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Divisions 3 & 4: Review of the weekend 4th-
There was very little action in Divisions 3 and 4 over the long weekend. Only three matches were scheduled, and one of those, the visit of Railway Union 2 to Mullingar in Division 4, was abandoned without a ball being bowled. There was plenty to report in the other two Monday matches.
In Division 3, Balbriggan travelled to Oakhill. The home team chose to bat, and a 99 run fourth wicket partnership between Fitzsimons (61) and Cowley set up a large total. Cowley was sixth out for 67, whereupon the innings was carried to 287-
Wicketkeeper/batsman Barry Archer led the pursuit, but after support from Iqbal (26) and Morgan (23), there was a middle order wobble before Malone (23) and Kear (14) saw Barch to his ton. However, he was trapped lbw or 126, and the last wicket fell with a over to be bowled and Balbriggan still one run short.
That was the story on Thursday afternoon. By the evening it transpired that Oakhill had only bowled 47 overs in the permitted time, so Balbriggan's target was what Oakhill had scored after 44 overs, which was 233. Balbriggan had passed that score with five wickets down, and therefore won by a five wicket margin. See www.cricketeurope4.net/CEIRELAND/GENERAL/forum entries for 9th and 10th June.
There were plenty of runs, too, in the Village, but not enough for the home team. North Kildare won the toss and put on 156 for the first wicket. After Neavyn was out for 57, Ian Walshe completed his ton and was the fifth wicket to fall when he was run out for 152. The innings closed on 316-
While Brian Gilmore was there, Malahide 3 were in with a shout. Gillie was third out for 70 out of 149, but the rest could add only eleven more, Nigel Pyne (5/25) claiming nine, ten, jack with a hat-
I promised that I would explain my opposition to Dublin University's participation in league cricket in Leinster. Let's clear up one thing: it's got nothing to do with the fact that I was a lecturer in UCD. Anyone who thinks that must believe I'm as stupid as they are.
A league competition is one in which no team is given an advantage over any of the others: each team plays every other team home and away with a squad of players exclusive to it. Professional football is unusual in allowing players to be transferred from one club to another in the same division during the season. Because cricket is prone to matches being lost to the weather, we have a rule stating that each team must play each other at least once during the season.
Dublin University play each team only once. This season every match was at home; last season all bar one match were in College Park. Both this year and last no Dublin University match was lost to weather, highly unusual, and highly unlikely to be repeated. What happens when two or three matches are lost and have to be refixed? If it's during college exams, then Dublin University would lose some players; if it's later, opposition teams might lose players to school exams.
Now we come to the barmiest aspect of Dublin University's participation in LCU league cricket. The day after their fixtures are completed, University players can, and most do, go and play for another team, sometimes in the same division.
Almost as barmy is that several of Dublin University's players are too good for their division: this season Conway, Eoghan Delany and Forrest are much better than Division 3 players. So are Pike, Pursehouse and Conor Hoey, but they don't play for anybody else in Leinster. Freddie Mann and Niall Delany are Division 3 regulars with Clontarf 2 and Pembroke 2 repectively, and never let their firsts down when subbed up.
There could only be an argument for Dublin University's participation in LCU in league cricket if their players had no other opportunity to play at a level commensurate with their ability. Only Pike fits that description: Pursehouse was brought over to play cricket. I'm willing to bet that both are playing elsewhere at a decent level.
I don't want to stop Dublin University from playing cricket, far from it. I want to stop them breaking every convention in local league competitions. The DUCC should play other third level college teams, and if that doesn't give them enough fixtures, why can't they play friendlies? I'm sure many clubs would love to play early season friendlies against them to help get themselves organised. That way DUCC would be helping LCU clubs instead of making a mockery of their league structure. DUCC can't continue to be the tail wagging the dog.