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Subscriber only HAVING won three Gold jackets in a row, accomplished cricketer Harry Wood is a fine choice as a local hero . That s a new role Wood will fulfil in coming weeks having joined the Western Power franchise fielding a range of teams in the newly-formed Brisbane Premier League (BPL) T20 competition. With strong Ipswich ties and a proud country heritage, Laidley-bred Wood will encourage junior cricketers and help promote Western Power in the inaugural five-week amateur series starting in August. While yet to decide if he will play in the BPL, the Ipswich Hornets most consistent batsman appreciated another prestigious honour.
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Subscriber only AFTER some rejuvenation time on his Pine Mountain farm, Tony Potbury is eager to coach again next season. Having seen his young Hornets Second Grade cricket team gain valuable grand final experience, Potbury is keen to build on what has been achieved. The Hornets lost Saturday s grand final against University after making 111 in reply to the home side s 7/125 at Graceville. Potbury said the pressure of the occasion got to some of his younger players. However, with so many of the team still teenagers, the coaching stalwart was upbeat about the future. It s a great experience, he said, having guided a number of club and school sides to grand finals.
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Subscriber only HAVING valuable all-rounders like Macy Hauser rising through the program is one of the reasons the Ipswich Hornets have qualified for Saturday s grand final. Macy, 15, is the only cricketer from the Hornets first year of female player development to still be in the club s Second Grade team. She started in the all-girls Hornets winter squad in 2014, becoming one of the team s go-to players in this year s Jodie Fields Shield competition. Having helped guide her side to a nailbiting, last over semi-final win over Sunshine Coast last weekend, Macy is one of the teenagers with a promising future.
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Subscriber only LOYAL Ipswich Hornets women s coach Tony Potbury is reminded how young his side is every time he sees them arrive. It s a bit surprising when you turn up at training and all the girls are rolling in with cars that have got L-plates on, he said. With the exception of tireless ring leader Leanne Bichel, the Hornets side includes a number of players aged in their teens. However, that youthful enthusiasm is one of the reasons the Hornets Second Grade side has advanced to this weekend s Jodie Fields Shield competition grand final. Stacked with all-rounders, the young team battled gamely to beat Sunshine Coast in a nerve-racking final over at Walker Oval on Sunday.
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Subscriber only HAVING both Ipswich women s teams in this weekend s Queensland Premier Grade semi-finals is a massive indication of how well the Hornets are progressing. Having one of the Hornets regular players Ellie Johnston currently playing for the Queensland Fire enhances that ongoing cricket development success. But while the Hornets first grade side will be without Johnston for Sunday s elimination showdown with the Gold Coast, head coach Wayne Bichel sees it as another opportunity for his players. Lucy Neumann, Olivia Winter, Keely Freiberg and Ella Harvey have stepped up in recent games with Johnston preparing for Queensland duty.