Sandy Strang: Accies lead the way in new women's league

IT HAS been all go for the inaugural Women's National League despite the poor weather.

Following the success of last year's first-ever Ladies Scottish Cup, six teams - Ayr, RH Corstorphine, Glasgow Accies, Kinross, Stirling County and recently formed St Boswell's - are currently contesting the new 30-overs-per-side competition.

And it's the Glasgow Accies girls who've made the early running, powering into a convincing lead following victories over Stirling, St Boswells and Ayr by ten wickets, 13 runs and 79 runs respectively. The batting highlight of the show so far has been Samantha Haggo's stylish unbeaten 79 at No 4 for the Glasgow side against St Boswells at Anniesland last week.

Cricket Scotland women's cricket manager and the country's captain and most experienced lady player Kari Anderson is very excited by the new league.

"It's a fantastic development," she said, "and hopefully will inspire many more women and girls to take up the game by giving them the opportunity to play more regularly for a club."

Kirsteen Ross, Perth and Kinross cricket development officer, whose charges Kinross CC travel south on Sunday to face leaders Accies, is similarly upbeat.

She explained: "We don't have any national players, but we see the new league as a terrific development opportunity for our girls, many of whom are just starting in the game, to experience at first hand how the better players go about their business, and to inspire them to follow suit."

All six league clubs plus George Watson's will contest the 2011 Scottish Cup, with the first-round ties, scheduled for Sunday 3 July, pairing Glasgow Accies with RH Corstorphine, George Watson's with St Boswell's, and Stirling County with Kinross, Ayr receiving a bye straight into the semi-finals of the tournament.

Sure, it's just a small start, but there's now a very positive vibe emanating from our ladies game, which augurs well for further expansion and even brighter days ahead.