The Poverty Bay Under-16 girls cricket team are, back (from left): Faith Reynolds, Annabelle Douglas, Sophie Phelps, Jessica Steyn, Cleo Elsmore and Sophie Warren. Front: Elsie Jones, Neve Loffler (captain), Baely McLean and Ava Greaves. The team were coached by twin sisters Courtney and Emma Hayes.
The Poverty Bay Under-16 girls cricket team are, back (from left): Faith Reynolds, Annabelle Douglas, Sophie Phelps, Jessica Steyn, Cleo Elsmore and Sophie Warren. Front: Elsie Jones, Neve Loffler (captain), Baely McLean and Ava Greaves. The team were coached by twin sisters Courtney and Emma Hayes.
The Poverty Bay Under-16 girls cricket team did not pick up a win at the Northern Districts Rangatahi Youth Wāhine tournament in Mount Maunganui, but they did raise their standards and gained valuable experience.
The margins of victory to Northland (122 runs), Counties-Manukau (six wickets), Waikato Valley (eight wickets), Bayof Plenty (117 runs) and Hamilton (120 runs) do not speak to the thrill of Sophie Phelps taking Poverty Bay’s first wicket against Te Taniwha; Neve Loffler’s superb 33 off 24 balls at the top of the batting order v Counties and 17 from No 2 against Waikato Valley; or the tenacity of numbers five and eight Sophie Warren (13) and Annabelle Douglas (16) against Bay of Plenty.
“All of our girls made a great effort,” Poverty Bay captain Neve Loffler said. “We had a young side and for many of them it was their first true, big cricket experience.”
Loffler said they improved a lot over a challenging week.
“It was huge to see them work together, play with energy in the field and being positive with both bat and ball. It was a great trip for us and I hope these girls continue with their cricket, as they all have potential.
“Twins Courtney and Emma Hayes were awesome for us again this year. We really appreciated the effort that they made for us and for their commitment to us.”
The twins – former ND age-group representatives – coached the team.
They said the players developed as a batting unit and their game awareness and cricket knowledge grew over what was “an enjoyable and worthwhile trip”.
