Sarah Oliver
Sydenham-Hillside Cricket Club female participation has “exploded” so much they will field a second senior female side for this season.
The club’s newly appointed president, Bob Kunesevic, has been collaborating with neighbouring cricket and local football clubs as a way to get the community “back on the field and involved in sport,” a Facebook post read.
“Bob is looking forward to hosting social events and night matches to help the community reconnect,” the post said.
The club will field sides their top side in Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket competition north-west B competition, while their second side will be a social side in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association.
In a Facebook video for the NWMCA, new Storm first XI captain Kristie Hassett said she is “very much looking forward” to leading the team.
“We’ve got lots of women joining and looking forward to getting active,” she said.
As a mother of three, Hassett said the club is a welcoming environment to both herself and her children.
She said it’s a “great social environment” with “wonderful ladies” which organises events for the whole family.
Storm’s women’s coach Warren Hackney said the decision to expand with a social T-20 team was due to an increase in numbers.
“We’re finding with restrictions easing, the numbers and interest is certainly on the way up.”
The club is also finding “more and more women wanting to participate,” Hackney said.
Hackney said the club is also expanding its junior teams and are looking to field 13 junior sides in total this year, including three girls sides.
The club will also have a Woolworths Cricket Blast program which teaches and develops kids cricket skills has also made an impact on the growth of the club.
“The numbers just seem to keep growing and growing,” Hackney said.
Brimbank council have invested in upgrades for the club with internal club rooms currently under renovation, hoping to be completed by Christmas.
The new space will “give us a bit more social space and capacity to run events and functions,” Hackney said.
“We’re looking forward to another exciting season.”
Details: www.facebook.com/sydenhamhillside.
