CHARD formed a girls cricket team last year but, having found the opportunity to play against other girls teams was limited, they decided this year to enter the boys league.

Their first game was against South Petherton – in the Mid Wessex Under-10 Cup – and the girls put in a sterling performance, scoring 254 runs.

This matched the runs of the boys team, but unfortunately for Chard the boys won the match as they managed to get more wickets.

They are proving cricket is not just for boys, having become – the club believes – the first girls team to play in the Mid Wessex Cricket League (U10 East).

This last weekend they faced Yeovil ‘Whirlwinds’, who claimed an away victory by four runs.

Chard girls also played at the County Ground last Sunday, which was a fantastic experience for them all.

To keep up to date with the team’s results, see chard.play-cricket.com.

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Chard & Ilminster News:

GOOD TURNOUT: Chard Cricket Club hosted a women-only session earlier this month.

ALMOST 60 women turned out for two inaugural women-only cricket sessions held at Chard and Taunton Deane Cricket Clubs.

The Somerset Cricket Board has launched a programme to support six local clubs across the county to develop women’s sections.

Clubs involved in the initiative are Chard, Taunton Deane, Sparkford, Stanton Drew, Taunton St Andrew’s and Midsomer Norton.

Each has received an SCB coach and kit bag, with the coach delivering eight weeks of fun softball cricket to kick-start the development of a women’s section.

Steve Gass, SCB growth and participation officer, commented: “To see 60 women turn up to two sessions is fantastic.

“I can only see more interest off the back of the Women’s World Cup that is being hosted in Taunton later this summer.”

To find out more about the Active 8 Programme and session times, log on to somersetcricketboard.co.uk/leagues/female/active8-cricket.

In addition, the SCB have also set five dates for Women’s Softball Cricket festivals across the county.

For more on the festivals, which are ideal for beginners, email steve.gass@somersetcricketboard.org.

And for more on Chard’s new women’s team, whic train on Friday nights, just drop into the club.