To celebrate the first Womens Premier League fixture to be played in Aberdeen between the Northern Lights and Watsonians CC Women, Aberdeenshire welcomed teams from Aberdeen University, Fraserburgh CC and Stoneywood Dyce CC to Mannofield for a women’s Wee Bash softball festival and girls softball coaching and games session.

With each of the women’s teams playing 2 games there were lots of skills and enthusiasm on show, 21 Women and 12 girls taking part in softball cricket on a Sunday morning demonstrates the great progress being made by north east clubs in growing women and girls cricket.

Aberdeenshire were pleased to host Watsonian Women at Mannofield, founded in 2013 by Lea Tsui Allen and Alice Stroud, the team has grown, in 2016, under the leadership of Kate Wheway, the team began to play regular Sunday fixtures in the Scottish Women's Premier League as a combined Watsonians/Grange team. This year with both clubs playing as independent teams they have joined with George Watson's College in order to form a stronger pathway for their younger girls into adult cricket. This has resulted in the emergence of some young stars, such as Emily Tucker (Scotland u17's player).

The Northern Lights team had 4 changes with Ailsa Lister ( StoneywoodDyce CC) replacing Becky Glenn and debuts for Leanna Broadley ( Fraserburgh CC), Lottie Rhodes ( Aberdeenshire CC) and Aarna Sharma ( Aberdeenshire CC). Captain Megan McColl had no hesitation on winning the toss and electing to bat first on an excellent Mannofield track.

Ailsa and Megan opening the batting were quickly into their stride taking 23 runs from the first 2 overs. Ailsa was particularly severe on the Watsonians bowling attack racing to 105 (retired) from 47 balls with 16 fours and 2 sixes.

This brought Emma Halliwell to the crease who once again demonstrated her batting talent scoring at a steady rate, Megan leading from the front continued her excellent batting form recording her 2nd WPL century on the bounce before retiring on 102 from 63 balls with 17 fours.

A rain interruption in the 21st over brought an early tea, on the resumption Emma moved effortlessly to 72 before being caught off the bowling of E Tucker, Abbie Hogg kept the rate going with a run a ball 21 not out closing out the innings on a new WPL record of 338/2.

With another rain interruption delaying the start of the Watsonians innings and the potential of more showers bringing the game to an end. Abbie and Megan opened the bowling and Watsonians got off to the worst possible start with the run out of V Gadd before they settled and moved to 50 without loss.

With Zoe Bailey inducing a catch from the impressive E Tucker for a well-made 32 from 34 balls breaking the partnership, the introduction of Kirsty McColl brought about a collapse with Kirsty taking 4 for 10 from 6 overs. The Watsonians innings closed on 80 with E Leslie not out 25 and a comfortable win for Northern Lights.

With many personal and team goals achieved by the Watsonians players they can look forward to the rest of the season, thank you for making the trip north and making this important fixture for Women and Girls cricket in the north a success.