That said, Brian O'Farrell will no doubt wish all Thirds games were played there as he top scored with 89* as the Thirds chased Bagnelstown's 163 for the loss of only two wickets and with only 25 overs faced.

Skipper Glenn reports... Pembroke 3s Lost the toss and Bagenalstown decided to have a bat on the junior mat. Boff and Raj took the new ball but after 8 overs and a lot of playing and missing there was no wicket. Glenn Cunningham (9-18-3) then joined Raj (9-21-4) and wickets began to fall. Faran, Ananth and Johno bowled well but only managed 2 wickets between them.

There was no repeat of the poor fielding display at The Hills this week. It was an excellent fielding session including two very good ct behinds by Charlie, an excellent Gully catch and a run out by Raj and a nice mid- wicket catch by Glenn to end the Bagenalstown innings.

Bagenalstown finished up 163 all out after 42 overs. (40 runs too many off a last man stand by Bagenalstown)

 Ricky Mann (45) and Boffy (89 not out) got the Pembroke innings off to a steady start at about 4 per over. Ricky was caught LBW in the 20th over on 45. Charlie joined Boff and made 9 before being bowled. Raj (10 *)then began his slowest run rate in memory as he tried his best to allow Boff the opportunity to make his first century.

Boff needed 15 runs to obtain his own target out of 19 needed to reach the oppositions total. Sadly he didn't achieve it as a series of extras, including a wide for four made it unachievable and he finished on an excellent 89 not out. An innings that was made more impressive because of the number of interruptions due to the frequent heavy showers. A good win that keeps the thirds in with a chance of still winning the league - and the promise of Johno cutting his hair if we do!

The next Thirds game is 23 August at home to Rush.

Saturday at home to North Kildare. Glenn started the week spending as much time searching for an umpire as 11 players and was not available himself. However, in his absence the Thirds provided another win to cement their place at the top of the table.

North Kildare did not bat their overs and were all out for 189 in 42 overs. Deepak Raj added to his fantasy points with three wickets, as did Jack Balbirnie, whilst Charlie Kavanagh took two catches behind the sticks.

Steve Roberts (59) and Brian O'Farrell (57) both reached half centuries whilst Deepak Raj scored 46 as Pembroke took only 31 overs in reaching their target for the loss of only 3 wickets. Next game is at Rush in the Yard on Saturday.
  

Ian Mc Elwain writes on Sunday's league game... Glenn Cunningham's table topping Third XI travelled to the second place team, Civil Service, on Sunday, looking to avenge their only league defeat of the season so far. It being the second game of a double weekend coupled with the flat track meant that fielding first would prove tough on the Pembroke men (even without two of the team suffering badly from hay fever and being left to field beside the giant grassland by an unsympatheic captain!)

Steve Roberts reports on Saturday's Cup game... Having breezed through the 2nd round of the Middle Cup by way of a walkover, the 3rd team descended on Sydney Parade for the 3rd round against a Malahide team that resided in the upper reaches of the league above. This was to be the first of 2 games this weekend for the 3's.

Bagnelstown batted first and reached 140. This would not seem to be a good score but on Bagnelstown's wicket it was a fine score and well above the 80 that Pembroke felt they should have conceded.

In reply Pembroke seemed to have blown the game as they slumped to 31 for 6. But then Sean Bromfield and captain Glenn Cunningham both scored 40's and Faran Khan added 20 as Pembroke came back from the impossible to achieve the unlikely and continue their fine form in the league. 

This week the Thirds travelled to Kilcock to take on North Kildare. Captain Glenn Cunningham writes:  Pembroke won the toss (for the first time this season) and decided to have a bowl, based on a damp looking patch on the wicket and previous run chasing form. (This decision made not knowing that Faran Khan and Steve Roberts would not turn up until the 15th over. At 1:10pm they were looking for the Maynooth turn-off; at 1:35 they were in Port Arlington!!!)

Last week the Thirds were described as an E-Type Jaguar. This week it appeared to be more an Alfa Sud. Bodywork may be a bit shabby and you may have to hope you make it to your destination, but under that body is an engine of performance and class.

Glenn Cunningham's biggest task to date was assembling 11 players to travel to Laois on Saturday. 26 people said no to Glenn. Years ago this was the sort of trip which could turn into an overnighter. These days with the fruits of our Celtic Tiger the trip is about an hour and should no longer hold the fear it once did. But still Glenn ended up with a team of varied ability.

Pembroke managed to restrict Laois to just over 200 which would seem below par for such a fine artificial wicket. One hopes our own mat will be comparable.

Pembroke reached the target with the loss of 3 wickets. Any more and there might have been concern. But no more were lost as Charlie Kavanagh showed absolute class, timing and patience in compiling 80 odd. Glenn Cunningham provided the right support in getting his own half century as Pembroke wrapped up a fine victory.

The Thirds join the Seconds on 2 from 2. Next game Sunday 16th May @ North Kildare.

If this team were a car, it would have been an E-Type Jaguar. A classic, full of experience, snug as a sofa and as re-assuring as a cup of Philip Byrne's Hot Chocolate. Still capable of racing off from a red light (or to a red light), but in reality more suited to comfortable cruising. And that is what it did on Sunday.