The women have taken centre stage in Casino on Sunday for the inaugural Northern Rivers Women's Smash cricket competition.

Played across two weekends, the competition sees four teams take to the pitches of Casino to showcase the increased participation of women in the sport on a regional level.

Teams took to the field on Sunday for Round 1 and 2 and will return next Sunday for Round 3 and the Finals.

Two teams will represent the host club, Casino (Blue and Maroon), one from the North Coasties, and an extension of the Marist Brothers Pitch Perfect Girls team, including a number of mums joining their daughters in the side.

In Round 1, the two Casino teams clashed in a tight contest, with Maroon taking the points over Blue by 3 wickets.

Casino Blue posted 6/151 and Maroon passed the total in the 24th over. Kate Rowlands top scored with 42 not out off just 25 balls, Grace Harris had 36 for Maroon and Olivia Voss took 3/23 for Blue.

In the other match, North Coasties posted a total of 4/171, with Marist Brothers Pitch Perfect all out for 29, with Bridie Benfield taking 2/19.

In Round 2, Casino Blue batted first against North Coasties and posted a total of 4/101, with Kate Rowlands top scoring again with 33 not out.

But it was the North Coasties who ran out convincing 10 wicket victors, reaching the total in the 11th over.

And in the second match, Casino Maroon batted first and compiled a total of 6/124, with Tina Schilling, Tayah Walcot, Ella Collings and Bridie Benfield all picking up wickets.

In reply, Pitch Perfect managed to reach 5/80 off 20 overs.

Benfield top scored with 23 and Isabel Schilling added 18 not out.

Next Sunday, 8 February, sees Round 3 of the competition starting at 9:30am, with North Coasties taking on Casino Maroon and Casino Blue playing Marist Brothers Pitch Perfect before the Finals are played at 1:30pm.