Leinster Under 15’s have won the 2013 U/15 Inter-Provincial title following three days of high quality cricket in Dublin this week
This year saw a ‘Southern XI’ replace the Munster side in the four team tournament and they nearly sprung a shock on the first day when they went down a Rory Anders’ inspired comeback. The Phoenix fast bowler is impressing many and took 3 wickets for the Ireland Under 19’s playing against Pat Cummins and the MCC last week at Muckamore. His 5 for 25 saw Leinster home despite a superb batting and bowling effort from young Jamie Meir for the Southern XI.
In the other game on the first day the North West won a thriller by 3 wickets mainly thanks to a super all-round performance from Reece Kelly.
The second round of matches were played out in glorious sunshine in Dublin 4 with Pembroke playing host to a high scoring match that saw Leinster make 285 for 9 in their 45 overs, local lad Fiachra Tucker top scored with 77 whilst Clontarf’s Colin Currie made 65. The NCU couldn’t keep up with the big asking rate and lost wickets regularly to be bowled out for 139 with the wickets being shared around the Leinster bowlers.
The Southern XI marked their debut tournament with their first win thanks in no small part to a magnificent 71 not out from Rush’s Stephen Doheny. Despite a battling 48 not out from Coleraine’s Ben Johnston, 4 wickets for David O’Connor and 3 for Finn Conaty saw the Southern XI home for a small piece of history.
With the North West losing it meant they would have to beat Leinster well to have a chance of retaining their title from 2012. The poor weather for much of the day however meant no play was possible in their match at North County and saw the title go to Leinster’s Under 15’s.
Play was possible in the other match and the Southern XI rounded out a fantastic debut tournament and clinched second place with a dominant win over the NCU. Jamie Grassi made 74 not out as the NCU’s total of 117 was chased down without a wicket being lost as Harry Tector made 38 not out.
Cricket Ireland Under 15 Inter-Provincial Series
Tuesday 25th June
At Castle Avenue, Clontarf
Leinster 180 all out, 37.4 overs (David Delany 66, Colin Currie 31, Rory Anders 17, Harry Tector 4/43, Jamie Meir 4/13)
Southern XI 164 all out (34.3 overs, Jamie Meier 42, Stephen Doheny 41, Jamie Grassi 21, Josh Murphy 18, Rory Anders 5/25, Fiachra Tucker 2/34)
Leinster won by 16 runs.
At Kerenure, Rush
NCU 163-8 (45 overs, Marcus McClean 28, Mark Johnson 25, Aaron Heywood 3/25, Reece Kelly 2/5)
NWCU 167-7 (35.5 overs, Reece Kelly 58 no, Andrew Knape 3/18, Ben Mellor 2/45)
North West won by 3 wickets
Wednesday 26th June
At Sydney Parade, Pembroke CC
Leinster 285-9 45 overs (Fiachra Tucker 77, Colin Currie 65, Rory Anders 39, Conor O’Gorman 25, Thomas Anderson 3/41, Craig Ervine 2/43, Ben Mellor 1/26, Andrew Knape 1/68)
NCU 139 30.3 overs (Jack Burton 24, Paddy Beverland 21, Mark Johnson 20, Sam Gordon 20, Fionn Hand 2/12, Eamon Byrne 2/14, Sim Singh 2/18, Conor O’Gorman 2/22)
Leinster won by 146 runs
Angelsea Road, Merrion CC
Southern X1 196-9, 45 overs (Stephen Doheny 71no, Ross McKay 3/18, Ryan Brolly 3/32)
North West 138 all out (Ben Johnston 48 no, Ryan McBeth 26, David O’Connor 4/24, Finn Conaty 3/33, Josh Murphy 2/16)
Southern XI won by 58 runs
Thursday 27th June
Balbriggan
NCU 117-9, 26 overs (Aaron O’Neill 2/12, Harry Tector 2/25, Mark Gibson-McKenna 2/20)
Southern XI 118-0, 20.1 overs (Jamie Grassi 74no, Harry Tector 38no)
Southern XI won by 10 wickets.
North County CC
Leinster v NWCU
No Play Possible
The Ireland Under 15’s will play in the ICC European Division 1 Championships in August