Women: McGraths dominate in A and B grade.

Tahlia and Kayla McGrath showed the benefit of their recent state duties with very determined batting in A and B grade games this weekend.

This weekend (end of school holidays, long weekend) all teams in all clubs struggled to fill teams. We played Sturt in B grade in a seven-a-side game.

It was also the first weekend for the season when we needed all three teams on the park) ON THE SAME DAY.

A big thank you to Fiona Gore and Linda McGrath (mums) and Hannah Greenshields (sister) who filled in on Sunday. A huge thank you to Marg Jude who ended up playing for the Bs and coming down to the Cs to assist – then returning…..

It is with much pride that we can say that we have never forfeited a game in five years.

The batting highlight of the A grade's effort against premiership favourite Sturt was the determined and unruffled batting of Tahlia McGrath. In the first innings she batted 45 minutes and in the second innings for over an hour to stave off the outright.

In the Sturt innings Marg Hay's stumping of their top scorer Casey Galbraith was very spectacular. Jess O'Reilly's off cutter to dismiss "Women's Cricketer of the Year "and Australian opener Shelley Nitscke for three was another highlight as was the courageous efforts of Jess Vincent in the field.

The B grade report is addressed in a separate article from Stuart Allen. We are extremely proud of the efforts of all involved in this side. We were under severe strain and the courage and determination of this team was nothing short of inspirational.

Kayla McGrath batted over two hours (31 overs) in the second innings and the efforts of Kayla and Cara Allen were outstanding with four wickets each for the game and a 17 over partnership in the second innings which kept us in the game.

The C grade's top scorers were fill ins Hannah Greenshields (her annual one-off game!) and Fiona Gore.

*** Fiona is now the FOURTH Mum to assist us (Sharon Rattray, Genieveve Brideson and Linda McGrath.)

Tianna Muirhead took a wicket in the TTG innings take her back to the top of the C grade wicket takers! (A position she held for most of the first half of the season!)

With the reorganisation of programs in B grade (TTG out of the comp) and C grade (Adelaide and Glenelg also out of the competition) it is expected we will play more games in the second half of the season.

Women: T20 last round losses to As and Bs

Both A and B grade teams lost the last round on T20 games.

The B grade went down to their "nemesis" Prospect. Rachael Greenshields and Jess Vincent put on a 24 run partnership highlighted with some very well run singles but 38 off 17 was never going to be enough. The Pirates got the runs with 13 overs to spare.

The As had a double-header at the Head Quarters. In the first game we were set 131. Marg Hay top scored with 34, Kylie Rattray (17) and a late flourish from Jade Ambler (10 no) and Donna Clark (7) saw us 20 runs short.

In the second game we set West Torrens 85. Marg Hay top scored again with 36 (70 for the day!!!), with good support from Tahlia McGrath (10), Nicole (Nuggett ) Adams 11 no and Kate Weger 7 no.

We gave the Eagles a fright having them 3/13 after six overs – but they scored the runs with five overs to spare.

Women: State news - Kayla McGrath vice capt of SAPSASA team.

State news

We wish Tahlia, Jess and Dayna well with their state commitments with the Under 17s in Brisbane in early 2010.  Cara and Kayla will also be in Queensland for the SAPSASA competition in Toowoomba at the same time.

 

Kayla has been rewarded with the vice-captain's position in the SAPSASA team.

Women: Linda has day out in the Cs!!

 

The C grade continued on their winning way with a superb effort from Linda Anderson. 

 

She was the backbone of the innings batting into the 19^th over making a Personal Best score of 51 (off 46 balls with seven fours.)  Previous best 27 no in 2007-8. 

She was well supported by Brandi (28 run partnership), Skye (13 partnership) and Nikki (17 partnership) to set the Northerners 4.5 runs and over.

The game was evenly poised throughout the Northern innings - they eere 0/19 after five and 3/39 after 10. 

Linda took the first two wickets and also produced a key maiden over in the first of the critical final five overs.

At 15 overs they needed 21 off the last 30 balls.  But the maiden from Linda made it 21 off 24.  Brandi and Kayla produced a very accurate four over spell with only four scoring shoots (a four, three singles, one wide and one bye) to see us run out 10 run winners.

 Our fielders were very good keeping pressure on our opponents.

 The win sees us equal top at the Christmas break. Our next game is January 24.

Women: A grade loss after seven weeks off - Number 11 top scores!

The A grade – after seven weeks off (2 byes, one heat off, two washouts and the Test Match weekend) went down to Northern in the 38^th over.

 

The highlight was the last wicket stand of 56 between Jade Ambler and Jess Vincent.  For Jess it was her highest A grade score and the top score for the innings (Kylie's 24 was next, with 22 from jess and 21 from Nuggett.)   Jade (16) and Jess frustrated the Northern bowlers for 15 overs to take us from a precarious 9/122 to a competitive 176.

 

Things looked even better as Donna Clark produced a superb opening spell taking 3/21 (including all three state squad members!!)

Further wickets to Jade (2) and Dayna had the Northerners 6/94 in the 23^rd over.  But a 128 run seventh wicket stand took the game away from us.

Our next game is a T 20 game on January 10.

The B grade received a forfeit from Northern.

 

Women: STINGRAYS ALL AUSTRALIAN

Tahlia McGrath was rewarded with ALL AUSTRALIAN SELECTION for her efforts in the recent Australian Under 15 Championships held in Melbourne.

The team shed THIRD. This was the best finish ever for this team and the best finish for a SA team since 1997-8 (when we played off for a spot in the Grand Final.) Victoria won the title with Queensland second and NSW fourth. We ran the Vics close in a T20 game with the runs being scored off the second last ball of the innings.

Tahlia further confirm her status as a top order batter being SA's top run scorer for the Championship. She opened throughout – her lowest score was 12 and highest 47 no. Scoring 150 runs at 36 she was third overall. She also took seven wickets at 10.14 (and did not bowl in the last game due to injury.) She was also called into the Under 17 team which plays in Brisbane in January (joining fellow Stingrays Jess O'Reilly and Dayna Cox.)

Donna Clark had her first state trip and finished with four wickets off13 overs. She was often used as the "at the death" bowler which she has done very well for us this season.

I feel sure both players will have learned a lot from the intense pressure of interstate cricket.

Women: B grade lose to top team, upcoming games and reminders

The B grade lost their 4^th round T20 game to current top team East Torrens. We held the Reds to 101 with fantastic last five overs from Donna Clark and Kayla McGrath who held them to eight runs. Donna finishing with 1/9 off four. Brandi Ongley took the figures with 2/13 off three overs.

Courtney and Kylie Rattray took us to 1/18 in the 4^th over, but we could not keep up with the run rate and finished all out for 35. Cara Allen top scored with 9.

The A's resumet this week after their "long leave". We last played on October 30 - with a bye, heat off, two washouts and a T20 bye . We play Northern at Helen Black on Saturday at 11.50. The Bs play Northern on the top oval at 1pm.

The Cs have Northern at Helen Black on Sunday at 12.

Reminders
FRIDAY AFTER TRAINING THE A GRADERS WHO HAVE PLAYED THIS SEASON WILL BE PRESENTED WITH THEIR FIRST X1 CAPS AT THE CLUB.

SUNDAY WE HAVE A PRE-CHRISTMAS BBQ AT THE RATTRAYS.