Monday saw our Ladies First X1 get their season started with a Pilkington Plate game against Clontarf. Cold and showery conditions suggested early on that this would be shortened game. With several interruptions for rain and an early tea it was eventually played as a 27 over game.
Batting first The Hills reached 134 for 5 off the allotted overs. Top scorers for The Hills were Jane Maguire (27) Clíondha O’Reardon (37) and Aisling Byrne (25). Other contributors included debutante Rebecca Gough (7), returnee Rhiannon Pope (9) and Extras were also helpful (24). Julie McNally was the pick of the Clontarf bowlers with 2 for 28 with a wicket each for Freya Sargent and Emma Butler.
The first Clontarf wicket didn’t fall until the score was on 64 despite some fine bowling from our openers Jane Maguire and Rebecca Gough. Aoife Brennan proved to be the star of the Clontarf innings scoring 71 off 84 balls before being dismissed with the score on 128. The Hills didn’t help their cause by contributing 29 via extras. In the end Clontarf were winners by 7 wickets with 3 overs to spare.