Well, that was a nice albeit short summer wasn’t it. Normal service was resumed this weekend with the weather playing the leading role and cricket being a mere supporting actor.

Saturday saw the Thirds welcoming Merrion to Sydney Parade and both teams watching rain fall in varying degrees. Fine mists and heavy downpours were the two extremes but there are many degrees within those and most were seen on Saturday.

The same weather was experienced by the 5th team as they huddled under the shelter of the Terenure Titans clubhouse watching torrents of rain falling. Once poddles (well it was raining cats and dogs!!) started appearing on the outfield it was obvious that no further play was going to be possible and both sets of players headed back to reality.

The Firsts also fell to the weather, although this was more due to Duckworth Lewis and thus exited the Leinster Senior Cup. Having recently beaten Clontarf in Castle Avenue in the league hopes will have been high that there could have been a repeat, but it wasn’t to be. Charles Wakim’s 83 probably made the difference.

This now means that the 6’s are the only side in the club who remain in a cup, although this is due to scheduling rather than anything else. As our 6’s have only put out one team this season, one hopes they will find 11 for this Saturday’s clash in College Park.

Of course Saturday wasn’t the worst day for rain to fall as the alternatives on television were wide and varied. Cricket from Lords was also rained off but Sky showed a master-class from Shane Warne on the art of leg-spin. The European Championships for round ball enthusiasts continue with as many battles off the field as on it. Seeing the wide differences between the Russian and English fans and our own Green Army on social media makes you very proud of our supporters in France. Will UEFA ever follow through on a threat of expulsion? Will the alcohol ban near grounds stop the Irish in their search for fun? In addition the oval ball fans were well pleased on Saturday. Firstly the Baby Greens (which sounds like something your mother put on your plate when you were 6) beat the Baby Blacks at the U20 World Championship currently being held in Manchester. It was a magnificent performance from the Irish and one which deserved to topple the tournament favourites. The Baby Greens have now beaten the European Grand Slam winners and the current World Champions. However a bigger shock was to come with the full Irish side taking on the Springboks in their own back yard. A difficult task made so very much trickier when CJ Stander got sent off for reckless play. Opinions were divided in the Ganly Room on the balance between punishment and crime, but united in the belief that Ireland would not overcome a handicap of playing with 14 for 50 minutes and 13 for 10. However, what an accomplishment, not only beating the South Africans under such conditions but doing so in a way that made you wonder which team was a man short.

Six o’clock saw the start of qualification for the Canadialand Grand Prix and the sight of car after car being driven like it was on the N7 at 4 o’clock on a Friday night. It is a more specialist sport, but I like it, so there!

So there was plenty to do even if it wasn’t on the field of play on Saturday.

Sunday saw only one game with the Fifths welcoming Clondalkin back to Sydney Parade after last week’s league game. Playing on pitch 12 the players got to experience very large boundaries and neutral umpires. Add to this Emma kept the book, for one day we felt like first team players. Sadly we didn’t play like first team players. Bowling first we restricted Clondalkin to 137 which we would have taken if offered beforehand. However falling to 9/4 put us behind the black ball. Conor and Joe Prendergast did bring us back to the game, but their efforts weren’t quite enough as we fell 19 runs short. Another cup run cut short.

This week the 6’s game in the Russell Court Trophy has already been conceded, although the bar will be open for the Ireland v Sweden football match at 5.

Tuesday sees the Seconds in T20 mode in the Tillian Cup where they take on Merrion.

Thursday also sees Merrion visiting but this time it is the Women’s Firsts who will be playing in a Division 1 fixture. Merrion are one of two unbeaten teams and Shauna and the women will be keen to lower their colours.

Next Friday the Women’s Third team will be opening the weekend’s fixtures as they take on Clontarf. They would, of course, welcome any and all support even with a corporate BBQ in situ. The First team will also be in action in an Alan Murray group game against, yes, Merrion in Anglesea Road.

The weekend will see the 1st’s, 3rds, 4ths and even the 6’s putting out full and complete teams.

Tie of the weekend and the game that will attract the most spectators will be the 6th team as they have their Minor Cup game on Saturday against the students of Dublin University in College Park. If the 6’s can’t find 11 players for this one, there can be no hope for this side for the rest of the season. Also on Saturday, Stephen Willis’ 4ths will welcome the currently homeless Dundrum to Sydney Parade.

Sunday the First team will be travelling, but not too far, to Claremont Road to take on YMCA. Victory will keep the team top of the Division 1 table but things are so tight at the moment with 4 points covering five teams. Stephen Moore is away in Poland celebrating his second wedding anniversary with Emma and so The Bash will be leading from the front as Merrion come a visiting. Finally David O’Riordan will be heading over to Observatory Lane to take on Leinster C.C.

Finally if you get a chance, take a listen to last week’s The Slog Sweep in which not only does President Janice speak on Leinster and Irish Womens’ cricket, but this week Sean Smith, Director of Cricket, spoke about Pembroke in Club Corner. Worth a download and listen.