It was a big occasion, the presentation of the Marchant Cup of 1921. His Honour Judge Green, president of the Leinster Cricket Union, expressed his "unbounded gratification that, after 30 years of strenuous cricket, his old friend was as virile and active as ever, and still the mainstay of the international XI."

As Robert Hamilton Lambert moved to the platform to receive the trophy, tremendous applause welled up from the huge gathering, many of whom, now retired, had once played with and against the Great Man. Handing over the trophy, his Honour commented: "Lambert's extraordinary batting average of 217 is a feat few will be capable of rivalling."

Lambert's batting excited a pen of literary talent more distinguished even than Judge Green's. James Joyce was so taken by the power and beauty of his stroke-play that he included him in a passage in "Ulysses".

The majestic brilliance of Lambert's batting held everyone enthralled. Dashing and daring, a player of instant action, he was "devastating at straight drives and hooks," according to a 1901 appreciation of his style and technique.

The late Paddy Mooney, long and loyal supporter of Leinster teams, recalled days when so many people turned up to watch Bob Lambert in action that all available seats were quickly taken up. Lambert had a personal following as warmly partisan as that of today's sportsmen. Right through his career he was the idol of the crowds who regarded him with as much as awe and admiration as they did that other great cricketer, W.G.Grace. When he drove up to Leinster in his high trap, enthusiastic flocks crowded around in excited numbers. He was the big sporting celebrity of his time.

A titan among batsmen, a colossus of the sports arena, the greatest Irish cricketer of all time, Bob Lambert first played on the Leinster senior team at the age of 15. Two years later he won his place on the international XI he was to captain for three decades.

With Lambert records were made to be broken. In 1895 he amassed 248 not out in two hours five minutes. With the first hundred coming in 40 minutes, the second in an hour, the hatless Fitzwilliam bowlers were shown everything but mercy. In the same match, in an incredible display of stamina, he claimed 8 wickets for 23 runs, among them S.Case and T.B.Case, formerly of Oxford United and the Rev. L.Hamilton, who had played with distinction for Durham and Cheshire.

Later that summer, guesting for Stedalt against Lord Louth's team, he did the hat-trick in each innings. "Lord Louth had only six men to bat, and R.H.Lambert not only clean bowled all five wickets in the first innings, but got them out in the second in six balls for two runs", goes a contemporary report of the proceedings.

That season altogether, in 47 innings, he accumulated 2040 runs - only once previously had the 2000 mark been exceeded - for an average of 51 and, to boot, he took 209 wickets at 7 runs a piece. At the end of the campaign in appreciation of his fabulous all-round performance the club made him a presentation of a gold watch and chain.

But the day to beat all days in a cricket career that seemed to go on for ever came as many as 36 years later. Against Halverstown at his beloved Rathmines in 1931, at the venerable age of 56, Lambert hammered 144 - his century of centuries. It was an incredible performance, a final fling of glory.

Two years previously he had reached his 99th century but, troubled by age and diminishing talents, the three figure score he so fervently desired to complete his record and go out on a summit note had tantalisingly eluded him. He must have begun to feel that he would never make it.

Then a touch of the old magic returned. Almost in the style and verve of his very best batting form he achieved his only remaining ambition. At the wicket for only two hours, he hit two sixes and 20 fours in his 144. One of his hits towered over the trees into Mountpleasant Avenue, another went crashing into the gardens. Many of his fours were almost sixes. It was as if the clock had been turned back three decades or more. The only noticeable difference was that as he returned to the pavilion at the end to rapturous applause there was not the usual spring to his gait. He was an utterly exhausted but supremely happy man.

Irish newspapers made more of his performance than they did of some worldwide events. One report had this to say:

"Lambert's innings against Halverstown must, indeed, have brought back to many of his admirers memories of days gone by. No cricketer during the past 40 years has ever delighted spectators as much as Bob, and in his prime there was no harder hitter.

"Frequently has the writer seen him lift the ball over the College Pavilion, and over the rails into Nassau Street, while residents facing the ground in Mountpleasant Avenue were often in danger of having their windows smashed.

"A hit which will live in memory was that made by Bob against County Kildare as far back as 1904. These were the days when the Short Grass county could put a really strong team in the field. W.H.Harrington and W.Keyes were then at their best, and Lambert hit Harrington onto the roof of a house on the far side of Mountpleasant Avenue - a hit never claimed before or since."

More succinct was the comment of a Halverstown bowler whose analysis read 0 for many: "That bloody Lambert just won't quit!" Not so angry was the response of a cricket enthusiast who had a long poem in praise of the maestro published on the Evening Mail letters column.

One verse of the eulogy went:

Ten thousand golden runs; and still the years

Deal Gently, as they ought to, Bob, with you.

We hail your hundreth hundred, Bob, with cheers,

Good rousing cheers that surely are your due.

What thought of late you wear a Leinster Cap,

or one for Ireland, when open the field,

To hide the shining spot, my dear old chap,

Age cannot stop your bat's prolific yield."

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