Portsmouth CC celebrate title success in maiden Hampshire Women’s League campaign

Portsmouth CC produced a champion performance in their first-ever season in the Hampshire Women’s League.
By Simon Carter
Published 25th Oct 2022, 14:21 BST
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They lifted the curtain on a Division 3 South campaign with a three-run victory over Redlynch and went on to clinch the title.

The initial squad was a young group - ages ranged from 13-22 - with Portsmouth also attracting a few players from their W10 Ladies Softball team. There were also a few ‘passers by’ who saw the squad training at St Helens and asked to join.

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Portsmouth held an awards evening recently, where the squad received the Division 3 silverware. In addition, the following prizes were handed out - leading batter of the year (Darcey Clarke), leading bowler (Lauren Urch), leading catcher (Florie Bundy, wicket-keeper), leading fielder (Freya Watkinson) and players’ player (Darcey Clarke).

Portsmouth’s Hampshire Women’s League title winners. Back (from left): Viola Elvy, Florie Bundy, Lauren Urch, Izzy Logan, Jo Chan, Emily MacKenzie (captain), Darcey Clarke (Capt), Maya Devenish, Imogen Wallace, Millie Watkinson, Emily Newman, Kristy Robinson, Emma Freathy. Front: Judith Jellico, Isla Sutherland, Evie Crane, Freya Watkinson, Ruby Mae Puddick, Rosie Nelson. Missing - Abi BennettPortsmouth’s Hampshire Women’s League title winners. Back (from left): Viola Elvy, Florie Bundy, Lauren Urch, Izzy Logan, Jo Chan, Emily MacKenzie (captain), Darcey Clarke (Capt), Maya Devenish, Imogen Wallace, Millie Watkinson, Emily Newman, Kristy Robinson, Emma Freathy. Front: Judith Jellico, Isla Sutherland, Evie Crane, Freya Watkinson, Ruby Mae Puddick, Rosie Nelson. Missing - Abi Bennett
Portsmouth’s Hampshire Women’s League title winners. Back (from left): Viola Elvy, Florie Bundy, Lauren Urch, Izzy Logan, Jo Chan, Emily MacKenzie (captain), Darcey Clarke (Capt), Maya Devenish, Imogen Wallace, Millie Watkinson, Emily Newman, Kristy Robinson, Emma Freathy. Front: Judith Jellico, Isla Sutherland, Evie Crane, Freya Watkinson, Ruby Mae Puddick, Rosie Nelson. Missing - Abi Bennett

Clarke scored 240 runs in only five league innings, including an unbeaten 55 in the first match against Redlynch and 96 not out in the next game against Southern Stars.

Clarke’s undefeated 96 was the second highest individual score in the section in 2022 - behind only Hursley Park 3rds’ Pippa Sproul (110 not out).

Portsmouth won five of their 11 league games, with another three victories coming via walkovers - the opposition failing to raise a side.

Urch and Evie Crane, meanwhile, finished joint-top of the divisional wicket-taking list with nine victims apiece. Two other bowlers also claimed nine wickets.

Related topics:St Helens