THE LATE and greatly lamented Cardiff Arms Park has been the Ireland rugby team's favourite venue even since the heady days of 1985, when Ciaran Fitzgerald's team east aside the folk memory of an eighteen year long string of defeats, co route to Triple Crown and Championship. At nearby Sophia Gardens today, it is to be hoped that the national cricket side will be similarly inspired to overcome the angst of much more recent defeat.
For the recollection of Taunton and that humbling by Somerset must be put out of mind by skipper Justin Benson and his men, if they are to repeat in today's Benson and Hedges Cup game against Glamorgan the success enjoyed in the toppling of Middlesex almost a week ago. That is the measure of the successful professional sports player to concentrate on the immediate challenge, rather than wallow in mental despair over what might have been, and it's admittedly asking rather a lot of a team of mostly weekend club amateurs.
Still, Glamorgan have been the least impressive of Ireland's B and H opponents in this campaign, though it will be of considerable consolation to the Irish to know that Waqar Younis is not expected to join the Welsh side until their second County Championship fixture. But today the side may include Steve Watkin and Robert Croft, captain Mathew Maynard and 21 year old Alun Evans, a promising right hand batsman.
Ireland, again without Decker Curry, will be expecting a major contribution from Hansie Cronje. And the return of Peter Gillespie, if fit, will strengthen the bowling attack.
. Since the competitive season started over a week ago, cricketers have been getting almost as much exercise dodging in and out of the clubhouse between the deluging showers as they have on the field of play.
This depressing, if all too normal, trend continued at Kenure yesterday when the Lewis Traub League match between Rush and Dublin University was abandoned in the 19th over, following earlier stoppages. By then, the match had been turned into a 25 overs each contest, with the home team struggling on 49 for the loss of one wicket.
