SPARE A thought for the cricketers of YMCA and The Hills, who meet in the Conqueror Cup at Claremont Road in the pick of today's quarterfinals. The north Co Dublin club won the trophy for the first ever time last year and the fact that they must confront each other again tomorrow, at the same venue, will hardly make for a sparklingly varied weekend - although the eventual winners won't mind.
In the other cup matches, Merrion take on Carlisle, Leinster face Pembroke and Rush are at home to Clontarf. The last encounter is a repeat of last summer's firstround match at the same venue, which Rush won. The fact that the Armstrongs, and friends, were equally successful at home in a recent Lewis Traub League game is unlikely to make this one to look forward to for the Clontarf men.
The Hills will be without Declan Moore, who broke a finger recently and will be out of action for a few weeks, which may not help his chances of a place in Ireland's squad for the NatWest Cup match against Yorkshire at Headingley on June 24th. Stephen Archer comes into the team, while Matt Dwyer takes over as captain.
Neither Martin Ridgeway or Jonathan Garth is available, so YMCA have left a vacancy in their side. Ray Walker will fill the void and Garth will take over from Mark Vincent for tomorrow's reprise.
Having ensured a place in the league semifinals with Thursday's emphatic victory over Dublin University, Merrion should be full of confidence as they face Carlisle today, while at Rathmines, Leinster and Pembroke field along customary lines. For their quarter final tete a tete with Trinity ate College Park, CYM introduce a new face, South African Michael Lax.
Advance word has it that Lax is a fine batsman who is also capable of bowling a bit. CYM haven't been exactly burning up the turf this season, so hopes are high.
Presumably, Malahide's hopes of their player coach, Gary Bretherwick, had also been high, but their current ranking of joint second (with YMCA) in League Section B seems to have been achieved in spite of, rather than because of, him. At any rate, Bretherwick has departed from The Village, so young Andy Pyne will be behind the stumps for the Lewis Traub match against Carlisle at Kimmage tomorrow.
With Merrion and Old Belvedere already through from Section A, this will be an important match for Malahide. Pembroke, at present leading Section B, travel to take on North County at The Newett.
At Castle Avenue tomorrow, Graham Charlesworth will make his debut against Clontarf as Phoenix's new overseas player/ coach. English born Charlesworth, an opening bowler who has been coaching in South Africa, will enable Phoenix to field at full strength for the first time this season, skipper Alf Masood said
Jason Molins (Carlisle) heads the Leinster batting figures, with an average of 87 in 4 matches followed by YMCA's Angus Dunlop, who, with 329, has scored the most runs.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan women's squad will arrive in Dublin this weekend and will play three one day, 50 overs internationals against Ireland next week all starting at 1.00 p.m. The matches will be played at Phoenix CC on Monday, at Milverton on Wednesday and at Claremont Road next Friday.
And Ireland's squad for the NatWest Cup match against Yorkshire later this month is expected to be announced tomorrow.
