By Elliot Stevenson
After a strong start to their CTPL Women’s 1st Grade comeback, Kingborough will be out to extend its early-season success when it faces North Hobart in a pair of T20s this weekend.
Knights coach Emily Divin was rapt with last week’s efforts against New Town, despite not coming away with two victories.
“It was brilliant,” she said. “We were unlucky not to get the two wins.”
“They got 160 odd on the board and we got within 14 chasing, so we were thrilled with that effort.
“To get the second win was pretty clinical, we bowled really well and learnt a lot from the first game in terms of how we needed to bowl.
It means a lot to the club to see us go out and be able to compete and then have some success.”
Divin proved her class with the bat in the opening game, scoring a unbeaten half-century off 47 balls, but maintains the team isn’t relying on her too heavily.
“We are giving opportunities to younger girls, as well as using the experience that we’ve got in the squad, so we’ve got a really balanced team,” she said.
“We are without any contracted players [available this weekend] and whilst that might prove challenging, the benefit is that we get to play a consistent team week-in week-out.
“It was great to get a couple of girls out there having a hit.
“We want to keep that momentum going.”
The second game proved more successful for the Knights, with a strong bowling performance spearheaded by Ellie Henley (4/10 off 3.4 overs) earning the returning side their first 1st Grade win in over five years.
“[Ellie] has been with the club a long time,” Divin said. “She has come up as a junior not getting huge opportunities on the park.”
“Last year she opened the bowling in second grade and really dominated that competition.
“She is bowling off-pace, stump-to-stump, and making it really hard to score off.
“She will be a really important player for us which I’m thrilled for because she has worked really hard over a number of years.”
The competition won’t be slowing down for Kingborough, with North Hobart looming as a formidable opponent this weekend.
The Knights will be without 18-year-old Melbourne Renegades and Tasmania Tigers quick Sara Kennedy, who becomes unavailable for selection, leaving them without a contracted player as they take on the Demons.
North Hobart, meanwhile, boast a top tier of talent as strong as any side in the competition, led by Melodie Armstrong and Julia Cavanough.
The Greater Northern Raiders open their season at home with a pair of T20s against a Clarence side that shared the points with North Hobart last weekend.
The Raiders will be eager to go one better this year after falling just short last season, losing both grand finals to New Town and North Hobart respectively.
Last season’s Kim Fazackerley Medallist, Emma Manix-Geeves, looms as a key figure for Andy Gower’s side, alongside captain Ava Curtis and new recruit Courtney Sippel.
Clarence endured a mixed Round 2, dismantling North Hobart in the opener by restricting them to just 74, before conceding 156 in the return fixture.
Tabatha Saville was a standout with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 44 off 42 balls in the victory, followed by a game-high 71 not out from 61 balls in the second match.
In the men’s competition, the Kookaburra Cup continues as New Town travels to Lindisfarne Oval to face the Lightning, with both sides coming off impressive wins last weekend.
The Bucks’ opening seam partnership of Caelan Maladay and Tyler Willmott looms as a major threat once again, while for Lindisfarne, Charlie Wakim will be looking to further strengthen his case for Tigers selection.
Wakim was in sparkling form last round, blasting 105 not out off 79 deliveries in the Lightning’s seven-wicket win over Glenorchy.
Hobart Hurricanes star Nathan Ellis is also featuring for Lindisfarne in what promises to be a heavyweight clash.
In a contrasting matchup, Clarence host South Hobart-Sandy Bay, with both sides searching for their first win of the season.
The Roos fell agonisingly short against New Town at Kangaroo Bay Oval last Saturday, while the Sharks were unable to contain Raiders pair Tom Dwyer (101 not out off 158 balls) and Cooper Anthes (74 not out off 104 balls).
Harry Nichols (80 off 128 balls) provided the highlights for South Hobart-Sandy Bay, but it’s the result that Richard Allanby’s side will be desperate to secure this time around.
For Clarence, Michael Jones compiled a composed 70 off 115 and looks set for another strong season anchoring the Roos’ middle order.
It’s a massive weekend ahead for the Greater Northern Raiders, who host North Hobart on Saturday before welcoming Kingborough to the NTCA Ground on Sunday.
The Raiders claimed an impressive scalp against South Hobart-Sandy Bay last weekend and now have the chance to climb to the top of the CTPL ladder with a pair of home victories.
North Hobart begin their campaign under the familiar leadership of captain Jack White and coach Richard Cowlard, as they look to push deep into finals contention.
Meanwhile, Kingborough made a strong statement last weekend, toppling reigning premiers University in convincing fashion.
A win on the road to Launceston would further underline their early-season intent.
Zac Curtain (97 not out off 125 balls) looms as the Knights’ shining light after a big preseason in the Northern Territory, where he turned out for the Southern Districts Crocodiles alongside University paceman Louis Smith.