Cricket: Olivia Lobb impresses junior selectors

Olivia Lobb will represent Northland after sparkling form at the Northern Districts secondary school girls' tournament.

The year 10 student will play for Northern Districts in the national junior secondary tournament in the new year with fellow Northlander Katie Glover, also named as a reserve for the senior secondary team.

Lobb grabbed selectors' attention in the first game after recording the best bowling figures of the tournament in the first Twenty20 with her six wickets for seven runs, and also achieving a run out.

Northland ended up winning that game, thanks largely to Lobb's figures, after scoring only 61 runs but managing to roll Poverty Bay for 60.

Boosted with their one-run victory, Northland came close to toppling Waikato Valley after bowling first and restricting them to 78 for six from their 20 overs. Lobb again shined with the ball as she produced 3 for 17.

In reply, Glover (15) and Lobb (11) made a strong opening partnership of 28 only to fall short after a series of quick wickets saw Northland slump to 66 runs.

In Northland's game against Counties it was again Glover and Lobb who starred as they scored 18 and 25 respectively, but the remaining batswomen struggled to make double figures as the team ended with 73.

Counties had no trouble in chasing down the total with player of the tournament Katie Gurry scoring 49 not out as they passed the total for the loss of two wickets. Lobb again couldn't be kept out of the action as she took 2 for 17.

In Northland's final game against Hamilton, the eventual winners of the tournament, they put up a strong performance in chasing down Hamilton's 117, falling just short at 95 for 5. Glover again delivered with the bat as she scored 38 not out.

Despite the number of losses, Northland cricket will be excited to see the potential of the youngsters in the team with a number able to play in the tournament for the next two or three years.

Northland: Katie Glover (c), Olivia Lobb, Brooke Johnson, Maria Wright, Neveh Shimi, Briar Mortensen, Tia Saunders, Sam Hardy, Eva Pearson, Shannon Bucknell, Hayley Green.