The 6th XI were thrown out of Clontarf for Saturday's game as the Irish team wanted to practice on Castle Avenue. Captain Timmah Holland and his opposite number arranged an alternative venue. Mount Temple. One unnamed player stated after the game, "I think the out field in Pembroke was shorter than the cut wicket and as for the out field I will never speak badly about Bird Avenue ever again !!!" Strong words and those of you who know my views on Bird Avenue will know I find it difficult to believe that there is somewhere worse, although the attached picture might give you some idea.... Skipper Mark Holland commented... unfortunately I lack the spirit to write a report for this game. Clarky's words sum it up: "Mount Temple College, where cricket ground husbandry goes to die". Also alas, our season too. 

The bare facts will suffice. Pembroke batted first and got 59 all out in 28 overs. North County scored 63 for 3 in 11 overs. Then tea was taken.

Here is the captains report...
Not much good news springs from this fixture, save the fact that the toss was won, and no points will be deducted as Barry Tucker very kindly offered to umpire. Opting to have a bat on County’s excellent mat the Captain and Kevin Ryan set about their task of opening with typical obduracy. Ryan rightly had a go at a rare wide ball, but merely edged through to the ‘keeper. Peter Marshall came in at 3, and joined Kevin on the benches by giving a glance off his glove to the ‘keeper.

Fiachra Tucker took guard under the Umpire’s paternal eye, and as ever looked immediately at home, playing straight, working singles and seeking to turn one’s into two’s by cajoling the skipper to try to turn faster than an oil-tanker. After some fine shots, and neat boundaries he too edged through to the ‘keeper, which gave three caught behinds in a row and surely a record for this level of the game.

On a track made for Jonny Bell, his return to league cricket was all too short as he was bowled. Greg “Max” McNamara showed some good application, and very straight bat until a switch to around the wicket brought immediate results for the bowler as he clipped Max’s off stumped to dispatch the newly-wed to the bench. The Captain’s resistance soon came to an end as he did not get in position to play any sort of shot to a long hop and gave a simple catch to gulley off his splice.

Ronan Hickey looked to put some manners on the situation with some wristy shots, but Max Byers, Nigel Poff, and Kieran Vulker all perished trying to get some runs to make the innings respectable. David Lacey coming in at eleven wondered why he bothered to take the day off work at all, but he did his best to help Hickey, before the latter was finally bowled. 59 off 28 overs was a tale of woe, and the decision to get straight back out on the field meant at least no one had to look anyone in the eye for too long.

Not content to have four catches to his name, the County ‘keeper set about trying to end the game before the ten overs set for the tea interval. Kieran Vulker bowled fantastic lines on a lively track and was rewarded with two regulation caught behinds to the Captain. Peter Marshall also took the new ball and gave up a mere ten runs off his two, but the skipper turned to his spinners to attempt the impossible.

Aided by fielding that belied the hopelessness of the situation, with Nigel Poff flinging himself with scant regard for his own safety, the Fiachra Tucker, and then Max Byers occasionally gave County something to think about. If the Captain had been sharper on a flighted ball from Fiachra, then they would have had a wicket each. Vulker’s catch to give Max another wicket was quite spectacular. County had chased their target for the loss of only 3 wickets in 12 overs.

The loss consigns the Sixth XI to Division 13 next year, but there was better news in that next week’s game against Clontarf looks back on with an alternative ground being found after the Irish cricket selfishly wanted Castle Avenue to train on. 

 

 With the Fifth XI taking the square from the Thirds for their Junior Cup Semi-final, the thirds forced the sixes from the ground by taking the junior mat. Thus the Sixes had an enforced weekend off. Next game: Saturday away to North County.

 

"After the previous debacle of the game in Bird Avenue the Sixth XI hoped for better as they took the tunnel out towards Balbriggan to take on The Hills. 

 Losing the toss was a bad start, but Peter Marshall and Greg “Max the Elder” McNamara put in an excellent effort with the new ball. The former conceded a mere 18 runs from his 8 overs, with Max giving up only 22 off his 5. David Lacey then came on to immediately take a wicket, with a sharp catch at mid-off by Ronan Hickey, which allied to a tight 31 runs off his 8 overs meant another good day at the office for David.

