Last "weekend" saw extended action in the Leinster League Section A, with games on Friday and Tuesday as well as three on Saturday, only Clontarf being without a match. In Section B there were three matches which confirmed YMCA as promoted to Section A but left the other place up for grabs between Malahide, Phoenix and Rush.
The Friday match saw Pembroke continue their losing streak against Merrion at Anglesea Road in a match they should really have won. After a good start from Dom Joyce (24) and Kade Beasley (66), followed by 29 from John Anderson and 39 from Damian Poder, Merrion were at one stage 162-3 and looking at 230, but fell away badly to be all out for 195 in 48.2 overs, Barry McCarthy taking 3/20, Graham McDonnell 3/40 and Anthony Brooks 3/31.
Pembroke lost both openers for ducks, but recovered through Brooks (58) and McDonnell (31). Rain showers reduced the target to 194 off 49, but when Brooks was fifth out on 157, the tail could muster only 15 more runs and left Theo Lawson on 26*. Chief beneficiary of the collapse was Simon Morrissey with 3/26.
On Saturday in the reverse fixture, Pembroke gained their revenge in another topsy-turvy encounter. After the early loss of Beasley and Ackland, Merrion got to 126-2 through Dom Joyce (72) and John Anderson (38), but fell away to be all out for 191, again failing to bat their 50 overs. Pembroke were 8-3, but Graham McDonnell with Ryan Hopkins (20) added seventy, and with Theo Lawson another 44. There was a mini collapse to 154-8, McDonnell making 69, before ninth wicket pair Barry McCarthy (24*) and Andy Leonard (20*) saw the 'Broke home with two balls to spare.
Across Park Avenue in Railway Union, the home team let The Hills make 251-7 without ever putting them under any pressure. Albert van der Merwe top-scored for the Wilberries with 87, Mike Baumgart helped him add 147 for the second wicket with 60, and Thomas Murphy (25) and Mark Dwyer (34*) regained impetus in the last few overs. The Wheeltappers and Shunters started brightly, but were goosed once Kenny Carroll (36) and Tom Fisher (25) departed. Mark Dwyer completed a good match with 4/21 as Railway were all out for 142.
Up at Inch, a 134-run opening partnership between Conor Armstrong (66) and Brian Shields (84) set up 50-over score of 257 for North County. At 95-1 Leinster were well in the game, but after the loss of Carlos Brathwaite (58) and George Dockrell (44), only Ian O'Herlihy's 34 kept the County lads from the bar. Eddie Richardson's 5/56 will have earned him a pint, but I don't know if he's old enough to drink!
After much wrangling at committee level, the reverse fixture was played on Tuesday in Rathmines. Dockrell and Eddie Richardson were away on international duty, and the Leinster lads' employers were more understanding (less aware?) than County's. Leinster made 218 against a second string attack, and should have made a lot more.
However, it was plenty, as County disintegrated from 33-1 to 69 all out, Carlos Brathwaite starring with 3/8 and Will Lennon with 3/21. Smokin' Joe Connolly strapped on his holster to gun the last four – all sitting ducks!
Section B started with a result that was as quick as it was predictable. YMCA shot out CYM (without pro Brad Rasool) for 65 in 26 overs, Reinhardt Strydom taking 6/16, and then using up only eight overs to get the runs. That ensured YMCA's promotion. Malahide's promotion hopes took a dent at the village when Rush gave them a good seeing-to, thereby bringing themselves back into the mix.
After Callum Riches (29) and Matt Daykin (36) had taken the Village to 64-1, Lionel Jansen (3/33) and Tipu Gull (3/19), abetted by Nazeer (2/29), put them out for 157. Jansen then went on fire, scoring 103 out of 156, falling two runs short of a six wicket victory.
Another result I didn't expect was in the Phoenix Park, where Old Belvedere pooped Phoenix's party. I would love to tell you what happened, but I don't know the full story because no card has been received from Phoenix. Also, if Del Boy could add some information to his enthusiasm and glee when Belvo wreck somebody's weekend, it might be more constructive. Here's what I know.
Despite several warnings from the umpires, Phoenix had bowled only 48 overs when the allotted time was up. Old Belvedere were 147-9, Paddy Conliffe having taken 4/29. So Belvo got six penalty runs for each over short-bowled, and Phoenix got penalised four overs, leaving them 46 to chase 159. They were all out four runs short with one ball to go, Corie Dickeson scoring 42 and Srikkanth Sharma taking 3/25.
So if Phoenix can take full points from their last match at Malahide on Saturday, the Villagers would have to take 44 points from their final two games, both at home, against YMCA on Sunday and Old Belvedere next Saturday, to take the second promotion slot. But if Rush were to take full points from their final two games, at CYM on Sunday and home to Belvo on Saturday 12th, a distinct possibility, they'd finish ahead of Phoenix, and then Malahide would need 52 points from their final three games to finish ahead of Rush.
What do I think is going to happen? Well Rush will get at least 23 points on the magic carpet on Sunday, and Malahide will get at least 20 from Phoenix on Saturday. But they'll need them, because YMCA will take the win points on Sunday.
And what about Section A? Clontarf will make up some ground on league leaders The Hills, because 'Tarf will win at Anglesea Road against Merrion and at home to Railway Union on Sunday. The Hills have home matches on Saturday and Sunday, and I don't think they'll win them both. Given that they should beat Leinster, that means I think they'll succumb to the Old Enemy on Saturday.
That win will mean that North County will have some breathing space, and won't have to rely on Railway beating Pembroke up Cold Blow Lane on Satuday. But Railway will oblige, and so Pembroke and YMCA will swap places next season. Whether Rush or Malahide come up into the new “Premier” League will depend on Old Belvedere. I tell you, you have to know your Sharma from your Ali in this game!
Cheers,
Stu.
