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Renno's 4ths Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 4ths

League -  A real hotch potch of results throughout the league season. Two wins from two in April,  one from three in May,  nought from one in June, one from one in July, and one from five in August.

On balance a disappointing return, and it was only April's  victories that put a shine on the season. Three wins from 25th April to the end of the season isn't great

Cup - SUCCESS! A bum-squeaker against Dundrum (one wicket) followed by another close one at home to Ballaghdereen.  The semi saw a slightly easier 57 run win over Sandyford, before another tight Rutug Mehta inspired win over YM in the final. Four great matches, but that would have counted for nothing if the final wasn't won.

Batting success was spread around with Neil Lyons, Gavin Miller and Steve Kenealy all scoring 50s. Rutug Mehta and Bard Ovenden also averaged over 20.  Mehta topped the cup bowling with 7 wickets at 7.43, and Ovenden took 5 wickets at 4. PauL Delany and Mick Scully completed the top bowlers.

In a year that wasn't a vintage one for the club, the Middle 2 Cup win was one of the highlights

Review -37 players used, which as I never stop saying is never going to lead to success. With no one playing much, only one player scored more than 150 runs at an average of more than 20 - stand up Gavin Miller, but with 168, at 21, perhaps not too high.

As with the club as a whole, the bowling was a bit more successful. The top five wicket takers of Paul Delany (19). Michael Scully (17), Stephen Pulbrooke (14), Rutug Mehta (10) and Bard Ovenden (10) meant that teams would always be bowled out more often than not.

There's no point in looking at these details though, when a more settled team would have delivered.

All the 4th team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

Renno's 5ths Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 5ths

League - A cracking start to the league season saw the 5ths dreaming of the Division 8 title for most of the year. Three wins off the bounce meant that by July 31st, only one league match had been lost (out of five with two rained off).

But then all the round things became detached from their fixings, and everything went wrong. The next five games were lost, and it needed a 46 run win over Balbriggan at the end of August to ensure survival

Cup - The Intermediate Cup final was to be held in Rathmines, and this was a golden opportunity to play in it. Good wins over North County and Clontarf set up a semi final over new boys Adamstown. 19 runs was the margin, and that cup dream was over


Review -Strong captaincy from Rory MacMahon, meant a settled team performed for the 5ths all season - and they still didn't win any silverware!

Eleven players played in nine games or more, but they probably didn't perform to the best of their abilities. Six batsmen scored 150 runs or more, but none averaged better than Rakesh Dixit's 200 at 25. In fifteen matches played, there were only six 50's and no batsman scored more than one.

The bowling had more edge. Bharat Sharma and Rakesh Dixit (where have I heard those names together before?) led the way. Sharma took 20 at 12.40 and Dixit 15 at 14.13. The supporting cast of Shair Chaudhary (12 at 20.17), Colm Byrne (10 at 13.3) and Peter May (10 at 22) did well as well.

So not a disastrous season, but more big innings from the batsmen would have bought success

All the 5th team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

Renno's 6ths Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 6ths

League - A tough old year for the 6ths. Winning the first league match proved to be a false dawn, as losses in the next six matches proved. By the time there was a couple of late victories it was too late, and relegation was already confirmed.

Division 9 was always too high a division for the 6ths though (playing against the likes of Pembroke, North County and Railway 4ths), and the drop will be for the best

Cup - A first round defeat to Halverstown. Hopefully relegation will mean the 6ths no longer play in the same cup as the 5ths

20/20 - A good win over Railway followed by a resounding defeat to Dundrum

Review -Some times you just have to admit that you're not good enough. The 6ths were a pretty tight knit bunch, 31 players being used, but mostly there were just 15 players who got through most of the season.

Except for a couple of notable exceptions though, they just didn't perform. Only two batsmen passed 150 runs, Asim Mumtaz (247 @ 27.44) and Khalid Chaudhary (203 @22.56) If there had been another three or four players doing likewise, the season would have been transformed.

The bowling was even more sparse, with only Chaudhary taking more than ten wickets (21 @ 18.76). Without him, it's self to say the 6ths season would have been much, much worse. 

Full details are now provided by all captains, which enables us to keep the stats part of this website up-to-date. The exception was the 6ths who gave only the briefest of cards each week - hence a lack of detail

All the 6th team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

Renno's 7ths Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 7ths

League - Say it quietly, but the 7ths were probably the biggest disappointment of the season (well, maybe the 1sts as well!) With Bob Cramp at the helm, and me tipping them for Division 12 glory, it should have been a season of title chasing.

Instead it was the other end of the table that needed studying.  Three wins from the first five matches was promising, before a catastophic run of seven losses on the bounce to end the season. Relegation was narrowly avoided

Cup - Probably the 7ths best form of the season was displayed here. A great win away to Wicklow County, was followed by a tie against table toppers Civil Service (a tie that was very much of the "plucking defeat from the jaws of victory" variety).

It was asking too much to do it again in the replay though

Review -The batting was reasonably strong, with one man standing head and shoulders above the others. Kenny Byrne scored 346 runs at 28.83, a great return for Division 12. Three others passed 150 runs for the season. Shiyas Basheer (249 @ 22.64), Syed Akbar (245 @24.50) and Zeeshan KB (160 @ 22.86).

The bowling in fairness wasn't too bad either. Three of the same four passed 10 wickets - Basheer (12 @ 27.42), Zeeshan (12 @ 18.50) and Akbar (11 @ 20).

