Kate Sims [pictured], will have her sister Gemma alongside her in the Wairarapa Under-18s. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
CRICKET
JAKE BELESKI
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Three sets of sisters will be hoping to help the Wairarapa Under-18 girls’ cricket team defend their Central Districts regional title in January.
Kayarna and Tahlia Jones-Dennes, Jessica and Olivia Roseingrave, and Kate and Gemma Sims have all been named in the 12-strong squad that will head to Whanganui for the tournament.
Wairarapa Cricket female development officer Melissa Hansen said it was “pretty cool” to see three pairs of siblings in the same team.
“I only realised when I was naming it that there were three of them.
“The majority of the under-18 team is exactly the same – Georgia [Atkinson] was the only older one so she has left, and Jess Roseingrave and Macy Lyford have come in after some good under-15 performances.”
Next year the under-18 team is likely to lose at least half the team, meaning giving some of the younger players game time becomes invaluable this season.
“At the end of this year we have a group of six or so Year 13s, so bringing in those younger players is important.
“Giving them some experience and rewarding them for their hard work is great, because they will be the next ones to move up.”
The recently named Wairarapa Under-15 girls’ team will also start next month’s CD regional tournament in Palmerston North as defending champions.
A core group of players from last year’s triumph are back in the side, and Hansen said there was no reason both teams should not be striving to win the titles once again.
“Both teams go in as defending champions from last time, so we definitely want to keep that going.
“They did well last year, and now they’re another year older and more experienced, so there’s no reason why we can’t do well at both tournaments again.”
Lyford and Jessica Roseingrave will also feature for the under-15s, and will be looking to lead from the front.
Wairarapa Under-18 girls: Ocean Bartlett, Elizabeth Cohr, Caitlin Elliott, Kayarna Jones-Dennes, Tahlia Jones-Dennes, Macy Lyford, Jessica Roseingrave, Olivia Roseingrave, Gemma Sims, Kate Sims, Ella Southey, Hattie Vincent. Non-travelling reserves: Gracie Donaldson, Sophie McNab.
Wairarapa Under-15 girls: Belle Clark, Charlize Carson-Butler, Emma McLeod, Eva Wootton, Grace Tanner, Jessica Roseingrave, Macy Lyford, Maisy Ballantyne, Olivia Clark, Vanessa Taylor, Sian Wheeler. One to be added.
