Scorps' latest
Four South Australians selected for under-18 female talent squad
The Women’s Youth Selection Panel (WYSP) has today announced a squad to attend an Under-18 Female Talent Camp at the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence in Brisbane next week.
The squad was selected following the completion of the National Under-17 Female Championships in Brisbane yesterday, with players at the talent camp from 18-21 January to undergo a range of assessments including batting, bowling and fielding skills tests, fitness testing, physiotherapy screening and psychological profiling.
There will also be a series of intra-squad matches played during the four-day camp.
The camp will be led by a team of coaches headed by AIS-National Women’s Head Coach Richard McInnes and including Cricket Australia Spin Coach, John Davison.
The squad was selected by the WYSP consisting of McInnes (Chair), former Australia player Julie Hayes and former Australia captain Lyn Larsen. In addition to the National Under-17 Female Championships, selectors also took into account performances at the CA Women’s Cup which was held in Sydney in November 2009.
Cricket Australia Under 18 Female Talent Squad 2009-10
Nicola Carey NSW
Mathilda Carmichael NSW
Tamara Clapton SA
Katelyn Fryett TAS
Lisa Griffith NSW
Jakara Hill SA
Rebecca Hollindale QLD
Jessica Jonassen QLD
Taylor Kayfoa NSW
Emma King WA
Meghan Lanning VIC
Katie Mack NSW
Bethany Mooney QLD
Hayley Pattison QLD
Rhianna Peate SA
Celeste Raack NSW
Megan Schutt SA
Kara Sutherland NSW
Stephanie Townsend VIC
Hannah Trollip NSW
Keegan Tucker NSW
Kate Waetford NSW
WYSP Chair Richard McInnes said:
“The Under-18 Talent squad concept commenced in 2008 and forms an integral part in assessing the talents of players in this age bracket before they move out of the youth system and into the first-class arena.”
“Jessica Jonassen and Meg Lanning have been named in the squad but will not attend the camp due to work load management and in Meg’s case, to allow her to prepare with her DEC VicSpirit teammates for the Women’s Twenty20 Final which will be held next weekend.
“A number of players in the squad have already experienced either junior international cricket or represented their states at the senior level. The WYSP is confident that more out of this group will be identified to quickly progress to higher honours and eventually the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad.”
South Australian Scorpions v Vic Spirit - Twenty20
7 January 2010, Adelaide Oval (double-header with West End Redbacks v DEC Bushrangers)
Scorpions Coach, Ben Arthur spoke with Tamara Clapton and Rhianna Peate for the Scorpions' Twenty20 match against the VicSpirit at Adelaide Oval.
The SA Scorpions squad:
Rolton, Karen (c)
Carver, Sarah
Clapton, Tamara
Dean, Alicia
Iles, Neisha
McDonald, Fiona
McPharlin, Tegan
Morrison, Steph
Nitschke, Shelley
Peate, Rhianna
Schutt, Megan
Woerner, Julie
Tam's sting in Scorpion tale
Spress Newspaper, October 2009
IT’S not often a state cricket team enters a season with one of its players still in high school. What’s even more surprising is when the player has already debuted for the
team the season before.
Well, this is the case for South Australia’s women’s cricket team and their gifted teenage sensation Tamara Clapton. The 16-year-old became the youngest ever player to debut with the South Australian Scorpions last year, and recalls it as a very nervous occasion.
“It was just a complete rush and the nerves kicked in pretty quick. We played in WA and I made one, and that was a very nervous one.”
Clapton was given little opportunity in her debut however, as she strode out to the wicket with only five balls remaining, however she fi nished not out nonetheless.The teen has had a rapid rise on to the cricket scene, and it was at her brother’s training that the sport became serious for the schoolgirl. Clapton remembers how the boys threw her the ball at training thinking they would score some easy runs, yet ended up asking her to join the team.
“I went to his cricket training one night and they said do you want to have a bowl, and they were a bit surprised and asked me if I wanted to join in,” she laughs.
The Salisbury East High School Year 11 student was awarded the Scorpions most improved player last year, and after only one win last season the talented batsmen is hoping for an improved showing by both the team and herself this time around.
“We can definitely do better and that’s what we’re going to do this year hopefully.
I think I’ll be batting a little bit higher this year, so hopefully I can make some more runs.”
An Australian Under 18 squad member, Clapton will assume greater responsibility this year with the Scorpions, a emarkable fact, considering she is yet to enter her final year of secondary school. The emerging talent is hopeful of representing Australia one day, and has a desire that is sure to take her a long way.
“I’ve always strived on performing my best and doing my best, and I hate getting beaten,” she says.
Scorpions pre-season ropes challenge
As part of their pre-season training the Scorpions tackled the challenging course at the Woodhouse Activity Centre in the Adelaide Hills on 12 September. The course, coordinated by Venture Corporate Recharge, included a high ropes, challenge hill and a 340 metre high flying fox.
Highlights included Alicia Dean's gymnastic driven cat walk 12 metres above the ground, Angela Moritz's statue impersonation prior to her 'leap of faith,' and Shelley Nitschke's somersault twists on the flying fox.
The Scorpions have been working with Sports Psychologist, Matti Clements, to develop leadership qualities and skills crucial for sporting succees. During the course the team were required to demonstrate communication, respect, decision making, descipline and honesty.
Alicia Dean explains that 'helping each other overcome our fears has allowed us to be a more respectful and empathatic group... although there were some hilarious moments that required some lip biting.'
Tamara Clapton also enjoyed the course, 'it was a real adrenalin rush... I loved every minute of it.'
The leadership group included Karen Rolton, Shelley Nitschke, Tamara Clapton and Alicia Dean. Rookie-listed player Jolande Winson and senior squad members Sarah Carver, Kiara Stockley, Tegan McPharlin, Lucy Williams, Angela Moritz, Neisha Iles and Fiona McDonald all participated.