Women’s NSW Premier Cricket 2nd, 3rd Grade & Brewer Shield finals preview

_{Manly Warringah will contest the third-grade and Brewer Shield final // Ian Bird Photography}

Here are previews for each lower grade grand final, with a first-grade preview set to be released this afternoon:

Second-grade

What: Women’s McDonald’s NSW Premier Cricket Second-grade Final
Who: Gordon v UTS North Sydney
When: Sunday, March 10. First ball 10am
Where: Chatswood Oval
Umpires: Nathan Harvey & Lauren McGill

Gordon

• Qualified for finals in third position. Overcame second-seeded Manly Warringah by 22 runs off the back of an Olivia Callaghan century (104 runs) to host the decider.
• Callaghan has tallied 435 runs from seven second-grade innings at an astounding average of 87.0.
• Deer’s captain Kristen Dorsch has collected 17 wickets at an average of 14.88, the most amongst her squad.
• Gordon last claimed the women’s second-grade trophy in season 2003/04.

UTS North Sydney

• Defeated defending champions, Sydney, by 14 runs to advance to the final.
• Captain, Sophia Mavros, leads the side in runs with 343 (average 26.38) and wickets, having taken 26 for the season (average 14.19).
• The Bears are on a seven-match winning streak, having last lost in December 2023.
• A North Sydney women’s second-grade side last claimed the trophy in 1977/78.

UTS North Sydney emerged victorious when the club’s met a fortnight ago, though, Gordon were the last side to beat the Bears, back in their round 11 matchup.  

Live scores | HERE

Third-grade

What: Women’s McDonald’s NSW Premier Cricket Third-grade Final
Who: Manly Warringah v St George-Sutherland
When: Saturday, March 9. First ball 12.30pm
Where: Balgowlah Oval
Umpires: Aldo Cantori & Kevin McFarlane

Manly Warringah

• Top of the table at the end of the regular season. Marched into the grand final with a 40-run win over UTS North Sydney, at Saturday’s venue.
• Emily Hatfield has a half-century to go along with 255 runs for the season, the most in the Manly line-up.
• With 28 wickets at an average of 8.04 (including semi-finals), Jasmin Wilson leads the entire third-grade competition.
• The Waratahs are searching for their maiden third-grade trophy.

St George-Sutherland

• Finished second on the competition ladder with a record of 12-4. A four-wicket win over Parramatta secured their position in Saturday’s final.
• Slayers skipper Stephanie Gillett leads the competition in runs scored with 523. Gillett has only been dismissed three times in 15 innings, boasting an astounding batting average of 174.33.
• With 17 wickets (7.39 average), including three in the semi-final, Gillett is also the Slayers’ leading wicket-taker this season.
• St George-Sutherland are in contention for a three-peat, after winning the premiership in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The two teams had been scheduled to face off twice, in rounds 5 and 8, but both matches were abandoned due to inclement weather.

Live scores | HERE

Brewer Shield

What: Women’s McDonald’s NSW Premier Cricket Brewer Shield Final
Who: Greater Hunter Coast v Manly Warringah
When: Sunday, March 10. First ball 10am
Where: Townson Oval, Newcastle
Umpires: Katie Collins & Jim Harrod

Greater Hunter Coast

• A dominant semi-final win over defending champions UTS North Sydney, sent the Crushers into their first Brewer Shield final in only their second season.
• Prodigious NSW Pathways talent, Caoimhe Bray, has accumulated 753 runs (57.92 average) from 15 innings, including three centuries and three half-centuries. The most amongst the entire competition.
• Bray also leads the league in wickets taken, having snared 30 (4.43 average) from 15 fixtures.
• Greater Hunter Coast will eagerly await the opportunity to compete in the deciding fixture on home turf.

Manly Warringah

• Overcame a minor premiership winning Northern District team by four wickets to reach Sunday’s final.
• Charlotte (240 runs) and Annabelle Croll (225 runs) have been the Waratah’s best with the bat this season.
• Kaya Punter sits at number two on the competition's dismissals tally, boasting 26 wickets at an average of 9.46.
• Victory would see Manly Warringah claim their first Brewer Shield title.

This will be the first encounter between the two sides this season.

Live scores | HERE