As well as the North West side, North West players will also pop up in the Polding and Combined Independent Schools sides.

Holy Trinity’s Anna Lennon will play for Polding while Calrossy’s Jess Davidson will pad up for CIS.

It is quite an achievement. 

Not only is Davidson the school’s first cricket representative at CIS level, but she is only in Year 4.

For Lennon, this year’s carnival will be her second.

She was also part of the Polding side last year, carrying on a bit of a tradition with sisters Sarah, Kate and Claire all wearing the maroon and yellow.

As far as the North West side, manager Beth Hodge said it’s a fairly solid side.

“There’s a mix of experience – kids I’ve had in the past, and new ones,” she said.

“I’m hopeful of some good results.”

Four of the players have been with her in the side before including co-captains Zoe Flemming (Gunnedah South) and Dahlia Glennie (Narrabri West).

Flemming is going away for her third carnival and Glennie her second.

Glennie is one of four Narrabri West players and along with school-mate Alyssa Ford was part of the Central North 15s team that competed at the Country Championships on the long weekend.

They would have taken a lot of experience from that, Hodge said.

Ford will be joined in North West colours by twin sister Caitlyn, and Hodge will be looking to her (Alyssa), Glennie and Flemming to lead the way. 

Another player she’ll be looking to is Sandon’s Kareena Dawson. She’s been impressed with her.

“She looks like being a very good player,” Hodge said.

“This is her first time in it.”

She said she’ll probably open the bowling and bat at around four.

The girls had a bit of a hit-out last Sunday against the Tamworth 12s Gold side.

“We treated it as a bit of a coaching clinic,” Hodge said.

She said the girls were looking forward to the week.

“They’re excited,” Hodge said.

“They’ve worked hard at it.”

North West will be one of 13 zones competing and Hodge is aiming to finish in the top half.

“Six or above would be good. Top four would be fantastic,” she said.

The carnival gets underway on Monday.