West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League: Division 1

The West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League is growing at a faster rate than the relentless Amazonian jungle currently masquerading as my back garden.

For context, the CYHQ ‘pitch’ is awash with greenery, I just didn’t plant most of it; a heady blend of unseasonal warmth, punctuated by showers doing the rest.

Forgive the initials but in 2024, the WYW&GCL had a ten-team Division 1 that represented the hardball top tier with other divisions for Bradford & Calderdale, Huddersfield & Leeds.

Not to mention, a vast amount of softball teams, indoors leagues and cup competitions. The league welcomed over 600 guests to their presentation dinner at Leeds United FC’s Centenary Pavilion.

For 2025, it is all change. In this round-up, I’ll give you the outline, along with some specific team news from Division 1.

Division 1, won by Bradford Park Avenue Ladies last season, welcomes Holmfirth who are a replacement for Cricademia Academy.

In Division 2, there are geographically defined divisions with Leeds & Bradford comprising of Crossflatts 2nd XI, Burley-in-Wharfedale 1st XI, Guiseley Women’s 1st XI, Menston Women’s 2nd XI and St Chad’s Broomfield Women’s 2nd XI.

It’s a sign of the outstanding work at all of these clubs that 1st XI teams are kicking on and there are 2nd XI squads now playing hardball cricket too.

Division 2 (Huddersfield) features Almondbury Wesleyan, Denby, Stainland, Thongsbridge and Thurstonland.

I make it six hardball divisions now with Division 3 split into Leeds, Bradford & Calderdale and Huddersfield.

It’s exciting to see this progress in the league and appetite for hardball cricket. I guess the fluttering thought at the back of my mind is the hope that the numbers and availability is there to sustain this.

Even at Division 1 in 2024, there were 12 conceded fixtures which suits nobody and leaves teams without a game to play at a weekend.

Of course, this happens across all forms of recreational cricket for all kinds of reasons. For my part, I’m looking forward to watching teams for the first time and seeing how the standard improves as well as individual performances.

There’s scope for separate articles on girls and softball cricket but there are 12 softball divisions in West Yorkshire as well as hardball and softball girls divisions too.

Here’s some news on Division 1 and we’ll be covering women and girls’ cricket across Yorkshire with interviews, club visits, photography and podcasts this summer.

Bradford Park Avenue Ladies

As the defending champions who went undefeated in 2024 and have now won back-to-back league titles, Bradford Park Avenue Ladies are the team to beat.

BPAL 1st XI shrugged off a nine-wicket defeat to Crossflatts in Group A of the Archer Cup and bounced back in the league over the Bank Holiday.

They were victors by nine wickets at home against North Halifax as Emily Easingwood struck her first league half-century (55*) for BPAL.

You can read my interview with Club Chair and captain Kirsty Gavillet where she discusses the successes and future ambitions.

Crossflatts

Charlotte Boulton (Crossflatts Women’s 1st XI captain and Women and Girls’ Coordinator) gave me the latest from Ryshworth Park.

“The season looks promising with a really good group of youngsters who are now old enough to play senior cricket. Arya Raval who was selected for Yorkshire over the winter and is a really promising left-arm opening bowler is one to watch for definite.

We’ve also signed Emily Hall from Pudsey St Lawrence who will give us some experience and stability at the top of the batting order.

Winter nets were well attended and we also had extra practice in the indoor league. We were unbeaten Bradford champions and narrowly lost by 1 run in the WY Finals day to a strong Sessay Emeralds side.”

The first game for Crossflatts Women’s 1st XI was on Easter Monday where they won by nine wickets at North Leeds in Group A of the Archer Cup.

Division 1 league duties for the first team commence at home to Pudsey St Lawrence on Sunday 11 May aiming to improve on a fifth place finish in 2024.

Harrogate

It’s all go at Kirbys Solicitors County Ground. Suzanne Oliver told me: “Our women’s team are really excited, we have come together in winter training and are looking forward to our second season in Division 1 and are hoping to build on last year’s results.”

She added: “We have grown our women and girls’ section to six teams this year and cater from ‘Roses’ Dynamos through to the two women’s teams.

We are looking to give lots of development opportunities and have welcomed many new players over the winter. We are really excited to have IP Wealth Management being our main sponsor with new kit for the whole section coming soon!”

Harrogate Women’s 1st XI’s Archer Cup Group B campaign started on May Bank Holiday weekend with a 15-run win over Pudsey St Lawrence then they collected the win by default when Holmfirth conceded.

St Chad’s Broomfield

St Chad’s Broomfield Women’s 1st XI are expected to be a force to be reckoned with in Division 1 this season. They finished second in the league in 2024, albeit some way off runaway winners Bradford Park Avenue Ladies.

Captained by Hannah Keys, St Chad’s have begun brightly with a 91-run win in the Archer Cup (Group B) against Holmfirth. Maggie Lindsay (4-14) and Charlotte Ashton (2-9) did the damage with the ball. They also progressed in the ECB Club Cup T20 when their Round 1 Group 1 away game against Menston was conceded by the opposition.

Archer Cup rounds continue on Sunday 18 May against Harrogate and Menston before a visit to Tofts Road on May 25 against Pudsey St Lawrence. In the league, there’s a massive fixture on Sunday 1 June as St Chad’s Broomfield welcome Bradford Park Avenue Ladies.

Menston

In 2024, Menston pipped Crossflatts to fourth place in Division 1 and they have high hopes that the momentum can continue.

The start to 2025 has yet to spark into life for the squad (early days) with shared points in cancelled Archer Cup games against Pudsey St Lawrence and Holmfirth, before a 9-wicket home loss to North Leeds in the league at the end of April.

Menston Women’s 1st XI captain Kelly Jenkins shared this:

“We have said a sad farewell to E. Burns who has moved to Saxton to develop her cricket in a higher league. We are aiming to ensure we develop Juniors this year and making sure there is a clear pathway for the girls into women’s senior cricket. We have some rising stars that we hope to see flourish this season.”

Menston will miss Burns who was potent with ball in hand but there are reasons to be optimistic with Sarah Woods having a breakout year last season, averaging 54 at the top of the order.

As a club, they have also entered a Menston Women’s 2nd XI into Division 2 (Leeds & Bradford), starting confidently with a 73-run win over St Chad’s (Megan Batty 22 & 3-5).