Penrith Cricket Club Women's 1st Grade Cap

Penrith Cricket Club | August 15, 2026

In 2014-15, Penrith Cricket Club’s Women’s First Grade side capped off its inaugural season in the top grade with a performance that exceeded even its own expectations, falling agonisingly short of finals berths in both the T20 and 50-over competitions.

With Emma Felsch wearing Cap #1 and under the guidance of coach Steve Costello, the team entered the season with modest ambitions — to be competitive and pick up wins as the season progressed. Instead, they came out of the blocks firing, winning five of its first seven matches on the back of early enthusiasm and commitment.

The highlight of the season came in the T20 competition, where the team fought its way through to the semi-finals. Cruelly, the match fell on the same weekend as the National Under-18 Championships, stripping the side of several key players. With a full-strength line-up, the result could well have gone the other way.

The 50-over competition brought similarly heartbreaking near-misses. Sitting fourth on the ladder heading into the final round, the team needed a win to secure a finals spot, but went down to Northern District, who claimed the berth instead. A costly loss to St George earlier in the season — with seven players sidelined by CHS Championships, the Impaja Cup and injury — proved pivotal in the race for the finals. Even then, the team worked its way into a winning position against St George before narrowly failing to close out the game.

Much of the season’s success was built on an influx of new talent, blending fresh faces gaining their first taste of First Grade cricket with players pushing for a permanent spot in the side.

Kate Waetford was a standout throughout, providing strong leadership and regularly setting the tone with bat in hand at the top of the order. Her bowling also came to the fore over the course of the season — a development she likely didn’t see coming when the year began.

Naomi Stalenberg was outstanding across the board, her all-round performances earning her selection in the NSW Breakers WNCL squad. Rochelle Davis was reliable behind the stumps and chipped in with several handy innings, while Nikki Squires established herself as one of the competition’s biggest hitters, particularly thriving in the shorter T20 format.

Among the Club’s returning players, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Sam Arnold and Ashley Day all produced standout innings during the year, laying the groundwork to become dominant forces in seasons to come. The team’s young pace bowling stocks — Emma Felsch, Laura Avard and Danielle Armstrong — turned in several impressive spells, experience that held them in good stead in years to come.

The team also saw contributions from its wider playing group across the season, including Alana Ryan — a promising young keeper-batter from the country — along with Maddie Ryan, Siobhan Luczak, Marita Shoulders, Cassandra O’Connor, Maddison McCooey, Kim Butler and Erin Breaden, all of whom stepped up impressively whenever called upon.

Players of 2014-15 with cap numbers

#1 Emma Felsch

#2 Mikayla Hinkley

#3 Samantha Arnold

#4 Amy Edgar

#5 Tilly Power

#6 Danielle Armstron

#7 Ashley Day

#8 Madison McCooey

#9 Siobhan Luczak

#10 Laura Avard

#11 Kate Waetford 

#12 Naomi Stalenberg

#13 Rochelle Davis 

#14 Cassandra O’Connor

#15 Alana Ryan

#16 Kim Butler

#17 Nicole Squires

#18 Madelyn Ryan

#19 Bunner Eliza

#20 Marita Shoulders

#21 Erin Breaden

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