Oswestry Cricket Club's record-breaking women and girls host their own festival

Oswestry Cricket Club's Women and Girls section, known as the WaGs, has become one of the most successful recreational women's cricket teams in Shropshire. In 2025 they won both the County Super 8s Hardball T16 League and the County Super 10s Softball League for the second season running, winning 17 of their 19 fixtures. They were also named Cricket Shropshire's Women's Team of the Year.

Captain and coach Naomi Payne launched the section in 2018. "We have the most incredible team spirit and a truly talented crop of younger players that have developed into cracking cricketers this season," she said after the double was secured. "I honestly could not be a prouder captain."

Cricket runs in the family at Morda Road. The WaGs have a record ten mother and daughter playing pairs in a 32-strong squad aged from 11 to 67.

That success earned the club a Women and Girls' Softball Festival from Cricket Shropshire for 2026, a recognition of its work promoting inclusive participation in female cricket. The festival was set for Sunday 5 July at the club's Stonehouse Oval ground, open to all women's and girls' teams in the county, with two pitches for six adult teams and one for under-11s.

Team manager Jools Payne planned it as a Festival of Cricket, Culture and Community. Softball cricket in the morning was to be followed by a celebration lunch of international dishes and big screen viewing of the Women's T20 World Cup final from Lord's, with pitch-side activities for families throughout.

Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors came on board as sponsor. "We are thrilled to have the generous support of Lanyon Bowdler," said Jools Payne. "Their sponsorship of our event will ensure we can stage a first class festival that will, we hope, inspire and encourage even more women and girls to take up the game."

The WaGs are also backed by Welshpool Printing Group, Oswestry Approved Care and Support, Turner Group and The Jools Payne Partnership.

Women and girls interested in playing can find Oswestry Cricket Club at the Stonehouse Oval, Morda Road, Oswestry, and follow the club's news for training and recruitment details.