Newport Girls U14s named first Girls Welsh Cup winners

The Newport side lifted the trophy at Cricket Wales Welsh Cup Finals Day, held at Newport Cricket Club.

The team reached the finals after beating Penarth and Sapphires in earlier rounds. In the semi-final, Newport faced North Wales champions Pontblyddyn Cricket Club.

Pontblyddyn scored 84-5 from their 16 overs after being put into bat. Newport lost an early wicket but recovered to win by six wickets.

Lottie Williams was Newport’s player of the match. She took three wickets for 12 runs and scored 32 retired, helping the team reach the final.

Carmarthen Wanderers Girls had beaten Pontarddulais Girls in their semi-final, setting up the final against Newport.

Newport won the toss and chose to bowl. Captain Emelia Chowns made an immediate impact by bowling Carmarthen’s star player, Kali Rourke, with the first ball.

Maisie Bishop then took four wickets for 10 runs. Chowns took two wickets for 10 runs, while Williams took one wicket without conceding a run.

Carmarthen were bowled out for 26. Newport’s fielding and bowling restricted the opposition throughout the innings.

Newport then completed an eight-wicket victory without losing a wicket. Chowns scored 14, and Williams scored nine as the team reached its target.

Newport Girls coach Mike Knight said: "It was an outstanding all round performance, fantastic fielding and absolutely brilliant bowling.

"We knew that the girls were capable of that, but any coach would like their team to produce their best performance in the biggest game, and the girls certainly did that today.

"They've worked so hard at training throughout the season and the Welsh Champions title is richly deserved, I can't praise the team enough".

The Newport under-14 girls squad was Emelia Chowns (captain), Maisie Bishop, Seren Boret, Emily Brown, Maisie Crum, Bella Gilbert, Bea Holdcroft, Matilda Hotson, Hannah Payne, Poppy Price, Lottie Williams, Jess Shaw, Pranusha Gopavarapu and Penny Price.