 

Saturday away to Merrion. OMG please don't let it be in Bird Avenue was my fervent wish and it came true. The smaller leagues have meant that Merrion's 85th team do get to play at home sometimes. Skipper Mark Holland chose to go with a slightly more experienced, if a little un-fitter team to take on local rivals. Or at least this is what I thought when agreeing to play. It transpired on Thursday that Merrion's woman's team had laid claim to Anglesey Road and we got bumped to Bird Avenue. Bird Avenue. Bird bloody Avenue. Last August I reported...

 

The Sixth XI fell to defeat to Civil Service today in Sydney Parade, but can take many positives from their performance.

Stand-in Skipper Kevin Ryan unfortunately did not win the toss as both captains wanted to bat first on such a glorious day. Civil Service got off to a flyer and it seemed that this game could be ended by running out of balls as the Club's urgent need for a net along the wall became apparent.

A run rate of 8 an over made it seem that a total of over 400 could be possible. But Pembroke's bowlers managed to pull things back as wickets started to fall. Kevin's hand included four legspinners and all of them were utilised. David Poff was the most successful with two wickets whilst Jack Balbirnie also collected a wicket. Max Byers and Feachra Tucker both bowled well with no wickets to show for their efforts.

Rob Farrington returned to the bowling ranks and could have picked up more than one wicket with his medium pace. Sam Byers and Craig Senior both snaffled a wicket each as Civil Service were pegged back to 228 from their 40 overs.

In reply Pembroke got off to a poor start as Sam Byers fell for 2. But fellow opener Kevin Ryan and number 3 Jack Balbirnie rebuilt the innings and took their partnership to 108 until Kevin perished chasing big runs, having scored 44. Jack Balbirnie continued until he reached 77 with a variety of excellent shots including one perfectly executed "Dilshan" shot, until he was dismissed as he tried one leg side glance too many. It was a shame as he batted so very well and did look on course for a century.

Fearchra Tucker scored 15 and David Poff made a good 23, whilst Conrad Jones found himself in a difficult position of having to chase so many runs. Max Byers went quickly as he stove to hits boundaries from the start and Nigel Poff and Craig Senior scampered and scrambled for meaningless runs that brought the final Pembroke total to 198 and left the side 30 short.

It was a good game and one played in the finest of spirits under a fabulous summer sun. The cup match is next and Mark Holland will be faced with many quandaries as he assembles his cup side. 

In some type of symmetry, on the day after the Coronation Cup at Epsom, a Pembroke Sixth XI comprising fillies, colts, mares, and stallions (possibly even a gelding) made their way to Observatory Lane for a Division 12 game with a Leinster side tipping along quite nicely in the league. With a mere 205 runs coming from the bat in the Sixth XI’s first two games, the skipper was hoping that the inclusion of some of Pembroke’s brightest young things would aid the run gathering process.

The captain’s inexperience on judging tracks obscured his view of the Rathmines pitch. With three leg-break bowlers in the side he opted to put Leinster in. It was the wrong call, as the pitch proved to be little more than a strip of cut out-field away from the square, which Leinster’s Marty Block charitably described, when watching Kieran Vulker bowl, as unresponsive. During the day it not so much deteriorated as disintegrated, and the captain’s regret at giving the home team first bat grew as each over went by.

Nonetheless, at drinks, Leinster were only 54 for 1 and there was some satisfaction among the Pembroke group. The opening spell of seam, from Sam Byers and Kieran Vulker, proved to be a good foundation for the triumvirate of leg-spin to follow. Ciara Metcalfe, Max Byers, and Jack Balbirnie all stalked to the crease and produced ball after ball which defied the conditions. Kevin Ryan behind the stumps oohed and aahed like a Centre Court crowd but the reward for all three was little.

