MERRION & CLONTARF WIN AS PEMBROKE FINALLY BEATEN! - WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP

The race for second place in the league saw the sides in 2nd and 3rd positions both victorious in Women's Division One this evening, with Merrion inflicting the first defeat of the season on the Champions Pembroke, whilst Clontarf won on DLS against Leinster. The fixtures in both Malahide & Phoenix were no results without a ball being bowled.

In Sydney Parade, Merrion batted first in a game reduced to avoid the incoming rain, and scores ranging between 9 and 22 were provided by each of the top 5, with a further 25 extras making up their total of 95/3 from 10 overs. Isabel Light was the top score with an unbeaten 22, sharing a stand of 48 with Aisling Lawlor in just 21 deliveries. Mhairi Nicoll the pick of the bowlers for Pembroke, taking 2/14. Pembroke's reply scored at a decent clip, however they fell 26 runs short with Izzy McLean's 25* and Isobel Jennings' unbeaten 31 not quite enough for the home side, in spite of them losing no wickets.

Meanwhile in Castle Avenue, the game was reduced to 15 overs, and a rollicking effort from Leinster saw them run up 144/2, Sophie MacMahon making 83 from just 48 deliveries, striking 14 boundaries and being dismissed off the final ball of the innings. Rebecca Rolfe's unbeaten 40 was the other big contribution for the away side. Clontarf's chase was right on track thanks to an excellent opening stand of 58 inside 6 overs from Robyn Searle and Alice Walsh, with Searle continuing to be unbeaten on 42 when the rain came with Clontarf 81/1 after 8 overs, giving them enough for a victory by 14 runs on the DLS system.