Priest 'proud' of Glamorgan Women despite T20 exit

Rachel Priest was named as Glamorgan's first women's head coach in February

Glamorgan coach Rachel Priest says she is proud of her team despite their seven-wicket defeat by Yorkshire on League Two T20 Finals Day.

The North group winners, including England internationals Lauren Winfield-Hill and Beth Langston, will be a Tier One side next season, a year before Glamorgan go fully professional.

"I'm really proud of the way the girls carried themselves, against a professional team it was never going to be easy for us but the girls put on an amazing show," said Priest.

"We just fell away a bit with the bat and we need to keep working on options to score boundaries throughout the innings."

Glamorgan won five of seven completed games to finish second in the South group, whereas Yorkshire stormed through the northern section unbeaten in eight.

"Extremely positive, the hard work in the winter has shown on the field and we'll look to keep building on that," Priest told BBC Sport Wales.

"If we can recruit some players and keep working with the players we've got, we'll look to be where Yorkshire are now.

"It's really exciting to have cricket as your job and lots of our girls are working hard towards that opportunity."

Glamorgan have included a clutch of professional loan players on the fringe of Tier One counties throughout their campaign, with Warwickshire batter Bethan Ellis making a string of appearances, teenage Hampshire all-rounder Poppy Tulloch featuring in all the Blast games and Somerset batter Niamh Holland returning for the semi-final.

Others such as Emily Burke, Daisy Mullan, Emma Jones and Erin Vukusic have also worn the daffodil badge this season, with Priest having an eye on future recruitment as well as hoping professional habits benefit her mostly young semi-pro side.

"Yorkshire have got eight or nine full professionals, so it's a great experience for our girls to have played against them," said 26-year-old Ellis, born in Leamington Spa of Welsh parents.

"For a 17-year-old (Poppy Walker) to have bowled against ex-England players is something to learn from."

"Glamorgan have welcomed me and I felt part of the team straightaway, I've really enjoyed it," added Ellis, who ducked a question about whether she would consider a permanent move.

Glamorgan have a chance of further knockout cricket in September in the One Day Cup, where they stand third in League Two after four of the nine group games.