Jazz Hat week drew to a close on Sunday at a sundrenched (& silent!) Oakhill where the Leps bowled the Gloucester Gipsies out for Nelson, 111, W.Johnston 28, Barry McCarthy 7.2.19.3, Michael Halliday (fresh from his hole in one!) 7.4.6.2, chasing our hard earned 172, Jack Balbernie 37, Barry McCarthy 36.
We had opened at Pembroke on Wednesday with 260/5 dec., Kenny Carroll 108*, Bobbo Forrest 55, Rich Forrest 44, Jono Hickey 12.0.68.2. This proved foolhardy as the Free Foresters chased it down relatively easily for 6, aided by a very soft dropped catch! Tom Cox 81*, C.Paget. 74, J.Hickey 47, Harry Balbernie 6.0.27.1, Whizz Hastie 12.0.82.2.
Sandwiched between was the most colourful game, that with The Mad Hatters at St. Columba's. A more conservative declaration 227/6, Robt.Mitchell 59, Nev.Wilkinson 56* Alec Barrett 41, saw us home by double scores. The men from "wonderland" had us guessing at 53/2, but the introduction of Rory Sullivan,10.1.53.5, brought us back through the looking glass. His L.B.W appeal on his hat-trick ball was cruelly turned down. A Mitchell catch in the deep off Samuel Richie proved the coup de grace. The Hatters evened the score with comprehensive wins in the apres match Boat Race and Bottle Walking competition hosted (inadvertently) by Taylor's Three Rock.
We hope our guests enjoyed their visits. All the venues were wonderful, sundown at Kilbride drew comparisons with Constantia Uitsig, no less. We look forward to hosting further mainland sides......Cinderellas need not apply!!
All roads now lead South-East for the games with Bagenalstown & Mount Juliet on Sept 17/18. We "overnight" in Kilkenny.......sure you never know who you might bump into in Tynans or Langtons or even the Home Rule Club.