The 2025 South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) Country Women’s Championship brought together top female cricketers from across Australia to the Barossa Valley last week.
The prestigious event showcased the talent that Australia’s female cricketers have to offer, as well as some of the exceptional sporting facilities in the region.
One of the facilities that hosted matches throughout the week was Greenock Oval, which held four Country Women’s Championship matches in the series, along with four Country Men’s Championship matches.
Greenock Cricket Club Secretary, Jacqui Possingham spoke to The Leader about the preparations and impact of hosting the championship.
“It’s been about nine or 10 months in the making,” Jacqui said.
“SACA needed six ovals a day for a week, and we put our hand up to show what the Barossa could offer.
“The feedback has been fantastic, particularly about the turf pitch.”
Over the course of the championship, Greenock Oval hosted eight matches, including a T20 showdown between South Australia and Queensland, where local talents Chloe Rosenzweig and Evelyn Todd represented their state on home turf.
“It’s fabulous to see locals playing at this level,” Jacqui said.
“There’s something special about bringing top-tier cricket to a community setting.”
Jacqui noted that the Greenock Oval offers players and spectators the opportunity to enjoy a country setting with a relaxed atmosphere, without having to sacrifice the quality of the pitch.
“People from interstate appreciate the country feel,” Jacqui said.
“Visitors have commented on the beautiful environment here.
“It’s peaceful and welcoming.”
The championship brought significant economic benefits to the Barossa with catering for the event being sourced locally from local businesses.
Families from across Australia, including Queensland and Victoria, travelled to support players competing throughout the championship.
The event also proved an opportunity to highlight the significant improvements made to Greenock Oval’s sporting facilities.
With the recently upgraded cricket nets now open to the public and sporting teams, the revitalised facilities are just a part of the vision for the Greenock Oval.
“We’ve installed football posts, and the Light Regional Council is now working on building a catering kitchen with a 250-person capacity,” Jacqui said.
The new cricket nets have already proven popular with local kids and visitors according to Jacqui.
“We’ve got kids riding their bikes over to have a hit,” Jacqui explained.
“We’re planning to make loan equipment like cricket bats and balls available for the community.”
The upgrades also focused on sustainability and preserving the heritage of the park.
A significant 300 to 400-year-old gum tree near the new nets has been carefully protected during improvements.
“It’s about preserving our history as well as looking to the future,” Jacqui said.
