Georgia Draper joined Thongsbridge last year and took part in West Yorkshire trials for the first time at the beginning of this Season. She gained selection for the U 11 team and will play her first representative cricket match next weekend. Georgia,is a talented athlete and is also a keen tennis player.

Evie Woodhead,aged 12, started playing for Thongsbridge at U9s. She then went on to represent West Yorkshire at U11,followed by selection for the Yorkshire Girls'U13 team.

Evie enjoys playing cricket because,"it's a great game! My Great Grandad also played cricket for Thongsbridge and Yorkshire" Evie is continuing a strong family cricketing tradition.Her Dad ,Chris and brother Tommy are also talented cricketers.

Francesca James,aged 14, joined Thongsbridge as an Under 9 and currently plays U13 and U15 cricket at the club. She has represented West Yorkshire at U11 and U13 age groups and is now a member of the U15 team. Francesca is a leg spin bowler and bats at number 3 or 4. She has already represented the Yorkshire U13 team and will take part in a trial match in May, representing Yorkshire U13s against Lancashire.

Francesca says,"I like playing cricket because I enjoy playing as a team. I can play in both boys' and a girls' teams, which is different to other sports. It’s a sport which can be played all year round, as in the winter you can train in indoor nets. I look forward to practice nights because its fun and because you are improving, but enjoying it at the same time! "Francesca is also from a cricketing family and her Grandfatherr played for Yorkshire 1st Team in 1954.

Did you know that the first women's cricket match dates back to 1745 and a report in the Reading Mercury describes a match in Guildford Surrey? It was played between 'eleven maids of Hambledon and eleven maids of Bramley, all dressed in white. The Bramley maids had blue ribbons and the Hambledon maids had red ribbons on their heads.'

Early matches were not necessarily genteel affairs. A game taking place in 1747, between Chilgrove and Westdean in Sussex, spilled over into the next day because of crowd trouble!

Congratulations and well done to all three Thongsbridge girls on their excellent achievements so far and good luck in all your matches this season from everyone at TCC!