After a couple of rounds of WNCL matches, the NSW Breakers sit at the top of the WNCL and Women’s Interstate Twenty20 competitions while the VIC Spirit are in hot pursuit. Some outstanding performances from the last weekend in October came from the bat of Leah Poulton, up in sunny Queensland at Allan Border Field.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars opener cracked innings of 55 and 75 respectively to dominate the Twenty20 matches and show why she is one of the leading batters in the league.

Sixteen-year-old Beth Mooney, a young and upcoming wicket-keeper and batter for the Queensland Fire, scored an impressive 50 not out to help the Fire make a reasonable score in their One-Day match against NSW. I have been told a number of times by my Queensland teammates that my keeping position is now in jeopardy by young Mooney! However, I am not about to go away just yet!!!!

The ACT Meteors had an impressive weekend against the Tassie Roar with three wins, with dominant performances by captain Kris Britt and young gun Asha Smith who scored 89 off 59 balls.

Hard going in the rain crippled the conditions in Geelong, with one of the Twenty20 matches between VIC Spirit and WA Fury reduced to five overs-a-side. After a slog-a-thon and a number of wickets, the VIC Spirit came out on top. Exciting win for the Spirit but the Fury must have felt hard done by!!!!

In order to ensure the players are ready to take the field each week, there is a strict fitness and training schedule for the teams. In particular, the Strength & Conditioning coaches are always a hot topic on athlete’s lips and breathing heavily down your back when fitness testing comes around every two months or so each season.

These guys are the ones that rock-up each Tuesday and Thursday and decide to take their anger out on the squads. A major focus across all state squads and the Australian squads this season has been increasing yoyo test scores and improving skinfold results. If you ever were body conscious, then skinfold testing is definitely a way of getting over that very quickly. Chocolate and cakes are forbidden from table menus at this time of year!!!!

Pre-season fitness training is always met with delight by some players and angst by others. Too much of a good time in the off season can play havoc when you turn up to a session in early May.

A bit of an insight into the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and WNCL player fitness regimes, shows running sessions, followed by weight sessions, followed by more running sessions! In the middle of all the running sessions, an extra bike or boxing session, and to finish it off a swim session! When you aren’t exhausted from all the running and biking, next comes the recovery sessions. The dreaded ice bath is a part of training and playing that most athletes meet with a few whinges and moans but is a necessary part of recovery and post playing. However, it can be the best feeling, jumping into a pool of icy water on a 40 degree day after you have scored a few runs or taken a bagful of wickets!!!!

It has been a fantastic couple of rounds of WNCL so far, and I predict the next few to be even better. This season will be closer than ever and I expect a few upsets along the way. The match of the upcoming round should be the battle between the championship leaders the NSW Breakers and VIC Spirit. The ACT Meteors take on the WA Fury at Manuka and Fire head to the Gabba for a showdown with the Scorpions.

Come on Fire girls lets have a win!!!!