Ellie Taylor, Sophie Charlton and Ella Lillico - who in their first season of playing hard ball cricket with the Langwell Crescent outfit - made their debuts for Northumberland under 15s in a clash which they won handsomely against Shropshire. Ella scored an unbeaten 26; Ellie took 1-19 from three overs whilst Sophie ended with 0-22 from five overs but scooped two catches. The girls’ team at Ashington – who play in the Northumberland Cricket Board’s development division - are coached by Michael Thewlis who said: “We have had boys representing Northumberland at all County levels – and it’s great for the club to have players turning out for the county – but I was especially delighted that we had three girls in the County side at a time when our women’s team is top of the Cricket Board’s Development league.” All three girls attend Ashington High School and Ellie and Sophie only started playing women’s softball cricket last year and hardball cricket at the beginning of this year. Thewlis who saw some of the match against Shropshire which was staged at Benwell Hill’s Denton Bank ground added: “As a club we have received positive feedback about our women’s side and their development this year, so it was good for the girls to take part in a County game which recognises that. But it was a particularly nice moment when Sophie took a catch off the bowling of Ellie in her first over.”