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Review of Divisions 3 & 4, weekend 6th - 7th August

There were two matches in Division 3 last weekend, both on Sunday.  At Rathmines, the league-leaders got a bit of a shock from bottom-of-the-table Oakhill, but dug deep to record a win.  Oakhill won the toss and had a hit, which they may have regretted when Robbie Kenealy removed both openers.  “Ronnie” Barker (35) and Fitzsimons (23) steadied the ship, and then 45 from Angus Hancock got the Wicklow men to 197 all out in 46 overs.  Kenealy finished with 3/26 and Asif Hussein 3/32.  That score should be nowhere near enough in Rathmines, but when Leinster 2 were 66-4 and 89-5, it could have been.  Then Asif joined opener Joe Byrne, and the pair added 81 to get Leinster within sight of the winning post.  Asif went for 38, but Mehta hung around as Byrne completed an unbeaten century for a four wicket victory.

Up behind Balbriggan church, the home team asked Clontarf 2 to set a score.  After the early loss of Mark Collier, the Shoebomber, Richie Reid, and Vijay Gopal took the Balbrigan attack to pieces.  After Reid went for 55 and Gopal for 105, Qasim helped himself to a few wickets as Clontarf closed on 219-8.  Qasim took 4/45 and Dwayne Harper 3/36.  Killian Lynskey whipped out Barry Archer and Gavin Morgan early doors, and despite 45 from Roger Kear and 20 from Adrian Harper, the home team slid to 144 all out in the 31st over, General Mayhem (aka Paul Ryan) taking 4/38.

On Saturday in Division 4, Laois and North Kildare met at Portlaoise RFC, and North Kildare won by 15 runs D/L.  That's all I know.  It's not good enough.  The information super-highway that's the Internet, broadband and 3G phones doesn't by-pass the Irish Midlands (although perhaps it should).  For goodness sake, just tell us what happened!

Even the black hole of Cold Blow Lane produced a scorecard on Sunday, although perhaps that's only because Railway Union 2 managed to beat Phoenix 2, although not by much.  The Shunters' second string batted first, and amidst eight low scores, opener Andy O'Neill scored 73, skipper Simon Grehan 30 and no. 8 MD Ghavre 33* to get the Wheeltappers to 200 all out in 42 overs.  For Phoenix, the 19th century Rocky Mountain explorers were among the wickets – Clarke took 4/39 and Harris 3/33.  Oh, sorry, it was Lewis and Clarke, not Harris and Clarke, but it's still worth a read of the journals – interesting use of “comfort women”.  Railway kept Phoenix in it by bowling 35 wides.  David Ford made 31 and Naik 35 as the Parkies were all out for 178 in 48 overs.  Saad Ullah took 2/11 off 9, Kapoor Major 2/41 and Kapoor Minor 3/39.

Leinster's win means that it will need two more wins from five games to ensure it wins the division for a second successive year.  Promotion, of course, relies on its firsts getting back to Division 1.  The bad news is that to prevent Dublin University being promoted back to Division 2, not only do Leinster 2 have to stay above them, but also one of Pembroke 2, Balbriggan, Malahide 2 or Clontarf 2 has to win all their remaining matches.  That ain't going to happen.  The Great Unwashed (and Unwanted) are back in Division 2.  Heaven help us: a giant step back for LCU cricket!

In Division 4, Railway Union 2 and YMCA 2 are favourites for promotion, but either of Merrion 2 or Phoenix 2 could sneak in.  At the bottom, Malahide 3 are gone.  Any of Laois, North Kildare or Mullingar (in decreasing order of probabilty) will go with them.