CRICKET/Weekend Preview: Though the torrential rain put something of a question mark over today's Inter-regional Challenge match between the Southern XI and the North West Cricket Union (NWCU) XI at Malahide, officials were hopeful the promised weather improvement will allow the game to go ahead.
"The North West party is already en route for Dublin," said John Wright, honorary secretary of the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) yesterday afternoon, "and we hope that the game will be played, though the start could be delayed."
The Southern XI shows two changes - one enforced - compared to the side which defeated the NCU team by three wickets at Lurgan last Saturday. Young Niall O'Brien has been called up, though not as wicket-keeper, at the expense of John Mooney, who drops down to 12th man, while the exam-tied Emmet Whaley is replaced by Luke Clinton.
Whaley, the Pembroke seamer, could well be missed. Bowling with admirable panache, he took 4 wickets for 17 off his 8.5 overs, among them that of David Kennedy, the NCU top-scorer with 60 runs.
The NWCU line-up is an interesting mixture of youth and experience, captained by Peter Gillespie, and includes similar seasoned campaigners like Richard and Mark McDaid, Derek Heasley, Gary Neely and Mark Olphert.
But also in action will be four of Ireland's most promising younger players: William Porterfield, Andrew Riddles, Johnny Thompson and Jordan McGonagle, all of whom have represented Ireland at various under-age levels over the past few summers.
With the team to face Nottinghamshire being selected over the weekend, the players will have pressing matters on their minds, in what seems certain to be a hard-fought encounter.
Meanwhile, the Lewis Traub League resumes tomorrow, with two Section A and two Section B matches. Pembroke are at home to Malahide and, with 34 points from their four games to date, are likely to qualify for the semi-finals should they win.
The same may be said for Merrion, who have 44 points from their five outings, as they take on CYM at Terenure, though home advantage often adds up to a major consideration at this particular venue.
In tomorrow's other games, Railway Union, with Park Avenue still not playable, take on Leinster at College Park, while Phoenix are at home to North County in a repeat of last year's final.
SOUTHERN XI: J Molins (Railway Union, capt.), N O'Brien (Railway Union), P Davy (Pembroke), D Joyce (Merrion/Dublin University), B Archer (The Hills), P Mooney (North County), C Armstrong (North County), D Armstrong (North County), L Clinton (The Hills), G Molins (Clontarf), R Haste (Pembroke). 12th man: J Mooney (North County).
NWCU XI: P Gillespie (Strabane, capt.), R McDaid, M McDaid (both Limavady). W Porterfield, A Riddles, J Thompson, J McGonagle (all Donemana), D Heasley, G Neely (both Glendermott), M Olphert (Bready), G Wilson (Brigade).
ICU WOMEN'S XI: C O'Neill (Rush, capt.), U Budd, (Merrion/Dublin University), N Coffey (YMCA), T Fleming (The Hills), M Grealey (YMCA), S Kenealy (Leinster), C Metcalfe (Malahide), L Morgan (Malahide), C O'Leary (YMCA), D Pratt (Malahide), K Young (YMCA). 12th: J Molloy (YMCA).
UMPIRES - Saturday: Leinster Senior 2 League: At Rathmines: B Goodwin, A Hughes; At Anglesea Road: R O'Reilly, S McCann; At Sydney Parade: B Stein, T Byrne. Leinster Senior 3 League: At Phoenix Park: PJ Carroll, P Byrne. Sunday: Leinster Senior 50 Overs League: At Terenure: D Walsh, G Lyons; At Sydney Parade: A Tuffery, P Thew; At Phoenix Park: S Daultrey, R Cutland; At College Park: J Connolly, N Parnell. Leinster Senior 3 League: At Balbriggan: D Thompson, J Maypother; At Malahide: M Sheridan, S Moore.
