1946 Cricket Club

THIS SEASON, after a lapse of twenty years, cricket was formally resumed as a Summer activity. In recent times interest has been aroused and sustained by the lively and somewhat carefree encounter in the Inter league matches. Once or twice during the past few years deputations have approached the Dean with a view to taking up the game in its traditionally serious fashion and entering into competition with other clubs and colleges. This year the eloquence and enthusiasm of the junior delegates had their reward, and for the first time in the history of the College, Castleknock entered a Junior XI' for the Inter-schools Competition.

It soon became evident from the bustle and activity on the Crease that the great drawback of inexperience was to be minimized as speedily as possible by vigorous practice. Naturally the difficulties of forming batsmen and bowlers in the short month before the competition began were very great, and Fr. Walsh wisely concentrated on instilling the fundamental principles of the game.

On the seventh of May the season opened in 'Knock 'with a friendly game against St. Mary's. The visitors opened and after losing two wickets for no runs proceeded to raise the score to 86. This proved to be a little too good for 'Knock who replied with 47 of which Eugene MacCabe contributed a very solid and businesslike 16. It was defeat but not disgrace and the team and its coach had every reason for being well satisfied.

ST. MARY'S.-First Innings 86

Bowling:

J. Nestor, 4 wickets for 18.

B. MacAuliffe, 1 wicket for 49:

N. Betson, 3 wickets for 10.

CASTLEKNOCK.-First Innings.

D. O'Driscoll, bowled G. Duffy B. O'Hegarty, bowled K. Lavelle E. MacCabe, bowled K. O'Rourker J. Nestor, caught Nolan, bowled Duffy B. MacAuliffe, bowled G. Drumm J. O'Donoghue, run out N. Betson, bowled P. Fagan R. Shipsey, caught O'Rourke. bowled Fagan T. O'Rourke, caught Drumm, bowled Fagan W. Casey, not out W. O'Donoghue, caught Cantwell, bowled Duffy Extras Total

10 6 16 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 9 -- 47

Our first match in the Cup took place at home against Belvedere on May 29th. The visitors took first knock and soon once again the score-board gave the glad tidings: two wickets, no runs. A marked improvement in the fielding was evident from the start. The time-honoured tag: "A run saved is a run made," had apparently been impressed on every member of the team. Colm MacMahon especially saved many a boundary and very often had the batsmen scrambling home by his quick and accurate returns from the deep-field. John Nestor found the wicket helpful, and turned the ball easily either way to beat the bat time and time again. Six wickets were down for 11 runs but there was no relaxation and the last wicket fell when the score was 25.

'Knock started shakily losing two men for three runs. Then Eugene MacCabe went in with the air of a man prepared to spend a night in the open, and with the aid of a very straight bat, quickly dispelled our remaining doubts. John Nestor started quietly and then proceeded to give a delightful exhibition of how full-tosses and balls short of a good length should be treated. Once the Belvedere score had been passed runs came quickly, and with a good wag in the tail, the total reached 120.

Brian MacAuliffe played a captain's part with a very useful 24.

BELVEDERE.-First Innings, 25.

Bowling:

J. Nestor, 5 wickets, 9 runs.

N. Betson, 2 wickets, 7 runs.

B. MacAuliffe, 1 wicket, 4 runs.

CASTLEKNOCK.-First Innings.

B. O'Hegarty, hit wicket, bowled lynch .. D. O'Driscoll, bowled Lynch E. MacCabe, bowled McDevitt J. Nestor, hit wicket, bowled McDevitt .. N. Betson, caught, bowled McDevitt .. B. MacAuliffe, caught McAree, bowled Lynch J. O'Donoghue, caught, Lynch, bowled McDevitt M. Ward, caught O'Brien, bowled McDevitt C. McMahon, caught Byrne, bowled McDevitt R. Shipsey, caught Byrne, bowled F. Lynch 'V. O'Donoghue, not out Extras Total

1 0 4 64 9 24 0 0 9 6 0 3 ----- 120

We extend our congratulations to the team and its coach. Their efforts in training have already been rewarded and we have every reason for hoping that this, their first season. will be highly successful. The extreme youth of several members promises a very solid and competent nucleus for both a Senior and a Junior team in 1947. We wish them luck in their match against St. Columba's in the next round of the Cup. In their match with St.. Columba's College the Juniors were successful, scoring 54 runs against their opponent's 28. They now play Masonic in the semi-final of the Cup.

" WILLOW."