On a windy but warm summer’s afternoon on Tuesday, the six SMCA Saputo Women’s T20 Cricket Competition teams arrived at Stephenson Park in Sale to compete in the final round of 2022.

Longford Cricket Club hosted the three matches on the venue’s three ovals with the Wellington Shire Council’s newly built change room complex providing excellent female-friendly facilities for all involved.

Match results were all very close, with Longford coming away with the win on the main oval, in the final over of the evening, to win by five wickets over Rosedale-Kilmany.

Collegians won a close contest by a mere three runs to a valiant Sale team on the Rotary Reserve, while Bundalaguah defeated Stratford on the George Wilson Oval by 11 runs.

It was a festival of women’s cricket on Tuesday, as all six SMCA teams played at Stephenson Park.

Cricketers, spectators, families and friends all gathered in the social rooms post-match for a meal and a few beverages.

Paul Love, the treasurer/barman, said he was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people that stayed after the matches.

He said, “I can’t believe how many people are here, hopefully we have enough food for everyone but I didn’t expect this, this is great!”

Greg Wrigglesworth, the organiser of the competition, made a short speech to the gathering in the social rooms, and thanked Longford Cricket Club for hosting the round and commented how well the club has prepared the facilities and supported the event.

Greg went on to say, “The idea to have all three matches here has been a great success and it is heartening to see so many people supporting the new competition either as a player, club or supporter, well done to all”.

The competition resumes after the Christmas break on January 17.

SMCA Women’s Midweek T20 Round 10 (all matches played at Stephenson Park).

Longford 5/112 (I Coleman 32*, G Bruce 1/11) def Rosedale-Kilmany 5/110 (K Doyle 2/18); Sale 4/78 (L Lyndon 25*, A Sutton 2/10, B Goodsell 2/11) def by Collegians 7/81 (cc) (L Lydon 3/13); Stratford 1/110 (cc) (J Shelton-Burr 26*, T Longhurst 25*, M Pendergast 25*) def by Bundalaguah 2/121 (cc) (M Wrigglesworth 26*, K Albrecht 2/10)