Cricket
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WINTER may be the quiet time for cricket, but don't tell some of the Riverina's most promising youngsters.
Two teams from the Riverina Girls Cricket Academy will head off to the NSW Country Championships in Port Macquarie this week.
It's the first time in a while that the Riverina will send two girls' teams to the tournament.
The under 18 girls combined with the Illawarra last year, but with good numbers the Riverina will be represented by both an under 15 and under 18 side this week.
Scott Trenaman is the assistant coach of the under 15 team and has seen a noticeable increase in girls putting on their whites.
"There are some good numbers in the academy and it's growing," Trenaman said.
"It's a real growth sport in Australia and certainly in NSW.
"Last year the statistics said the women's game had grown by 27 per cent, and that continues to climb."
With girls coming from across the Riverina, plus a few from the North Eastern Knights in Victoria, Trenaman believes the championships will be a good opportunity to test their skills against some stiff competition.
"They've been working really hard all winter, so it's a really nice chance for them to put into practice all the skills they've learnt this winter," he said.
Last year three under 15 girls made it into the state team with Ellie Dalargno-Fixter, Tasmyn Scott and Rachel Trenaman when the team finished fourth.
Trenman is confident of at least equalling that position, and has higher expectations of the under 18 side.
"I think in the 18s we will be really competitive, we've recruited well and had a really strong winter program so I think we've got a really good chance," he said.
Steve Weckert is in charge of the under 18 team lead on the field by Clare Russell while Phil Jenkins will coach the under 15 team.
Using their experience from last year Trenaman is the under 15 captain, with Dalgarno-Fixter the vice-captain.
The under 15 championship is on Thursday and Friday while the under 18 championship will be played on Saturday and Sunday.