Girls’ cricket teams in Cumbria have the chance to play in a league for the first time thanks to a new initiative.
Cumbria Cricket has helped with the formation of new teams to represent different parts of the county and the fast-paced Fibrus 100 League got underway on Sunday.
Playing the league’s first matches were the Eden Eagles, the Central Sixers, the Southern Power Team and Sedbergh School.
Ullswater Community College pupil Lola Yasen, 13, enjoyed her day playing for the Eden Eagles team and picked up a medal for one of the best sixes during the two matches.
She said: “I’ve been playing cricket for three years and It’s nice to have an Eden Eagles team because I go to school with some of the players, but normally they play for different clubs.”
Also featuring in the Eden Eagles team was Jody Howard-Carter, 13, who goes to QEGs and enjoyed the 100 ball format. “It’s a good way to play cricket as you are not out there for ages fielding.
“It’s exciting to see people from all over Cumbria playing women’s and girls’ cricket.”
Her dad Ally, who plays cricket for Patterdale, was enjoying his Father’s Day watching Jody and coaching the Eden Eagles.
He said: “Playing these matches gives the girls a freedom because they are mostly playing with girls at the same level rather than playing in a mixed team.
“The Eden Eagles is a nice way for the girls who might go to school together, but play at different clubs to come together to enjoy their cricket in a girls’ team,” said Ally, who plays his cricket with Patterdale.
The Fibrus 100 League includes teams at Under-13 and Under-16 levels covering the whole of Cumbria and comes on the back of a rapid growth and investment in women’s cricket fuelled by the success of the national team, a professional English league and increasing coverage by major broadcasters.
Fibrus is transforming the digital infrastructure of rural and regional areas of the UK, by investing in excess of £700 million to bring full fibre broadband to homes in towns and villages across Northern England and Northern Ireland.
Recently, the broadband provider connected its first homes in Cumbria under the Government’s Project Gigabit contract, with a goal of reaching 60,000.
Fibrus has demonstrated its support for Cumbrian sport this year, with a fund for grassroot clubs having launched just last month which will invest £30,000 in boys and girls sport in the local area, followed closely by the sponsorship of this league.
Catriona Henry, sponsorship lead at Fibrus, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Cumbria Cricket for the inaugural Fibrus 100 League. The creation of this new league is a huge step forward for girls’ cricket, and a big step for Fibrus in our commitment to support communities in Cumbria.”
“While we continue our network rollout in Cumbria, we recognise that sport and local clubs are at the heart of the towns and villages we operate in. Following the launch of our Play it Forward Fund last month, the Fibrus 100 League is another way in which we can help young people switch off, make friends, and have fun!”
Bob Simpson, director of cricket development at Cricket at Cumbria Cricket is delighted to be making strides in extending the appeal of the game.
“The partnership we have with Fibrus enables the dream to become a reality. This league is ground-breaking for Cumbria and is a marker of the increasing interest in girls and women’s cricket on a national level. It is a platform with the potential to transform women’s and girls’ cricket in the area, and we are proud to be working with clubs across our county to deliver this.”
The league includes five founding teams:
- Eden Eagles – covering Appleby, Edenhall, Penrith, Patterdale, Kirkby, Stephen, Stainton.
- Central Sixers – drawing players from Netherfield, Kendal, Arnside, Milnthorpe, Sedgwick, Carnforth.
- Southern Power – from Ulverston, Dalton, Barrow, Lindal, Coniston, Millom, Haverigg.
- Western Boom – with players from Cockermouth, Egremont, Workington, Whitehaven.
- Sedbergh School – with Under 13 and Under 16 players representing the school.
Fibrus will also be sponsoring a women’s softball cricket league with fixtures taking place through the summer.
Owain Oxenham, board member of of Cumbria Cricket, said: “We want to encourage women and girls of all ages and abilities, from all backgrounds and across our county to gain all the physical and mental benefits of playing this amazing game.”
