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Divisions 3 & 4: Review of weekend 30th April - 1st May

Dublin University played two more Division 3 games last weekend, both in College Park.  On Saturday, Civil Service were the visitors, and after losing Darren Webster early on got to 56-1.  Then fine bowling from Niall Delany, Eoghan Conway and Conor Hoey saw Keith Webster out for 28, Safeen for 23, and thereafter only Owen Butler (37) and Perrins (22) offered much resistance.  Service were all out for 161 in 43.1 overs, Conway taking 4/24, Hoey 2/17 and Amir Anwar 2/28.

Conway then scored 26 out of an opening partnership of 46.  Pursehouse went cheaply, but Eoghan Delany (50*) and Pike (56*) took them to an eight wicket victory in 26 overs.  Things weren't so straightforward on Sunday against Pembroke 2.  It started well when Russell went early on, but Danny Barclay and Balbirnie Minor put on 67, and Rohit Bahl joined the young opener to add another 51.  Balbirnie was out for 64, and Bahl went on to a century as Pembroke reached 241-7.

For the students, Eoghan Conway (3/49) and Conor Hoey (3/38) took the bowling honours.  In reply, they lost two early wickets, and although Eoghan Delany battled his way to 106, only Pursehouse (21) and brother Niall (25) offered much support, and they were all out for 194 in 46.4 overs.  First team keeper Rohit Bahl demonstrated his versatility by taking 4/28.

Also on Sunday in Division 3, Leinster travelled to Oakhill and returned up the N11/M11 with the full spoils.  Batting first, Joe Byrne (48) and Peter Johnston (31) gave them a solid start.  Although Dave Lucas went for 0, Gavin Gilmore (29) and Zac Curtis (57*) took them to 200, and Asif Hussain's 30 and Willie Wides's 29 gave Leinstera 50-over total of 254-8.  The “Wizard”, Richard Hastie sent down his 10 overs for 3/23.

Oakhill couldn't deal with the bowling of Geraghty (3/25) and Hussain (4/39).  Damian Joyce scored 65 at the top of the order, and Ronnie Barker 30 at no. 6, but 140 all out in 36.2 overs was a long way off.

There were two matches in Division 4, on Saturday in Portlaoise Rugby Cub, and on Sunday in St. Finian's College.  Malahide 3 were the visitors to Laois, and they posted a score of 193 all out in 47 overs.  E Shehabeddin made 41, and Brian Gilmore 33 as the Villagers fell away from a promising 76-1.  The wickets were shared around – 3/32 for R Meraj, 2/36 for C Auret – but unfortunately none for Ben Hur.  The top four Laois batsmen all got runs.  M Auret led the way with 69, Ozenbrook got 40, Rixon-Fuller 36* and P Auret 21* as they cruised to victory in 30.3 overs.

On Sunday Merrion 2 were the visitors to Mullingar's new ground.  Batting first, the Co. Westmeath outfit blazed away, Rashad Ejaz making 100 off 74 balls with 19 fours.  Ali Haider scored 33 and brother (?) I Haider 42, Mullingar being all out for 290 in 49.1 overs.  S Raghavan took 4/70 and A O'Brien 3/39.  Alan Parkinson and Robbie Stanton put on 67 for the first wicket at a run a ball, and although Cillian O'Donoghue made 64 and Jeff Short 52, once they were out (both to Mokka) there was only one result.  S Mokka took 4/43 and I Haider 3/55 as Merrion were 256 all out in 48.1 overs.