Our women show true Spirit

Our women show some true spirit with prestigious award

Moonee Valley has won one of the most prestigious awards in women’s cricket – the Victorian Women’s Cricket Association Spirit of Cricket Award.

It’s a wonderful result for our team in our first season in women’s cricket, and was presented to captain Jenny O’Brien and our players at the VWCA awards night on April 18.

It’s an award voted on by the VWCA’s umpires.

The citation that went with the award reads:

“This award is presented to the VWCA club who has contributed most to the Spirit of Cricket. Umpires rate teams each round based on:

“Captain’s acceptance of their responsibility of their players’ behaviour as required under the Laws of Cricket.

“A teams’ adherence to the principles of the Spirit of the Game, including respect for team mates, opponents and the umpire’s role.

“Acceptance of umpire’s decision.

“Team officials’ adherence to the principles of the Spirit of the Game (eg square leg umpires, coaches and scorers).”

Captain Jenny was told quietly in advance by the VWCA that we had won the award, and so with five team-mates went off to presentation night.

And while Moonee Valley’s juniors won three Premierships and five individual player awards, the VWCA Spirit of Cricket Award was the only honor achieved by any of our 10 senior teams.

Not bad for a group of girls and women in Moonee Valley’s first-ever women’s team, in their inaugural season, and in the case of the majority of our team, their first season of competitive cricket as well!