Wylie McKinty

Ireland's inaugural Test Match against Pakistan which started last Saturday (after the first day was washed out) meant that no Robinson Services League fixtures were scheduled for Saturday. However, on Sunday there were four rearranged league games, two in section 1 and two in Section 2.

Unbeaten Holywood hosted Derriaghy at the Seapark Oval after the latter's ground was still unplayable due to the recent inclement weather. Batting first after losing the toss Derriaghy's openers Ross Bailey (19) and Andrew Kenny (23) put on 32 for the first wicket but Derriaghy could not put on any substantial partnerships thereafter.

With the score on 93 Holywood captain Philip McCormick picked up the first of his 5 wickets in a spell that saw the last 6 Derriaghy wickets fall for 29 runs McCormick took 5 for 11 off 5.4 overs. The final Derriaghy total was 121 after 33.4 overs in an innings that also saw Andrew Haire pick up 2 wickets for 24 runs.

In reply the Holywood innings mirrored the Derriaghy innings as none of the batsmen were able to put together a match winning partnership. Spinners Curtis Moorhead (2-34) and Wayne Hughes (4-13) picked up 6 wickets between them while Reese Malone conceded only 17 runs in 10 overs.

Ross Bailey and Peter Bell with 1 wicket apiece finished off the innings as Holywood were bowled out 9 runs short of their target in the 50th over.

In the other Robinson Services League Section 1 game Downpatrick and Woodvale were playing their first game of the season at Strangford Road. Batting first Woodvale could only muster 136 for 8 in their 50 overs with the evergreen David Connelly top scoring with 53. Mark Yeates (3-21) and Marty Gartland (3-15) were the pick of the bowlers.

In reply an opening partnership of 64 in just over 20 overs between Dale Mullan (31) and Ryan Smyth (25) gave Downpatrick the start they needed. However, Paul Robinson slowed their progress when he picked up 3 wickets in 3 overs but 43no from Australian Matt Acocks saw Downpatrick home with 4 overs to spare.

Sunday Results
Derriaghy beat Holywood by 8 runs
Downpatrick beat Woodvale by 4 wickets

In the Robinson Services League Section 2 matches that were played on Sunday Saintfield ran out comfortable 8 wicket winners over Cooke Collegians and BISC beat Ards by 101 runs.

At Fullerton Park Cooke Collegians struggled to 88 all out with skipper Luke Willmott scoring 33 of the total. James McConnell was the chief destroyer as he took 5 wickets for 3 runs while TJ McCavera (2-13) and Darren McCann (2-23) also picked up wickets.

In reply Saintfield had little trouble in passing Cooke Collegians total in the 17th over. Byron Woodruff (31no) and Darren McCann (26no) saw Saintfield safely home while Atta ul Haq picked up the two wickets to fall for 13 runs. Saintfield have started the season with 2 wins out of 2 and are the early Section 2 leaders.

At Mallusk BISC posted a score of 254 with Vinoth Srinivasan falling agonisingly 4 runs short of a hundred, out for 96. He was well supported as Dayananda Gowdappa made 31 and Ahamed Badusha 29. For the visitors Benji Cathcart picked up 2 wickets for 37 and Paul Cox 3 for 46.

In reply the Ards innings fell 101 runs short. Benji Cathcart top scored with 35 while Vinoth Srinivasan added to his all-round display with 3 wickets for 40 runs. He was well supported by Ashish Pandita who also picked up 3 wickets for 25 runs.

Sunday Results
BISC beats Ards by 101 runs
Saintfield beat Cooke Collegians by 8 wickets