The Western Fury brushed away their off-season cobwebs with two friendly one-day matches against Guildford Grammar School at Roberts Oval on Saturday.

 

Both teams' first XI and second XI met in two separate clashes, and the results suggest the girls are well placed ahead of the 2009-10 Women's National Cricket League and Women's Twenty20 competitions.

 

While the boys got their noses in front at the end, both matches went right down to the wire, and had Western Fury stalwart Avril Fahey (51 not out) smashed a six off the last ball the women would have triumphed in the firsts.

 

But it wasn't to be and the Fury were defeated by just four runs in the firsts and 21 runs in the seconds.

 

Guildford was first with the willow in the firsts and raced to 44 before the Western Fury fought back by snaring four quick wickets. The home side looked shaky on 4-65, but steady batting from Tim White (49) helped them to a comfortable 9-199. Cody Butler and Peter Harrison (both 25) were the next best with the bat for Guilford.

 

Kate Burns was the pick of the bowlers for the Fury and finished the day with the impressive figures of 4-45. Leg-spinner Mel Holmes also bowled economically, picking up a wicket with her first and last balls to claim 2-23 from 10.

 

The Fury began their run chase well with an opening stand of 34 courtesy of Donna Brown and Jenny Wallace, who was spectacularly caught by Tahlin Harris on 19.

 

When Brown was dismissed for 45 and then Farrell soon after, the Fury had slumped to 5-111. But the girls regrouped and came back into the contest thanks to a busy 50-run partnership between development squad player Carla Hunter (21) and the evergreen Fahey, who was later named Player of the Match.

 

Guildford bowled tight lines all day, with seven bowlers each picking up a wicket. Peter Harrison was the standout performer with 1-12 from his seven overs.

 

The Fury fell just short of their victory target of an even 200, ending the match on 7-195.

 

Western Fury Coach Steve Philippe said the game was an outstanding success.

 

“It was a great spectacle but in addition the game helped raise awareness and funds for the MS Society of WA,” Philippe said.

 

“And it was great to see the Western Fury still in with a chance to snatch victory right up until the last ball.

 

“We thank Guilford Grammar School for the wonderful hospitality and outstanding facilities and we look forward to this game continuing for many seasons to come.”

 

Philippe said the match was the perfect precursor to the Western Fury's WNCL and WNCL Twenty20 season, which gets underway with a triple-header against DEC Vic Spirit on 30 & 31 Oct and 1 Nov.

 

 

The SunSmart women's competition began in earnest on Sunday with a sociable Super 8s competition to launch the 2009-10 season.

 

The five womens district clubs - Melville, Subiaco Marist, Rockingham-Mandurah, Midland-Guildford and South Perth – united for the Charity Shield for Variety, which was staged at Melville's Tompkins Park.

 

The Super 8s format suited the light-hearted atmosphere and created a spectacle for onlookers. Each side manned eight players, an over constituted eight balls and any player who hit a ball over the boundary on the full was awarded eight runs instead of the traditional six.

 

Subiaco Marist claimed honours in the A Grade while Melville won the B Grade and Rockingham-Mandurah were victorious in the Under 18s.

 

But the day was more about enjoying the cricket, getting into the club spirit ahead of the official season and raising funds for Variety, the Children's Charity.

 

WACA Cricket Operations Coordinator Job van Bunge thanked the Melville Cricket Club for hosting the day and also praised the volunteers who gave up their time to support a wonderful initiative.

 

“It was a great kick-off to the season and everybody's looking forward to the first games of the season next week,” van Bunge said.