By Elliot Stevenson
Kingborough is riding high following its six-wicket victory over reigning premier North Hobart at the Twin Ovals last Sunday but faces another stiff test this weekend against the Greater Northern Raiders.
Emily Divin’s side will travel to Windsor Park full of confidence, having enacted a measure of revenge against the team that defeated them in last year’s Kookaburra Cup final.
Divin admits the win was made “sweeter in a way” due to the opposition but is focused on moving forward into the new season.
“It's always tough to lose a grand final,” she said. “North Hobart have been so strong for such a long time, and they were exactly that again last year.
“So to come out and be able to get that win to start off the season was definitely really pleasing.
“It was a great way to start the season. We had a really strong pre-season.
“Everyone was coming into the game feeling really positive about what we could do out on the field, and I think we definitely delivered that with both bat and ball.”
Off-spinner Nikki Carter announced her return to the club after two years away from the game in style, taking 4-43 off 9 overs.
Divin praised Carter for her contribution to Sunday’s victory.
“It was great to have Nikki back in,” she said.
“It's been a long time out of the game and she's one of our original members at the Knights.
“To see her come back to the game and start so positively with the ball was awesome. She thoroughly deserved it.”
Last season’s Kim Fazackerley medallist Amy Gordon continues to go from stride to stride for Kingborough, with the star all-rounder hitting her second CTPL century last weekend.
The Englishwoman made an unbeaten 119 off 123 balls to guide the Knights home with 12.1 overs remaining and will be aiming to repeat her efforts this Sunday in Launceston.
“It was great to get her back around the group,” Divin said. “She's come straight back into it.”
“She's been back for a couple of weeks now and to see her kick off her season in such dominant form was awesome and hopefully that's just a sign of things to come for her.
While Sunday’s opponent the Greater Northern Raiders had the bye last week, Divin is well aware of the threat they possess.
“Last year we saw they were a really strong side,” she said. “It was always a tough contest, and I think it'll be no different this weekend.”
“We'll just look to go out and continue to compete with bat and ball.
“I think we've got a lot of depth with the ball and with the bat, things are coming together as well.
“We'll just look to put another complete performance on the board and try and get another win.”
North Hobart will cross the Derwent River to face fellow round one losers Clarence, with both sides searching for the first points of 2026-27.
Meanwhile, New Town will enjoy a week off with a dominant win already under its belt, having defeated Clarence by 164 runs last weekend.
In the men’s competition, four sides will be aiming to remain undefeated as the Kookaburra Cup continues across the competition.
Lindisfarne hosts North Hobart at Anzac Park on Saturday and will be without Tasmanian Tigers duo Teague Wyllie and Marcus Bean.
The Lightning defeated University by five wickets in round one, courtesy of a five-wicket haul from seamer Lachie Nichols.
It was the opposite story for North Hobart, which fell to Clarence at Kangaroo Bay Oval by six wickets, despite a half-century on debut for playing-coach Sam Truloff (59 off 73 balls).
The ladder-leading Greater Northern Raiders will travel to Kingborough to face the Knights at the Twin Ovals, following a two-win start to their season.
The Raiders defeated both New Town and the Northern Magpies last weekend at Windsor Oval but face a new challenge of the similarly undefeated Knights this Saturday.
Star batter Ben McDermott will be unavailable as Clarence hosts the Northern Magpies at Kangaroo Bay Oval.
The power hitter is on Tigers duty after making 92 not out off 118 balls in last weekend’s victory over North Hobart.
New Town, South Hobart-Sandy Bay, and University will all have the bye this weekend