Girls with glittering prospects

By Gavin Staindl
THE girls at Hallam Senior College have the Midas touch.
The senior team who won last year’s Victorian State School premierships for football and cricket are only two steps away from claiming a second cricket premiership. And they are hot-favourites to retain this year’s footy premiership.
The cricket team comfortably advanced through the knockout rounds and plans on claiming the state title in term four.
After dispatching Orbost Secondary College in the Gippsland championship game by seven wickets, the girls defeated Doncaster by 136 runs to clinch the eastern championship.
Chloe McMillan and Cahli Parker put on 101 for the opening partnership to lead Hallam to a 35-over total of 8/188.
Doncaster didn’t come close, being bowled out for 52.
The squad of 13 now has to wait for term four when they will have the chance to defend their title against the state’s best.
In the meantime, 11 members from this all-conquering team will be out to repeat an unbeaten run from last year when the school football season kicks off this week.
A squad of 23 has been picked for the opening match against Casey North, with eight players returning from last year’s premiership side.
Hallam coach Brett Alexander said he is lucky to be coaching such a gifted group of players.
“They are such a talented group,” Alexander said. “They have the natural ability and they are so committed. “After school, or during lunch, they will be training and their ability to gel as a team is one reason why they enjoy so much success.”
And Alexander believes their success will not be short-lived.
“I’ll back us to take out the final (for the cricket) … we have proven ourselves,” he said. “As for the footy, we have many players who haven’t played before but I reckon we’ll go pretty close to winning it.”