FEMALE umpire Rebecca Woods makes her Meller Braggins League debut this weekend, writes Paul Hassall.
The Westminster Park cricket enthusiast will become the youngest female to officiate in the league when she takes charge of tomorrow's Division Two clash between Ashton-on-Mersey and Barrow.
Rebecca, 18, became interested in umpiring after enjoying cricket as a child.
She said: 'I've always been interested in watching sport and in particular cricket. But I was never any good at playing it so, with me being more of an academic person, I decided to learn the rules and become a qualified umpire.'
The Sir John Deane College student attended an umpires' course held by chairman of the Meller Braggins Umpires Association, David Lawson, earlier this year and after learning all 42 laws she took a multiple choice exam, scoring top marks in her group.
With the theory committed to memory she is now keen to put her knowledge into practice and is itching to make her mark on the Meller Braggins League.
She said: 'I'm very excited and nervous but it will give me the practice I need and I know the rules so it is just a case of applying them.'
Rebecca, who recently sat her A-levels, has been preparing for her big day by taking charge of a number of ladies matches including the Cheshire versus Lancashire Under 17 Chelford Festival match earlier this week.
She said: 'I've umpired some ladies matches but the game on Saturday will be my first men's match and I'm expecting to have to deal with some very loud appeals in the first over.
'It won't be as daunting as it sounds
because there are two umpires and luckily enough my first match is with David (Lawson) and he has been a big help throughout.'
Rebecca's progress has been carefully monitored by Lawson ever since she excelled on his training course and he has no doubts she will prove to be a hit.
Lawson said: 'Technically she's very good and now she just needs experience in the field.
'I have no qualms about her and have every confidence she will be a successful umpire.'