Max Byers had Casserly caught by brother Sam Byers at backward square leg but this was a rare occurrence. Leinster’s number 3, Akbar, came to the crease and produced a fine not out score of 78, which in combination with Delany’s 43 rather broke the back of the Pembroke attack. The low scores of the other Leinster batsmen gave an idea of what might have been. Lorcan Tucker bowled two fine spells, sprinting in to bowl and seeking the stumps with full straight balls. Although he had no wickets himself, he gave rise to a run out in combination with Jack Balbirnie.

In a muggy afternoon there was a lot of chasing the ball down the slope at Observatory Lane, and for this alone the other players in the field, Ronan Hickey and Emma Flanagan deserve mention for their diligence in carrying out unglamorous tasks.

Nonetheless, at tea, with the target set at 193 and an asking rate of just under 5 an over there was some satisfaction in the away changing room. Sam Byers and Balbirnie made a very solid start, putting on 57 for the first wicket before the latter was run out on 20. Flanagan joined Sam and at drinks with the score at 61 for 1 all was somewhat rosy in the Pembroke garden. Flanagan was out quickly after drinks to a very sharp catch at cover when trying to push the rate along.

Lorcan Tucker joined Sam at the crease and produced as fine an innings as has been seen on the Sixth XI in this captain’s tenure. His 51 included eight 4’s but was much more remarkable for the maturity he showed in attempting to get the run rate back to a manageable position. Where boundaries were not on singles and two’s were eagerly gathered. In his endeavor to assist Tucker Sam was run out, and Kevin Ryan came to the crease. Following a classy four, Ryan also perished on the altar of the team, out caught, forcing the issue.

The captain joined Tucker and the two set out to try and salvage the game from 76 for 4 at the 26th over. With Tucker continuing his classy innings the Leinster bowlers fed the wild swipes of the Pembroke captain. When the latter finally settled and got onto the front foot he merely succeeded in giving catching practice when trying to drive over extra cover, for 18. Max Byers provided much more support than his 1 run indicates but he too was out, caught.

Ciara Metcalfe showed her class and experience working with Lorcan to keep the Pembroke dream alive, which suggested the captain had erred once more in having such a canny operator so far down the order. True to his character Lorcan perished in seeking runs for the team attempting a straight drive in the last over when a lesser batsman would be thinking of his average. Kieran Vulker had the thankless task of facing one ball which he drove to long-off.

Despite coming up 30 runs short it was a commendable performance by the Pembroke, against a Leinster side which had a nice blend of sage operators, big-hitters, and young talent. In a day not suited to them the Pembroke seamers toiled like honest oxen, and the spinners never gave up. It is doubtful Lorcan Tucker is long for the world of Division 12 cricket, but a large squad is in place for the Minor Cup on the 27th June, which is now a mere fixture away. "
Next game: Home 20 June versus Civil Service.
 

Dublin University crossed the finish line with one wicket intact to consign the Sixth XI to defeat today in the superb surroundings of College Park.

Batting first Pembroke found the wicket not easy to score runs on. Sam Byers was undone by the pitch as the first of many rodent balls took his off stump. Skipper Mark Holland nearly carried his bat for 38, Craig Senior scored 21 and Conrad Jones massaged the bowling for another score in the high twenties. In between there were too many cheap wickets. 114 did not really seem enough at tea, but with this wicket anything was possible.

Chris Wallace in his first senior over got a ball to cut the opener in half and rattle into his stumps. Chris bowled well and deserved more wickets than he ended up with. David Lacey opened the bowling but suffered with the amount of swing he was generating. David bowls best when he can swing a ball that other bowlers can't, and this new ball was giving him too much swing to control. Sam Byers then came on and bowled very well, taking a wicket when Craig Senior took a catch at cover. However, Max Byers bowled his 8 overs straight through and was a held catch away from a hat-trick. Mark Holland took a fine stumping from Max also. Craig Senior and Michael D Clark tried to force another wicket, but Trinity looked secure. However a very sharp caught and bowled for Sam Byers brought Pembroke back into the game. But the last wicket would not fall and the Students made it home.

