“Ramsbottom Women’s XI Break Barriers in Men’s Lancashire League Cricket” 2024-11-01

**’s XI Makes a Splash in Men's ** Teenage captain shares how the talented junior squad has “surprised a lot of teams” on their journey to achieving four victories. On a chilly Saturday in late April, the Ramsbottom community gathered in large numbers at to celebrate a historic milestone. After an unbeaten run in 2023, where the women’s first XI clinched the league title for the second consecutive year and secured the T20 trophy, the club made the groundbreaking decision to enter them into the . This move placed them in the third XI section, where they would compete against teams primarily made up of men. , the head coach for Ramsbottom’s women’s and girls’ teams, expressed his enthusiasm for the decision back in January, stating, “It’s the right thing for this group at the right time. We’re still going to participate in women’s competitions, but this presents a fantastic opportunity to do both.” women’s team is ready to take on this new challenge, showcasing their skills and determination in a competitive environment.

Iain Collier Ramsbottom coach junior women's cricket teams Lancashire League women's cricket Maeve Jones Ramsbottom captain Ramsbottom cricket club history Ramsbottom women's cricket community support Ramsbottom women's cricket team Ramsbottom women's cricket unbeaten season Ramsbottom women's XI achievements women's cricket development programs women's cricket in men's leagues women's cricket league participation women's cricket opportunities in Lancashire women's cricket success stories women's cricket T20 trophy winners

Question 1: What historic achievement did the Ramsbottom women’s first XI accomplish in 2023?

Answer: The Ramsbottom women’s first XI went unbeaten throughout 2023, winning the league for the second consecutive year and lifting the T20 trophy.

Question 2: Why did the Ramsbottom women’s team enter the Lancashire League?

Answer: The Ramsbottom women’s team entered the Lancashire League to take on teams comprised mostly of men, as a way to challenge themselves and gain more competitive experience after their success in women's competitions.

Question 3: Who is the captain of the Ramsbottom women’s XI, and what did she say about their performance?

Answer: The captain of the Ramsbottom women’s XI is Maeve Jones, who mentioned that the talented junior side “surprised a lot of teams” on their way to achieving four wins in the league.

Question 4: What was the reaction of Ramsbottom’s women’s and girls’ head coach regarding the team's entry into the Lancashire League?

Answer: Iain Collier, the head coach, expressed that entering the Lancashire League was the right decision for the group at the right time, emphasizing that they would still participate in women's competitions while taking advantage of this new opportunity.