A very historic and exciting chapter for Strabane Saints was recorded on Friday night in Strabane Cricket club.
In only their second season of existence, they achieved what had at the beginning of the season seemed like a dream goal: the NWCU Ladies Cup winners and the NWCU Ladies League winners 2015.
The final week of the North West Ladies League saw the scene set between cup winners Strabane Saints (pictured above by Stephen McLaughlin with Coach Martin Deans) and nearest challengers Bready. Strabane had a two-point advantage over their Tyrone neighbours.
Disappointingly Bready were unable to field a team for the final match but this minor detail definitely does not take anything away from Strabane Saints’ performance and unbeaten league and cup run this season.
With the 2015 season’s completion here, Strabane Saints can reflect upon their campaign which saw them remain unbeaten in both league and cup and post a team from a plentiful squad for each match with bowling and batting prowess right down to no.11.
This result was down to sheer hard-work and training, with many a nets session and outdoor trainings spent in rain, hail and shine, sometimes all weathers on the same day!
The plaudits have been shared around the Saints’ team in various matches with skipper Hazel Magee and Angie Porter both playing really well but Julie Logue has shown experience and class in each role undertaken whether bowling, batting, fielding or wicket-keeping.
Accurate and powerful bowling performances by the aforementioned as well as Tory Lapsley, Nicola Mullan, Megan Moorehead and Denise MacDonald have added to Saints’ dominance this season.
This historic double-winning feat was also made more special due to the fact that this was Coach Martin Deans first season as ladies coach, where he surely showed his credentials and experience to lead the ladies to both league and cup glory.
At the presentation on Friday, Strabane Saints were presented with their second piece of silverware by Mr. David Caldwell watched by delighted supporters, family and friends at The Park.
Saints’ skipper from Raphoe, Hazel Magee, gladly accepted the cup and thanked the Derry Mid-week league, Strabane Cricket Club and grounds staff, scorer Ian Gamble, Vice-captain Angie Porter, supporters, family and friends, coaches Ryan, Tawanda and Michael from last season as well as Coach Martin Deans and finally the hard-working dedicated and talented squad of players that achieved this marvellous accomplishment.
The future looks bright for ladies cricket in the Northwest.
