Annual Report of the Honorary Secretary to the members 2009

We had 17 fixtures this season of which 11 were fulfilled.

Thanks to Arthur Vincent we played Surrey Seniors at Castle Avenue (thanks to Roger McGreal). Local “boy” Alan McClean was star of the show following 3.0.10.3 with a 50. This portent helped us to a 4 wkt. win chasing 139.

Things got a little more competitive the following day at College Park. In a 40 over game we made 188. Teetering at 112/6, not out Rod Hoken was joined by the Hon. Sec. A couple of leg byes soon had him in full flow. Sixteen singles and a memorable one bounce 4 (straight over the bowler……the shot of the season on April 22nd!!!!) later, Rod had been nursed to his ton. The said bowler, Eoghan Delany, soon had his moment, hitting his own ton in reply. In going down by 9 wickets, David Cooke’s 8.0.22.0 was noteworthy.

Sadly none of our May fixtures took place. The northern ones lost to weather and the other to a clash with a point to point!!

With the Hon. Sec.(and a host of other Leps) sitting in Trent Bridge(wondering “Where did it all go right?”!!) waiting for India & W.Indies to clear the decks so Sri Lanka could play Ireland, our oldest fixture was taking place at Whitechurch. A time game was drawn.

Another regular fixture took place at Rathmines later in June. Our 210 (E. Delany 53, C.Byrnes 40, Rbt. Forrest 39 & “George” O’Donnell 33) was 40 too many for the Leinster schools.

In July Charles brought sides to Halverstown, (draw, Ashmore, White & fFrench Davis got 20s) and Mt. Juliet, also drawn, our 106/9 (Lingard 37, N. England 26) in reply to White City's 150/9, Pat Coffee 13.1.46.4.

The same day the Ranji Trophy was contested at College Park, with George O’Donnell to the fore.

Mark Nulty masterminded a win over Oakhill. Two partnerships {85(opening) Rbt.Forrest/E.Delany & 107* Darcy/Nulty} got us to 220. Matt Dwyer, (interrupting a ”well earned holiday”), 8.1.37.2 & R. Hastie 8.0.28.1, give an indication of the quality of the opposition. Sean Stanley & Woody O’Neill did the damage with the ball.

A return visit to Oakhill brought a win over Old Ampleforthians 143 (S.Stanley 10.0.38.3., A. McClean 5.0.22.4). We chased for 4(K.Mandel 44*, McClean 43*.

And so to late Sept and the sunny S.E. On a pet day we posted 150 (New boy David Staunton 44 & a single laden 40* from yours truly. Tom Butler 15.4.22.4.) Bagenalstown 118/9{A.Smith 5.2.5.3, S. Stanley 8.2.14.2 (I.P.L bidding soon started!!)} Wicket-keeper, groundsman,(& lost property manager!!) Sean Farrell kept Allen at bay to ensure a hard fought draw.

The Mt. Juliet hoodoo remains. Our 156 {Ian Walsh 88*, D.Pigot (recruited at a French wedding by Allen Smith) 26} was made look inadequate by Alec Barretts 97*. The pain was eased by a pint on the golf club patio as the sun went down over the 18th. The après ski the previous evening began with the Sec. bringing a pair of “novice chasers” into Langtons. As every female we met seemed to be called MARY, I got into conversation with a girl called Enniscorthy(!). Looking at the two boys, she quickly offered, “De red fellow is like YOU, but the young fella must be like his mudder!”……. Eat your heart out Bernard O’Donnell.

Dick Forrest, (Hon.Sec.)