A women’s cricket team from Cwmbran are celebrating their first unbeaten season and being crowned league champions.
Croesyceiliog Hens is a mixed age group- from early teens to 40s/ 50s- who play softball cricket- a form of the sport created to encourage women and girls to play.
Emma Matthews is the team captain, and at this evening’s training session, she told Cwmbran Life: “It’s been a really kind of fun journey, huge friendships made, and what I love is the way we support each other on and off the field.”
Last week, they won the South East Wales softball division four league.
Emma said their game has transformed since Stewart Roden took over as coach one year ago.
‘Sense of belonging’
She said: “Since Stewart’s come on, our game has developed dramatically and it’s been an epic year in terms of the results. We were undefeated this year, but I think the community spirit and that sense of belonging that we’ve created and those friendships is really what being a Hen is about for me.
“I’m not a naturally sporty lady, but everybody is so encouraging and so kind.
“There’s that huge kind of buzz, that ‘Croesy buzz’ around everyone building each other up and supporting each other, and I think it’s the multigenerational sport of women coming together and that powerful kind of strength that that momentum that we’ve kind of gained across the season under Stuart’s leadership.
“Verity [Samuel] is another volunteer who makes things happen, and she’s a huge kind of backbone to the club.
“It’s a wonderful section to be in, and I’m proud to have captained them this year, a great bunch of women.
‘We pick each other up’
“And I think things aren’t always brilliant at home for some of our Hens, so I those are the bits where we notice and we pick each other up, and you know, we support each other so much through that cricket family. We do have the social things and that kind of supports it, but I think that sense of belonging is a lot of what some of these ladies were missing, and that’s what it brought to them.
“You know, the winning’s been brilliant, but I think that those underpinning foundations that we’ve laid in terms of support and that community feel will go on for years to come really.”
Emmeline Roden, a Croesyceiliog Hen, said: “I’ve never been a cricketer and never played before in my life but been wicket side for 13 years watching and cheering Stewart on and then our boy Jacob whose now eigh and is having an amazing journey within cricket, so last year I took a leap of faith and joined the Hens.
“Stewart was coaching and we have all come on so much but are all so respectful, passionate, kind and supportive of one another. We’ve all got different backgrounds and walks in life but we are such a great team and have come on loads with Stewart’s coaching.
“His dedication and commitment to us has paid off in a year.”
“Dedication and hard work’
Stewart, club coach, said: “Last year, we only won one game in the league, so to go unbeaten this year just shows the dedication and the hard work that all those ladies out there have put in really throughout the winter, into the summer.
“They love it. It’s a social aspect as well as the fitness, the sport, and competitiveness as well.”
You can follow Croesyceiliog Cricket Club on Facebook @Croesycc
🏏 New members will always get a warm welcome from the team. The Hens train every Wednesday from 5.30pm to 7pm at Croesyceiliog Cricket and Rugby Club on The Highway, NP44 2HJ.