5 bonus points for the Sixes and thanks to Michael Byers for umpiring. Trinity will score, well no-one really knows how Michael Sharp calculates Trinity's points, but if it were any other team (Irish Ladies excepted Michael) they would have scored 15 out of 25.

Mark Holland may produce a match report which we will of course publish here. 

On a warm day in Grange Road the Sixth XI undertook the experiment, in a friendly with Wicklow County, of a game with two innings of 20 overs each. Winning the toss the Wicklow captain opted to have a bowl.
The young opening pair of James Toner and Max Byers appeared to be dealing well with the Wicklow bowling when Toner failed to get far enough forward to see off a decent ball. James Cresswell joined Byers and settled in for a fine knock of 32 which had a mere three boundaries, two 4’s and a 6. Such was the length of the outfield that a lot of fours became twos or even singles.
Byers perished in a similar fashion to Toner, and former captain Michael Clark got into to twenty over spirit by smashing a quick 12, and assisting Cresswell accumulate runs. David Lacey taking inspiration from Clark did likewise and quick-fire 17 set up a first innings score of 93 with some help from the tail.
Taking to the field, Pembroke’s mix of youth and experience were in ruthless form. Toner and Lacey bowled fine early spells with James taking 2 wickets for 4 off his four overs, and David taking a wicket in his second over before returning at the end to take two more wickets for 11 runs off his four overs.
Proving that playing on a mat should never discourage spin bowlers David Poff and Max Byers brought unbridled enthusiasm to their respective four over spells. Although only one wicket was taken between them, they gave away only 12 and 13 runs respectively and both had high hopes of greater rewards in the second innings.
James Cresswell was unlucky to find Wicklow’s “go to” batsman, Thomson, in mean form and conceded 29 off his four overs but also took two wickets which was to his credit when one considers the running he did in scoring so many singles and two’s in his batting.
Mention should also rightly be made of the back-up in the field by the bowlers and messrs Clark, Poff Snr, Hickey, and Jones who all toiled to perform the less glamorous tasks in the heat. When the cards were totted Pembroke wandered around to the Three Rock Rovers club-house with a 22 run first innings lead nicely tucked away.
Many comments flew about at tea with regard to possible declaration targets as some were worried they might not see their loved ones until Monday morning, but in the end it was generally agreed a positive intent was all that was needed.
Taking this to heart the skipper, Holland, after a twitchy few balls was far too early on a cut shot and failed to loop the ball over cover, perishing for two. From a team perspective this was for the best as Ronan Hickey joined Nigel Poff and the two took the game away from Wicklow. With far too much running for Poff’s liking they put on 33 and 26, with Hickey’s being a fine not out score.
Indeed Nigel looked somewhat relieved to be run-out, though he claimed he merely wanted to give someone else a go. Conrad Jones took his “go” with aplomb. Jones hit four 4’s in a rapid 23 and was eventually bowled after one hoist too many. David Poff joined Hickey and announced his intention with two straight driven fours in succession. Finishing on 18 not out, Poff the Younger contributed to a second innings score of 118 for 3 setting Wicklow a target of 212, meaning 141 runs or as Michael Clark told us 7.05 an over.
Gambling on the two seamers doing the main damage, the skipper bowled Toner and Lacey straight through their 4 over spells. James once more bowled very well conceding only 8 runs for no tangible reward, but David was to the liking of the Wicklow men and went for 21, albeit for one wicket.
The opening pair had succeeded in pushing Wicklow’s asking rate very high and once more Thomson was the man to try to rescue the situation for them. While the Pembroke spin twins, Poff and Byers, took wickets around him he crunched several sixes taking a liking to David Poff’s bowling. David deserves huge credit for the character he displayed in not retreating into his shell.
Both Byers and Poff continued to bowl great lines, giving the ball air when needed, and varying their pace to keep batsmen honest. Poff bowled two batsmen, and had another two caught while Byers had one catch and one stumping to his name. It was a fine performance by them both and the captain is hoping to see them on a grass track at some stage in the season where they will surely improve.
With Thomson in the hutch and the asking rate requiring a super computer, one such came on to bowled. Michael Clark answered the captains need for two overs to supplement James Cresswell’s at the death. Cresswell duly obliged with only 11 runs off his 2 overs, and Clark even plundered two wickets for 9 runs, inducing a catch to David Poff at deep mid-wicket, or cow corner, and later drawing the batsman forward to give the captain a stumping chance even he couldn’t miss.
Once more the accountants set to their task and it emerged Pembroke won by 35 runs. Although the day dragged on, most present agreed it was a worthwhile experiment and with a few amendments could be a very agreeable format for games.
Next week sees a return to the heady business of Division 12 cricket with a weekend double at home to Clontarf on Saturday, and away to Dublin University on Sunday.

