WOMEN'S CRICKET - Coach calls on feminine side

Heather Deane arrived for her first day of cricket coaching at Otaika Valley Primary School yesterday with a clear mission on her mind.
The 28-year-old was organising junior or "Kiwi" cricket games for classes at the school but within that role she makes a special effort to encourage girls to take up the game.
Deane, who is Northland's first contracted female cricket coach and also doubles as the captain of the provincial women's team, knows that the women's game is on shaky ground at the local level.
"This is my job, now - to encourage more women to play and to get a competition up and running for them.
"There's very little going now but next season I want to hit the ground running," she said.
Ideally, she would like to see a four-team competition established but she might to have to steal a few players from better-established women's sports if she's to do that.
Despite having a well-developed international game and a top first-class competition in New Zealand, women's cricket in Northland - like many of the other provinces - is short of players.
It's a problem Deane is very aware of, and after playing in Auckland club competition, she is itching to kickstart the women's game here.
"It's certainly a bit different from playing Auckland where there are plenty of players.
"But in saying that, we've got a pretty strong side to take down to Tauranga this weekend."
For now at least, the 11-aside game is likely to be shelved, with eight players the new benchmark for a women's team.
"Northern Districts (inter-provincial) competition only plays eight-a-side and that reflects how low we are in numbers at the moment.
"They cut it down to eight to ensure that teams could field strong sides and not be scratching around for players," Deane said.
The new Northland team draws heavily on young talent.
"A lot of our secondary school stars are in the side with Sam Morgan, Kelsey Dunn and Emily Bailey adding depth to the team."
Dunn and Bailey have already trained and trialled for the Northern Districts senior side, Northern Spirit, but the team won't be named until later in the month.
Deane, vice-captain Jodi Antonovich and former Canterbury player Viv Anysley are the three senior players in the team, with the rest all high school students.
She is hoping the students will be in their element on Sunday because it seems that the Bay of Plenty side will be made up of secondary school players.
Their next match in the ND series is in February but Deane is trying to organise a few extra games, even against men's teams.
The women's team for Sunday's game against Bay of Plenty at Blake Park in Mt Maunganui is.- Heather Deane (c), Jodi Antonovich (vc), Viv Anysley, Kelsey Dunn, Brooke Morrison, Emily Bailey, Nicci Anderson, Sam Morgan, Annabelle Kerr.