by Isla Huffadine

The Willows Cricket Match

Once again the St Hilda’s 1st XI was invited to The Willows Cricket Club to play Christchurch Girls’ High School for the Willows Rose Bowl Trophy. In last year’s inaugural match St Hilda’s won but as with all great sporting rivalries, this year the tables were turned and Christchurch Girls clinched the Rose Bowl.

A young side with no players in Year 13 and predominantly made up of Year 9s & 10s, St Hilda’s held their own with the much older Christchurch Girls side. Winning the toss, captain Molly Loe elected to bat on a firm grass wicket with a cool stiff southerly, that ensured the temperature stayed in single digits throughout the day during the 40 over match. Promising innings from Ella Gibson, Chloe Deerness, Molly Loe & Anna Duncan were nipped in the bud by the classy Christchurch Girls bowling attack. A gritty innings from Jordan Meltzer (23) gave St Hilda’s a relatively competitive total of 69. Meltzer played confidently off the front foot and punished anything on leg stump.

Tight bowling from Hannah O’Connor and Molly Loe kept the Christchurch Girls batters in check with figures of 0/10 from 3 and 0/11 from 3 respectively. The pick of the bowlers was however Anna McClean with 1/6 from her 3 overs.

Huge thanks once again to Hamish and Nichola Loe for instigating this superb event. Will Deerness for coaching and Rachael Parker for organisation. The Willows Cricket Club’s Mike and Winsome Dormer and club president Nick Davidson for their ongoing support. Also special thanks to all the supporters who made the journey to North Canterbury.