Poverty Bay trio in ND under-21 team

TAYLA ON A MISSION: Poverty Bay bowler Tayla Hollis will look to reclaim her place in the Northern Spirit team with good performances for Northern Districts in the national under-21 tournament. Picture by Liam Clayton

Three Poverty Bay girls — Tayla Hollis and Hayes sisters Courtney and Emma — have been picked for the Northern Districts team to compete at the national under-21 cricket tournament, which was to start in Auckland today.

Kayley Knight and Lucy McHugh, also from Poverty Bay, are non-travelling reserves, while Bay women’s coach Mel Knight is the ND assistant coach/manager.

Mel Knight said the Hayes sisters had come back from their first year at the University of Otago having played a few games there at the end of last summer and then being coached by Mark Bracewell during the winter.

“They have continued to improve and both are consistent, reliable bowlers, Courtney with her medium pace and Emma with her unique quick off-spin deliveries,” Knight said.

“Courtney hasn’t had the best pre-season. She broke her left arm when she was struck by a beamer at a training session in October.

“Fortunately, she was able to continue bowling with the injury and had a good performance in the Poverty Bay women’s game against Palmerston North last month.

“Emma shows promise as a hard-hitting lower-order batter. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do when she gets the opportunity at this tournament.

“Tayla (Hollis) has had plenty of cricket locally so far this summer with Pirates in the Doleman Cup competition and playing for Auto Tyres Eagles in the Walker Shield T15 Blast.

“Having missed selection for the Spirit side so far this season, Tayla has the most to gain if she performs well with the ball at this tournament.

“She will be looking to force her way back into the Spirit side, a team brimming with young pace bowling talent.”

Knight said she was looking forward to working with talented and driven female cricketers, learning from the head coach, Brett Sorenson from Hamilton.

“This will give me a chance to see if coaching at a higher level is something I really want to pursue in the future,” she said.

Knight said McHugh and Kayley Knight were unlucky to miss selection.

“Kayley is young and is sure to push for inclusion next year and Lucy has missed out this time due to a lack of cricket. She has been unable to put together performances to demand a place in the team.”

In the lead-up to Hawke’s Bay cricket camps at Riverbend in January 2019, Poverty Bay age-group teams will be in action at Harry Barker Reserve this weekend.

“We have arranged pre-tournament games to continue their development by offering more playing opportunities,” Mel Knight said.

Dave McDonald is in charge of the u14 girls against a Western Bay of Plenty Year 7 team today, while Nan Baker is managing the Poverty Bay Year 7 and 8 boys against their Western Bay of Plenty counterparts tomorrow.