Competitive women’s cricket returned to Laois this weekend for the first time in more than 30 years.
While the men’s teams have continued to evolve and grow, the women’s team folded more than three decades ago before it’s welcome revitalisation in the last couple of years.
The return of the Laois Women’s Cricket team came about through the leadership of Head Coach Jonathan Walshe, Captain Alison Holmes and Vice Captain Marina Packer.
The team began by playing softball cricket with nearby clubs, but took the decision this year to officially join the Leinster Cricket League, where they will be playing fully competitive hardball cricket.
The Laois women began life in Division 4 when they hosted their Merrion counterparts at The Abbey in Stradbally.
Merrion won the toss and elected to field first and Laois’s opening pair of Yvonne Thompson and Jayne Telford took to the crease.
Laois’s innings got off to a challenging start losing early wickets to Merrion’s efficient bowling.
Laois’s batting order regained some composure with Ali Holmes and Aoife McEvoy partnering to bring Laois’s total runs to over 60 before Holmes retired on 37 as per the league rules.
Laois finished their innings on 88 runs for ten wickets from 18 overs.
In reply, Merrion’s chase was thwarted by an early wicket, Steph Gleeson’s bowling being rewarded with a catch behind taken by the Laois wicket keeper.
Laois took another wicket shortly after, some excellent fielding from Yusra Masood finding the Laois keeper at the stumps and resulting in a run out for the Merrion batter.
Despite some strong bowling efforts from Carrie Bond, Yusra Masood and Marina Packer, and good fielding from Laois, Merrion’s experience and patience saw them consistently find gaps to notch singles and hit the target of 89, with loss of only two wickets, off 14 overs.
Despite the result, Laois can take many positives from their first day out in competitive cricket and will look to build and improve throughout the season.
To celebrate the occasion, Laois Cricket’s new electronic scoreboard was officially turned on prior to the game by President of Cricket Leinster, Meena Baskarasubramaniam.
The scoreboard was financed through a partnership with Electric Picnic whereby Laois Cricket Club man two information desks at the festival.
Laois will face Merrion again in their next fixture when they travel to Anglesea Road on Wednesday May 21, at 6pm.
It will be one of several trips to Dublin this year, with Adamstown, Balbriggan and Terenure all in Division 4 alongside Laois, who can also look forward to trips to Mullingar, North Kildare and Greystones.
The women’s team is growing in number each month, with over 20 players taking part in their weekly training sessions, held on Tuesday nights at The Abbey (behind Napper Tandy’s pub).
They have become the fifth arm of the Laois Cricket alongside the three men’s teams and the club’s social team.
Laois Cricket are eager to host many more historic days at their Stradbally venue with fans from across the county encouraged to visit The Abbey for the womens’ seven remaining home games throughout the year.
LAOIS: Alison Holmes (c), Marina Packer (vc), Jayne Telford, Yvonne Thompson, Vivienne Phelan, Aoife McEvoy, Carrie Bond, Yusra Masood, Mary Hegarty, Stephanie Gleeson, Claire Buggy, Chloe Kelly, Kathleen Nelson, Laura Clear, Poppy Walshe, Lexi Nelson.
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