The best though only bowled 69 overs in the 16 matches he played. Marty Block took 17 wickets at 17.82 and was by far and away the best bowler bowling for the 7ths - but why did he only average 27 balls bowled per match!!!


All the 7th team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

Renno's 3rds Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 3rds

League -  If only the 3rds could piece a season together. 2008 and 2009 both saw seasons of two halves. I'm not sure if 2010 was even that simple.  After being dismissed for 36 in Mullingar, Rule's team were three from four as late as early July.

Then an incredible seven successive defeats left them in all sortes of bother, Division 6 looking the probability for 2011. The nadir was a 7 wicket drubbing by bottom of the table Terenure. However, a brave win against Mullingar in deepest September offered salvation, before Phoenix's short-comings meant that the "safety" of 6th spot was reached

Cup - Neither here nor there. A solid win against Phoenix, followed by a fluid loss to Merrion

YM Salver (20 overs) - As with the 2nds, twenty over cricket for the 3rds means either winning the trophy or going out in the first round. This year was the latter, with a 30 run defeat to Sandyford

Review -A lack of runs is the obvious diagnosis, but the symptoms behind this are myriad. Technique and skill were alright - application and determination probably weren't.

Of those who played over 10 games (only seven players did such, which is never a good sign) only Niks Nagar averaged over 20 (377 @ 47.12). It meant that although players came in and dazzled, the regular week in week out players didn't provide the stability needed. 

The bowling was better. Rob O'Connor led the way again (21 @ 21.38), becoming the 3rd's record wicket taker in the process . Rule, Lappin, Rodgers and Hanby all got to double figures as well, providing support. Unfortunately there just weren't enough runs to defend. 

At the end, LCC 3rds are the 6th best 3rd XI in the province, which is pretty accurate at the moment

All the 3rd team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

Renno's 2nds Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 2nds

League -  A glorious example of what organisation and strong leadership can do. Gilmore was lucky in that Pete and Joe Byrne moved back to the club, providing a backbone to the 2nd's season, but there wasn't much luck in it. Just runs and wickets, as the 2nds won the Division 3 title, only to be cruelly denied promotion by the 1sts. 

Seven batsmen scored 100 league runs - Gilmore leading from the front with 375 @ 47, Lucas (335 @ 34), Joe Byrne (332 @33), Faizan (221 @55), Peter Byrne (215 @ 24), Rob Kenealy (158 @7 79) and Pete Johnston (132 @ 66).

Byrne jnr and Kenealy did the 100 runs, 10 wickets double, with Rory Geraghty being top wicket taker with 26 @19

Cup - Nearly all teams in this year's competition will be thinking that they should have won it. Most of the big names were knocked out early, but the 2nds failed to take advanatge of a rare win in Laois, with an Andy Pyne inspired Malahide. Centuries for Lucas and Faizan and seven wickets across the two games for Geraghty The cup was there for the taking though

Tillain Cup (20 overs) - 2008's win seems a long time ago.  2010 offered another opportunity, but brought another first round defeat. If the Tillain had been played in August, we may have had a chance, but confidence was low in May, and Pembroke romped home

Review -Apologies first. I predicted the 2nds would come 6th and got it completely wrong.  By the last week in May, the 2nds had only won one from five. They then won nine of the next ten to take the title with ease.

Plenty of stars, but lets go with Gilmore, Geraghty, Kenealy and a pair of Byrnes to start with. Promotion to Division 2 would have been a great challenge. Another year of Division 3 will seem like a come down.

All the 2nds team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

Renno's 1sts Review 2010

29 September 2010
Posted in Men 2010 - Mens 1sts

League -  A crushing disappointment. In reality, the 1sts have been struggling in Division 1 for the last few years, but this should have been the year (and the team) to move up and challenge at the top instead of losing at the bottom.

After four matches, there were two wins, and losses against Clontarf and Railway away were explainable. But then Leinster were bowled out for 134 in YMCA, and the rot set in. The next four were lost (including crucially Malahide away) before a couple of late wins set up the end of season climax.

A lack of runs and wickets was the problem - no surprise there.  Brathwaite scored 495 league runs at 41.25, but no other batsman was over 30. With the ball, Brathwaite, Kelly and Byrne had reasonable returns, but Scholtz, Lennon, and McDonnell only took 14 wickets in 170 overs between them.

Cup -One great match, but that's not really much of a consolation. Dockers scored 97, and with the Hills needing 92 with two wickets left, it was Leinster's to lose. We did. A tough draw, especially when the Hills were dominant in the early part of the season, but after getting so close, very disappointing

Irish Senior Cup -  A comfortable victory against Terenure, before going out of the competition with barely a whimper against Fox Lodge. They were the form side of the North West early in the year, but the top 5 only getting 68 between them was the sign of things to come later in the season. Hardly anyone defends their ISC crown, but another couple of matches would have been nice

20/20 - What an empty feeling. After doing the hard work and "beating" North County, a moment of madness meant the game was lost, and Leinster were out of the competition before it even started. Two more wins in the group stage, meant there was the nagging feeling that this was the one that got away. Sunny Faizan's two 50s were the only real standout

Review -From the euphoria of 2009 to the despair of 2010 in 12 very short months. It wasn't even as if the tight games slipped away. Only three matches all year (won or lost) could be described as close. As mentioned above, the lack of runs and wickets were the problem all round, which is probably why the team wasn't up to it.  Jones' annus horribilis didn't help.

It's how the club picks itself up in 2011 that now counts
   
All the 1sts team averages for 2010 can be viewed on the Statistics page - navigate to the bit you want.

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