Wesley Best / Laurelvale CC

In line with the club's aim of increasing the participation of girls in cricket, Laurelvale added a 'Girls Only' tournament to their Kwik Cricket coaching and competition schedule in 2016.

The month of April saw a total of 24 hours coaching in eleven different schools delivered by coaches during school hours; all this on a voluntary basis with coaches taking time off work to visit schools throughout the area.

The 'Open' tournament took place on Friday 29th April and for the second year in a row was won by Edenderry Primary School beating Hardy Memorial Primary School in the final.

Seven days later and in temperatures at least ten degrees higher six teams of girls enjoyed their first taste of competitive cricket on a glorious sunny day at Laurelvale.

The day proved to be an enjoyable one for the Laurelvale coaching team and more importantly all the girls involved.

Seagoe Primary School triumphed in a tight final against Hardy Memorial with the fielding and catching ability of the winning team making the difference.

The enthusiasm of the girls was evident throughout and has resulted in a big increase in girls attending the club's coaching sessions. As a result there will be a Laurelvale Girls' team this year and matches have already been arranged against local rivals Donaghcloney.

Any clubs interested in playing games should contact Colin Stewart or Wesley Best.

Schools involved were: Edenderry Primary Seagoe Primary Hardy Memorial Primary Moyallon Primary Mullavilly Primary Tandragee Primary Bocombra Primary Millington Primary Orchard Primary Richmount Primary Portadown Integrated Primary