doing the damage for Central North. Their second match looked more positive with Western posting 3-137. Vanessa, along with Cessnock's Lara Robertson and Tamworth's Mim Barbara the wicket-takers. In reply, Central North scored 9-95 in their 20 overs. Their third match of the tournament against North Coast, Vanessa was Central North's lone wicket-taker as the coastal team made 1-115 in their 20 overs. Vanessa also top-scored in their run chase with 29 but Central North couldn't chase the required runs down, finishing with 8-92. Central North's only win came in the preliminary finals round in a play-off against Central Coast. Again, it was the Armidale cricketer in Vanessa who was the standout. She opened the batting and scored 33 not out as Central North managed 3-125 from their 20 overs. In reply, the Central Coast side weren't able to get the required runs, finishing with 2-109 with Moree's Molly Armstrong and Maitland's Monique Krake snagging wickets. Knight said the final match's result was deserved after the girls improved throughout the week. "The girls played some good cricket, we might have had a rough day on day one, getting bowled out cheaply," he said. "The thing is, the coaching staff like to see the girls get better over the week and they certainly did that. "That is all we can ask for as a coaching unit, they can walk away from there knowing they have improved in every single game." The under-15 tournament isn't the last for some of the players in the Central North squad with many of them poised to play in the under-13 competition in December.
Central North's under-15 women's country championships campaign wasn't their best showing on paper but all signs point to a positive future.
The girls only managed one win at the tournament in Raymond Terrace last week.
Head coach Luke Knight said with the age and experience of the majority of the squad, they were looking for improvement to build for future tournaments.
"We are in a re-building phase at the moment with our under-15s," he said.
"The majority of our squad was 11 and 12 so that plays a part.
"We only had three senior girls, three girls that were 14 so that plays a massive part to anyone's campaign when they go to a country champs.
"Some of them have got three more years to go.
"This is the first time Central North has been put in this position for quite some time but we knew that before we went to the country champs."
To open their campaign, the Central North side was bowled out for 36 against eventual grand finalists Riverina.
The Riverina team secured the total with only two wickets down - Armidale's Vanessa Simpson and Tenterfield's Amelia Wishart doing the damage for Central North.
Their second match looked more positive with Western posting 3-137. Vanessa, along with Cessnock's Lara Robertson and Tamworth's Mim Barbara the wicket-takers.
In reply, Central North scored 9-95 in their 20 overs.
Their third match of the tournament against North Coast, Vanessa was Central North's lone wicket-taker as the coastal team made 1-115 in their 20 overs.
Vanessa also top-scored in their run chase with 29 but Central North couldn't chase the required runs down, finishing with 8-92.
Central North's only win came in the preliminary finals round in a play-off against Central Coast.
Again, it was the Armidale cricketer in Vanessa who was the standout.
She opened the batting and scored 33 not out as Central North managed 3-125 from their 20 overs.
In reply, the Central Coast side weren't able to get the required runs, finishing with 2-109 with Moree's Molly Armstrong and Maitland's Monique Krake snagging wickets.
Knight said the final match's result was deserved after the girls improved throughout the week.
"The girls played some good cricket, we might have had a rough day on day one, getting bowled out cheaply," he said.
"The thing is, the coaching staff like to see the girls get better over the week and they certainly did that.
"That is all we can ask for as a coaching unit, they can walk away from there knowing they have improved in every single game."
The under-15 tournament isn't the last for some of the players in the Central North squad with many of them poised to play in the under-13 competition in December.