 

Sunday, with the Seconds away to the Onion, the Sixes played their second game of the weekend. Skipper Mark Holland had assembled a different XI to that which had appeared on Friday, but spirits were high for the first league fixture of the season.

Fielding first the Pembroke side showed plenty of spirit and determination. Vulkar bowled with accuracy and verve and was extremely unlucky not to pick up wickets. David Lacey bowled from the Nets End and collected the first Merrion wicket to fall as Conrad Jones took a fine catch at the position known best as Cow Corner.

Greg "Max" McNamara came on to bowl and enticed the batsmen to come forward only to provide a lovely edge through to the keeper. Mark Holland also took another catch as well as a sharp stumping. Allied to his 21 in the heart of the batting order it meant a good game for skipper and keeper.

Leg spin bowling in Pembroke is in good health with the couple of twirlers on the team. Jack Balbirnie is well known throughout the club, but has now been joined by Max Byers. Bowling with flight and nerve Max troubled the batsmen without taking a wicket, this time. Jack bowled with the typical enthusiasm which is evdient throughout his game and the Sixes may feel fortunate if Jack continues to be available for the full season.

Sid Gupta came on as Merrion were looking to push the score along, but bowled with a good line, for the most part. Wickets came, partnerships broken, but Merrion comtinued to score well.

A final tally of 235 was below the usual par score for the mat of a run a ball, but proved to be more than enough for the Pembroke chase on the day.

Peter Marshall, after a promising start took on one too many lofted shots and was caught in the covers. Jack Balbirnie fell for less than would have been hoped for (especially by him). The captain stuck around for a few overs and got to 21, but the only knock of any consequence was a 40 not out by Conrad Jones who may be another that the Fifths come looking for. Conrad was watchful against the accurate bowling and merciless against the poor ball.

However, no partnerships were really put together and that is what the lower sides all seem to need at this stage of the season. Too many wickets are falling too quickly and a tally of 8 bowled or LBW shows that an improvement is choosing which ball to keep out and which one to go after is required.

Merrion completed their win for maximum points in the 31st over leaving Pembroke more than 100 runs behind and with 10 overs remaining.

The next game is on Saturday 29th May at home versus Clontarf.

 

A maginifcently driven four by Michael Clark settled the Battle of the Sexes tonight in Pembroke. Chasing 110 but with yet another wicket falling Michael Clark strode to the wicket and quickly found the boundary to settle the result and the nerves of the Sixth XI.

The Ladies XI batted first and posted 109 from their 20 overs. The Men reached their target with 4 balls remaining.

Captain Mark Holland and Lady Ciara Metcalfe have agreed to supply a match report each, which will be posted upon receipt. The men's version of events is here....
On a rare bright evening the Gentlemen of the Sixth XI won the toss and opted to play to their strengths by inviting the Ladies to bat first. Representing a good cross section of the Club membership the Sixth XI’s opening pair was the reliable workhorse Kieran Vulker and the precocious late bloomer James Toner.

Despite both openers taking a bit of tap at times the bowling was tight, and allied to alert fielding, and was duly rewarded with the prize wicket of Kim Garth for Toner. Shauna Kavanagh joined Emma Flanagan at the crease to see off the openers and get the Ladies off to a solid start.

