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Subscriber only AS the rain continued to tumble, the Ipswich cricket competition s leading all-rounder was feeling optimistic. While the ongoing showers might mean some or all of this weekend s Cricket Ipswich grand final play could be washed out, Mick Sippel was upbeat. We ve had about 60-70mm across the area, which has been nice, over the last few days, Sippel said. The cricket stalwart is a national manager for Terranova Seeds, having previously been the Lockyer Valley Growers Association president. It s still raining nicely now . . . mostly happy farmers I m dealing with. However, Sippel said the region had nowhere near enough rain to get the creeks running.
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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.