ALTHOUGH COVID-19 has disrupted a large part of her 2020-21 cricket season, it hasn't interrupted the ambitions of Ulladulla's Tara Rudd.
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This was shown at last month's under 19s country championships in Queanbeyan, where the Ulladulla High School student starred as captain of the Greater Illawarra side.
Her side opened the Twenty20 competition with a win against Riverina (6-87 to 9-78), before going down ACT Southern Districts (7-81 to 7-82).
Rudd's side then rebounded against Western, winning 3-108 to 5-89, booking them a spot in the decider against ACT.
"Due to COVID-19, many Illawarra girls were unable to travel and play at the championships," Rudd, a former ACT-NSW Country representative, said.
"We were down six players but the under 15 girls filled the team and did a great job.
"We all played to our strengths and got into the finals against the ACT team.
"Unfortunately we lost against a very strong team.
"I was extremely proud of all the Illawarra girls who played in very hot conditions.
"I would like to thank our coach Jo Kelly and Tim Hore for their continued support of the Illawarra girls and a fantastic few days away in Queanbeyan."
On the back of her 51 runs and six wickets, Rudd was selected in the Thunder team for next week's NSW-ACT state challenge, which will be held in Orange on Sunday, February 14.
"I was fortunate to be selected [for the state challenge], and I look forward to another challenge," the 16-year-old said.
"Many of the girls are older than me and I am excited to see what this state challenge experience brings."
Following the state challenge, Rudd will join her South Coast team, also featuring Ulladulla's Sarah Wheeler, in Bathurst for the 2021 Combined High Schools four-day carnival - which will run from February 15-18.
"I'm really looking forward to playing for coach Dane Stevenson and his mighty Marlins in Bathurst," she said.
"I'm determined to have another strong carnival and be selected in the CHS team once again.
"I was selected last year but due to COVID-19, the games were cancelled, so I'm really keen to prove myself once again and gain that state honour."
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