The Sixth XI captain then turned with some glee to two of his arsenal of leg spin bowlers in an effort to bamboozle the Ladies who were done no favours by the run out of Kavanagh. If Max Byers knew he was bowling to the undisputed queen of leg spin bowling on this Island he should no fear and some fine length balls brought about Ciara Metcalfe’s pull to mid-wicket where David Poff’s burgeoning bucket hands did the rest. Further reward was the wicket of Flanagan whom Byers bowled out.

This twin spin attack did a fine of keeping the Ladies’ run rate down in the gut of the innings. The return of seam attack in the form of Greg McNamara and Sam Byers maintained the fine work. However, all the while Louise McCarthy had been steadily accumulating valuable runs when once more tidy work in the field saw here run out, much to the relief of the Sixth XI.

The sight of former captain Ronan Hickey pouching a catch off the extremely dangerous and hard hitting Mary Waldron was a joy to behold and gave the closing seamers more to bowl at than mere run restriction. This was the period where Nikki Symmons announced her arrival to the Pembroke line-up with some assertiveness. Taking a liking to the gentlemen tasked with closing out the innings she displayed goods hands and sharpness between the wickets.

James Toner took the wicket of Mary O’Dwyer to put another bat with quick hands and feet back in the hutch. With Paula Fitzpatrick adding a boundary with her sole ball, the Ladies were able post a target of 110 for the Sixth XI to chase.

The junior pitch of Monkstown RFC (aren’t both pitches junior) in fading light is no place to field, though the Sixth XI captain denied having anything to do with the ground being occupied such as to delay the start by 35 minutes.

The Sixth XI opened with the steady hand of Craig Senior and pinch-hitter James Toner who in apt symmetry was bowled in return by Kim Garth, also for a duck. Sam Byers took to the volatile position of number 3 quite well, gathering runs with Senior through good running and proper dispatch of balls not quite on the spot.

It was a tough opening spell for the Gentlemen with two of the Island’s brightest bowlers careering in with menace and intent, but it was survived with the scant reward of the arrival of the dangerous Ciara Metcalfe, and the often parsimonious Sharon Corbett. Eventually Byers was run out somewhat unluckily as a fine dive for his ground had the adverse effect of bouncing his bat in the air to give the square leg umpire little option but to end a good knock of 26.

Craig Senior, joined by Greg McNamara, continued to score well, dispatching two Sixes off Metcalfe from consecutive balls “in the slot”, which was roundly acknowledged as rare occurrences not to be taken lightly. The Sixth XI captain retired Senior on 45, thanking him for his fine effort and hoping it was not a folly to see of his charges could close out the deal.

It was a close run affair.

Louise McCarthy’s fine spell of 1-6 off three overs allied to the Sixth XI’s terror of Metcalfe’s leg spin brought the matter down to the last over. Ronan Hickey was bowled by Garth, McNamara by McCarthy, and Max Byers with Kieran Vulker fell to Metcalfe.

Amidst the carnage David Poff got on with business seeing several partners take the long walk. His 11 not out was quite invaluable. The most recent former captain Michael Clark came to the crease with a little needed but a stout heart and a straight bat. By his own admission if the ball wasn’t on the stumps he was going to free his arms and swing. Whether or not he knew where McCarthy’s ball was going we shall never know, but his arms swung and ball shot towards extra cover to garner the winning run for the Sixth XI.

Relief was unconfined for the Gentlemen as they had survived yet another collapse upon the loss of the main bat. It is an unfortunate trait of the side, but a victory got the season off to a happy start.

In what is purported to be a three match series, the Sixth XI will have to iron out some of the kinks in their game before the Ladies come back battle hardened, with their killer instinct all the sharper. 

Saturday saw a bedraggled bunch of hopeful cricketers sheltering from the rain, in the hope that the skies would clear. However, it appeared the strength of Ed Dwyer's raindance was stronger than the prayers of 11.

The square received the sort of drenching it had hoped for and the junior mat was surrounded by too much mud and water for any game to progress, except water polo perhaps.