WOMEN’S hardball cricket at Sandford has gone from strength-to-strength this season with more young players than ever making their debuts and stepping up to the different challenges of adult cricket.

All ages between 12 and 55+ have been well integrated under the guidance and enthusiasm of skipper Lottie Miles, with Penny Price stepping into the role when she was not available.

The club supported several coaching sessions during the summer with both our own Lottie Miles and former England player Rosalie Fairbairn.

It has been so rewarding to see how everyone has improved their game as a result of these sessions and our thanks go to both of them for their time and expertise.

Sandford lost their first league game of 2019 but then won all their other games to finish top of DWCA League Division Two, earning promotion back into DWCA First Division for 2020.

Although the success is down to every single member of the squad some of the League highlights include:

Batting - Lottie Miles 138 v Paignton and 182 not out v Bradninch, Jemima Vereker 114 not out v Bradninch and 86 not out v Plymouth, Ellie Bishop 74 not out v Paignton and 46 not out v Plymouth, Michelle Madge 59 v Plymouth.

Bowling - Ellie Bishop five for 10 v Bradninch, Jemima Vereker four for four v Bovey and four for 11 v Paignton, Chloe Dennis four for seven v Paignton, Jackie Snell three for 19 v Plymouth.

Club records were broken at Bradninch when Sandford posted their highest ever total of 346 for two.

Jemima scored her maiden unbeaten century and Lottie recorded a personal best of 182no, whilst their unbeaten partnership of 315 was yet another record.

Apart from league cricket the eight-a-side teams won the Hatherleigh festival in May and then finished the season in great style during a recent weekend, winning the Exmouth tournament.

Alongside playing for Sandford, Ellie, Jemima, Chloe, Olivia Diamond and Izzy Fox are to be congratulated on representing Devon in U15/U13 age group cricket.

In conclusion I would like to thank all the players for their enthusiasm and tremendous team spirit, Lottie and Penny for their captaincy, Carole for always stepping into any role to help, the parents who have supported us throughout the season and especially Ed for umpiring all day at both festivals.

The year 2020 will inevitably bring new challenges associated with playing a higher standard of cricket but if everyone shows the same level of commitment and team spirit as we have seen this season I am sure we are up for the task.

Jane White