No surprises as new Women’s league season gets under way

The 2023 Women’s league got off to a good start on Monday night with wins for Bready, Fox Lodge and Coleraine as the weather held firm to get all games completed.

Alana Dalzell hit the ground running to show her class as Bready beat Bonds Glen by 119 runs at Magheramason.

The Ireland International hit 9 fours in her unbeaten 91 with NW Women’s Development Officer Kathryn Rough also batting brilliantly to make 61 not out.

Their partnership was worth an unbroken 165 in a total of 198-2 and that was always going to be too rich for the young Bee Gees team.

Lucy Thompson bowled well for figures of 2-30 and the same player top scored for the visitors with 27 in the reply. Amy Young chipped in with 14 but Cody Wallace (2-3) and Jodie Spence (2-8) saw to it that Bonds Glen’s innings closed on 79-6.

Fox Lodge came out on top at Strabane Park where Mollie Devine was again among the runs with an unbeaten 59 (5 fours).

Mollie got good support from Sarah Black (48) and Hannah McLaughlin (35) as the Sam McConnell cup winners posted 153-4 in their 20 overs.

Credit the Red Caps who made a decent 94-3 in reply; Lucy McGranaghan with 38 not out and skipper Chloe Deans 26 making a fist of it despite going down by 59 runs.

Arianna McKenna made 24 and Lucy Carmichael 17 as Eglinton scored 82-4 in their home game against Coleraine.

The Bannsiders were always in control after that however- Amy Caulfield with an unbeaten 39 and Kenya McCartney 18 as the north coast girls started with an impressive 8-wicket win.