For the second year running, Bowral Public School’s girls PSSA cricket team has made the quarter finals and been crowned South Coast champions.

About 100 teams from across the state began in the knockout competition and Bowral has once again made it through to the top eight.

Bowral Public School teacher and team manager Melissa Ayling said they were waiting on a few catch up matches to determine who they would play in the quarter finals.

She said the school was the only South Coast team left in the statewide competition.

Ayling said it was a great achievement for the team to get through to the quarter finals for the second consecutive year and hoped after being knocked out at this stage last year, the team could make it through to the semis in 2018.

“The key for us winning so far has been running between the wickets and not just hitting the ball and watching it but trying to take every run that we can get,” she said.

“We’ve come out on top by being able to get more runs and not relying on no balls and wides.”

With a mix of experienced players and some new to the game, coach Matt Watson said the girls had all been dedicated and worked well together throughout the year.

“You’ve always got to foster camaraderie and inclusion. You’ve got to make juniors feel a part of the team and that’s where they get a drive and a hunger to try. They’re just having fun first and foremost,” he said.

In the lead up to the quarter final match, Watson said they would need to focus on cutting off runs in the field, sensible batting, looking for scoring opportunities and disciplined bowling.

“It’s going to be much harder with this next round because we’re getting right to the top of the apex and when this happened last year we came up against some very very good junior cricketers who beat us.

“But if we hold our own together and keep the fun in play and keep it disciplined, anything’s possible.”

Ayling said the team was eager to learn and had displayed a willingness to help each other improve.

“The girls that have played before they take it upon themselves to help the other ones that haven’t played before and give them peer coaching and help each other.

“So it’s not just coming from Matt or me but it’s coming from their peers and they’re learning from each other as well.”