IT is halfway through the Women’s Premier 1sts competition, so over the next week we are taking a look at where all the teams are sitting as we head into the back half of the season. Today’s focus is Essendon Maribyrnong Park, who currently have had an up and down start to the season.

The season thus far

One word to describe EMP Bombers‘ season would be “inconsistent”. They currently sit in sixth place, with two wins to their name. After rain played havoc on the opening weekend’s play, but when play did get underway the following weekend things went pretty disastrous for the Bombers, suffering a bonus point loss to Carlton.

They were able to turn things around the following weekend and defeating the reigning champions Dandenong. December came, and with it another heavy loss, this time to Box Hill. They then turned things around against Ringwood, comfortably beating the Rams and earning a bonus point in the process. In the last round before Christmas, they were comfortably beaten by Melbourne.

Who’s played well?

From a batting perspective, it is Katia Jomini who tops the table. She has hit 119 runs at an average 0f 39.67 and a strike rate of 54.3. Although she has hit her duck, she has also hit a top score so far this season of 75 not out.

Next on the list is Sienna Ferrera. She has also hit a duck, but also a half century on the way to her top score of 56. She has hit 107 runs so far for the season at an average of 20.6 and a strike rate of 56. Rounding out the top five on the batting table is Milly Illingworth, Samantha Bates and Alyssa Humphries.

Jomini also tops the bowling figures table for the Bombers. She has taken 7/103 in her 33 overs across her four matches. This includes a whopping seven maidens. Her average is 14.71 and her economy rate is 3.12. Her best bowling figures for the season so far is 2/20.

Second on the table is Hannah Rooke. In her four matches this season, she has taken 5/96 in 23 overs, which included four maidens. Her best figures in a single match are 3/22, and her average is 19.2 and her economy rate is 4.17. Rounding out the top five bowlers are Illingworth, Bates and Georgia Gall.

The rest of the season ahead

The Bombers will be looking to get a bit more consistency into their season, and string a handful of wins together. In the next month, they have got Prahran, Carlton, Plenty Valley and then Prahran again. They should win the Plenty Valley game, but the Carlton game will certainly be a challenge as Carlton are in good form at the moment.

The Prahran games will be an interesting set of games, and could go either way. Essendon Maribyrnong Park could win both games, and it probably have to if the Bombers want to keep pace with the top four and make finals.