The 2025 season marked a significant shift in the Devon Women’s Cricket League (DWCL). Across Divisions 1–3, all clubs fielded overseas players, who finished as leading run-scorers in each division and set new performance benchmarks for local players. The relocation of Devon Ladies T20 fixtures from Saturdays to Sundays due to a lack of Saturday pitch availability across the County, combined with frequent clashes with Devon County matches, affected team availability and league outcomes.

Despite these challenges, the league continues to strengthen, with three competitive divisions and an improving standard of play that has attracted high-quality overseas participants.

Tarka entered the season with optimism and ambition. The club was particularly proud to have supported and sponsored three junior players—Issie Ollis, Rebecca Savory and Megan Zieleniewicz—who were selected for an overseas tour with Devon Youth Cricket prior to the domestic season, gaining valuable experience that clearly enhanced their summer performances.

Although Tarka were unable to defend their 2024 Indoor League title due to exclusion from the competition, preparations for the 35-over league campaign were thorough and focused. We give our heartfelt thanks to Mark Davies and Regina Lilli for their fantastic coaching and commitment. Tarka are so lucky to have these two outstanding coaches. Gee, who players regularly for NDCC and Tarka Ladies is a Samoan international cricketer and was named Bowler of the Series in the ICC Women’s World Cup qualifier in Fiji in 2025. Mark is the proud father of Tarka Lady Ruby Davis. Ruby captained Loughborough to win the University final at Lords in 2025. She has played professional cricket for Worcester and will be playing for Somerset in 2026.

Despite this amazing coaching and management team, throughout the season we frequently struggled to raise 11 a-side resulting in many time-consuming phone calls and messages from the captain and manager trying to raise sides. Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to those who stepped in to help us when we were short so that we did not have to concede any games.

We have a wonderful team spirit at Tarka but our critical mass of players of hardball remains relatively low, and if we are to continue our outstanding record of success, I would urge players to look carefully at our fixtures for the season and endeavour to commit to making themselves available for as many games as possible. Please also encourage anyone interested in ladies’ cricket to come along and join us!

Despite some challenges, the season began positively with a seven-wicket victory over Taunton CC on a challenging surface. Issie Ollis scored a confident 30, Rose Ball added 31, and Tarka successfully chased 117 to finish on 121/3.

The second fixture, away to Plymouth, was unfortunately cancelled due to a failure to cover their pitch despite improved afternoon conditions, resulting in shared points. An away fixture against Exeter followed, with both sides affected by county call-ups. We were delighted and grateful that two mother/daughter combinations Lucy Dyer mother of Sydney Dyer one of our younger players, as well as Yulija Ollis, mother of Issie, stepped up and facilitated us fielding a team! Despite reduced availability of the County players, the match was played in excellent spirit. Strong contributions from Eluned Davies, Kate Williams, Lauren Bowden and Olivia Kingdon saw Tarka post 176 and edge the contest by 22 runs.

Tarka recorded a convincing home win against Paignton in early June. They are a strong team who always play fair and we enjoy the matches. Tarka posting 197/8 thanks to contributions throughout the order, Issie Ollis another solid 29 runs, Gee Lilii 47, Kate Williams 35, Lauren Bowden 29. Paignton were restricted to 129/9, with Rebecca Savory producing an outstanding bowling performance of 3 for 13. This was followed by another strong away performance at Cornwood, where Tarka scored 200/5. Notable highlights included Rose Ball’s 68, Jemima Brunton’s first senior wickets, and a standout all-round display from player of the match Megan Snape.

The team’s highest score of the season v Taunton came on the Cameron/Dart wicket at Instow, where Tarka amassed a massive 309/4, led by Annie Townsend’s rapid 79, Rose Ball’s 59 NO, and solid contributions from Megan Snape. A collective bowling effort demonstrated the depth of the Tarka team and the fact that we offer opportunities for development and participation to all our players when Millie Squire, Issie Ollis and Eluned Davies took 2 wickets each with Gee Lilli, Gemma Canham, Sydney Dyer and Annie Townsend taking one apiece, dismissing Taunton for 101, underlining the depth and balance of the squad.

Flora Corbin made a welcome but short-lived return from Scotland in July but that was not enough to save us from a 6-wicket defeat by a strong Exeter 1st team. A well-deserved victory for Exeter who have grown their ladies’ cricket hugely over the last few years and now boast a solid team in each division. Exeter is the strongest team in the League but frequently lose huge numbers of players to County matches with the vast majority of all ladies’ games scheduled on Sundays. Kate Williams scored a creditable 38 but Tarka were all out for 146 after 34 overs. Jemima Mitchell taking 4 Tarka scalps! Exeter 148/4.

Rain again proved costly later in the season, with an abandoned match against Plymouth while Tarka were well placed at 122/1, significantly impacting the title race.
A closely fought away match against Paignton showcased further strong individual performances, including a half-century from Megan Snape and a four-wicket haul from Rose Ball.

The season concluded with another rain-affected fixture against Cornwood, abandoned with the opposition 17/4. Ultimately, Plymouth’s final victory, two rain affected matches and a team conceding to Plymouth, left Tarka finishing ten points behind, securing a highly commendable runners-up position in Division One. Given the repeated disruption caused by weather and player availability, this represented a strong and resilient campaign for the club.

After nine years amazing service to Tarka Ladies and women and girls’ cricket in general, Lauren Bowden decided to step down as Captain at the end of the 2025 Season. Her fairness, kindness and encouragement will be hugely missed. We hope she will continue to play regularly for the Club. She was presented with a beautiful watch from all the players as a token of our appreciation.

Rose Ball was elected as Captain for the forthcoming season with Issie Ollis Vice-Captain.