Essex girls festival gets bigger

Harold Wood Cricket Club was the idyllic setting for the Essex Girls Under 13 and Under 11s Festival on Bank holiday Monday May 1.

Following the success of last years inaugural event, the 2006 festival was bigger and better with 44 girls taking part.

There was a full range of skills on view with some having represented county U-13 and U-11 teams through to others who were playing cricket with a hard ball for the first time.

The girls were divided up into four teams of mixed under 13 and under 11s. Each team was managed by one of the county U-17 players and they played in a round robin format with each team playing each other.

Matt Hyam, Essex Women's and Essex U-15 coach said: "This festival continues to produce good cricketers and shows just how far girls cricket in Essex has progressed in the last few years.

“Events like this can only continue to encourage girls to take part in cricket in this county."