New coaches, captains keen to boost clubs towards top four as BDCA women’s competition begins on Sunday.

The fourth instalment of the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association women’s competition begins on Sunday, with Donnybrook looking to defend their premiership. All six captains spoke with Jackson Barrett ahead of the season’s opening round. Donnybrook After their first season in the competition ended in a remarkable premiership success, Donnybrook enter their second season as the hunted side. And it is something they are acutely aware of. “It is a bit surreal still, we are still on that high a little bit, but now it is a bit of a change of mentality going in because we are better known and we have a title to defend,” captain Ashleigh Towers said. “We are just excited to get back in to it. “We’ve got an eye on Marist after that grand final.” Towers said she was prepared to lean on the group that bowled her team to a grand final victory at the end of last summer. “Being a very strong bowling side we’ve got Summer (Towers) and Brodie (Stewart) but also Nat Flynn and Lisa Smith,” she said. Marist After three devastating grand final losses in a row, Marist are as desperate for a maiden women’s premiership as ever. And despite losing a couple of players from last year’s run to the decider, captain Jessica Barton said some fresh faces coming through the juniors and a burning desire to jump their final hurdle would drive the club this season. “We don’t want to do it again,” she said. “We have come close but choked a bit, but we are still one of the top teams, so there is a bit of pressure. 2020-21 grand final: Dons win first flag in Forrest Park thriller “That has driven the girls this year.” She said experienced bowler Kelly Bastow, who went wicket-less just once last season, would again be a key factor. “She is one of the older girls in our team and has been there since we started,” Barton said. “I lean on her for a bit of support which is good and she helps me on the field — she is a natural leader, so it is good to have her.” Colts It took the Bunbury powerhouse three attempts to make their maiden women’s finals appearance last year and now their brand new captain says it’s time for the youngsters to take them another step forward. Shani Waugh takes over the captaincy from Cathy Allen this season, but she says she is expecting to lean on some of the group’s young guns. “If we can get a few runs out of Emma Norrish this year she will develop into an all-rounder because she is a really good bowler,” Waugh said. “And then there’s Emily Allen — we don’t know how much representative cricket she will play this year, so if she plays consistently for us this year she could be anything and that’s exciting.” The club has also lured spin bowler Emma Bresser, who plays men’s cricket for Nannup, to play at least five games. Hay Park Another club with a brand new skipper and a new coach, the Redbacks are about to embark on a rebuild of sorts. New captain Bronwyn Walker, who takes over the role from Katrina Jones, says some player movement in the off-season means her side will be going back to basics. “Making the grand final is always the ultimate goal, but I think this year we want to focus on building a really good team atmosphere and developing everyone’s skills,” she said. “We want to have a really strong team by the end of the year.” Hay Park first-grade bowler Shaun Bulman has also taken over as the new women’s coach. “He has brought a fresh approach to training and has got us to motivate ourselves,” Walker said. “It is about focusing on what we can bring to help each other. “It has been a good chance to freshen up our line-up and give people some different opportunities.” Leschenault With a change in rules to allow players to continue batting after their 50, the competition’s historic first century is up for grabs, and Leschenault skipper Kasey Hill feels her side has the perfect candidate. Emma Jamieson, who batted number three for the Green Caps last season, averaged more than 40 across all competitions, and Hill says she’s as good a chance as any to become the first to reach the milestone. “With some of the rule changes we are not retiring at 50 runs,” she said. “I think Emma is one to keep an eye on because hopefully she will get up there closer to 100 runs.” She said the weather had meant an interrupted pre-season but she was still backing her side to improve this year. “We have had to switch days around and have a few sessions on a Sunday and change it up a bit due to the weather with lots of late rain,” Hill said. Eaton With a new coach, a new co-captain and a new name, Eaton will be desperate to build on their two wins last season. Club legend Clint Hewson will take over as women’s coach, while Rebecca Mepham will join Jenna Harrington as the Bobtails use co-captains for the first time. “We have a few new girls in so it is very exciting,” Harrington said. “This year we are actually trying out co-captains so Rebecca Mepham will be helping me with that. “I think it will work well, she helped me out through the other seasons as well.” Harrington said Hewson’s cricket experience had already started rubbing off on the group. “He’s got a lot of knowledge,” she said. “We are hoping his experience will make us a better team.” It’s a daunting task for the Bobtails first up, set to face reigning premiers Donnybrook on Sunday.