Many congratulations to Faran Ahmed Khan who has announced the arrival of a baby girl (name not known at this time) on Jaunary 17th. Faran who topped the wicket takers in all Leinster cricket last year, obviously had some spare time outside his cricket committments last season. It will be interesting to see how much spare time he has this season!!

The young lady shares her birthday with Pembroke's Steve McCarthy, who reached his half century on the day of her arrival. Symmetry eh!

In the Senior 2 Cup, Pembroke have been drawn away to Clontarf in the first round. This game will be played on May 27.

In the Alan Murray NEARfm T20 Cup, Pembroke have been drawn with Dublin 4 rivals YMCA and Dublin 6 Leinster. The group games will be played on Sunday 24 June at a venue to be decided.

The LHW Leinster Senior Cup sees the First XI drawn against Rush in a game to be played in Sydney Parade.

Once again Pembroke are challenging you to be "Manager-of-the-Season". The 2012 Fantasy League will once again be run over the course of the season, upto and including the day of the Awards Night.

There are a few notable proposed changes from last years competition...
Only games played under the Men's OCC competitions will be included as the figures will this season be taken from those submitted officially to the LCU. Thus our First XI will miss out on All-Ireland points and our Sixth XI will gain from at least three T20 games in the Russell Court Cup. The Ladies shall be included for any games played for the Men's teams only.

Points will be allocated for games played (10pts per game played), runs scored (1pt per run scored), wickets taken (20 per wicket taken), catches held (10 per catch taken) and stumpings (15 pts each) recorded. Bonus points will be available for taking 5 wickets in an innings (20pts) and scoring of half centuries (20pts) and centuries (40pts).

More details will be made available in due course.....

Player valuations will be made available soon and will be based on 2011 performance.

The OCC of the LCU have provided some statistics from the 2011 season. These do not include Bob Kerr All-Ireland Cup games, but do include all T20 games played in Leinster....

Pembroke scored 15,275 runs for 728 wickets lost at an average of 20.98 per wicket. 15,360 runs were conceded with 760 wickets captured at an average of 20.21.

Pembroke players scored 6 centuries. Michael W. Byers scored two and Gary Burrows, Mark Holland, Deepak Raj and Rohit Bahl scored the other four.
71 half centuries were scored. Gary Burrows had 5 and Jack Balbirnie, Jono Hickey and Steve Moreton each scored four.

Five wickets in an inning was achieved 12 times. Andy Mays managed it in both games he played last year and Faran Ahmed Khan also managed it twice. Others to reach the landmark were Max Byers, Allan Eastwood, Rupert Heather, Andy leonard, Ben Sissini, Sean Smith, Fiachra Tucker and Hugo Mays.

The OCC of the LCU have issued the league structures for the upcoming 2012 season. The leagues containing Pembroke teams are as follows:

Division 2. - Phoenix 1, Pembroke 1, Malahide 1, Rush 1, Cork County 1, Leinster 2, Dublin University 1, Old Belvedere 1

Division 3. - North County 2, The Hills 2, Balbriggan 1, Pembroke 2, Clontarf 2, Civil Service 1, Merrion 2, YMCA 2

Division 4. - Malahide 2, Oakhill, Railway Union 2, Phoenix 2, North Kildare 1, Mullingar 1, Laois 1, Pembroke 3

Division 7. - Merrion 5, The Hills 3, North Kildare 2, Bagenalstown 1, Knockharley 1, Wexford Wanderers 1, Leinster 4, Pembroke 4

Division 10. - Phoenix 4, Sandyford 2, Pembroke 5, Leinster 6, Wickow County 3, Malahide 5, Cabinteely 1, Rush 3, Swords 1

Division 12. - Old Belvedere 3, Greystones 1, Merrion 7, Phoenix 5, Wexford Wanderers 2, Ballyeighan 1, Pembroke 6, Dundalk 2, Clontarf 6

The LCU is delighted to announce a new 20 over competition, The Russell Court Hotel Cup, which is to be played between sides competing towards the bottom of the OCC's league structure.

In recent years, a lack of a 20 over competition at this level has removed the opportunity of many cricketers to play in a competitive tournament, an opportunity that will be now given to 24 teams.

The teams will be split into eight regionalised groups of three, with the tems playing each other once, at a date and time of their choosing. Some groups may wish to play matches on mid week nights, some may wish to make a day of it, playing three matches at one ground on a Saturday or Sunday. It's up to the clubs to decide.

The winners of each group will then face each other in quarter and semi finals, before a finals day in Railway Union, with the Whelan Cup final being held on the same day.

The Cup Draws for the 2012 season for the lower (i.e. non-Senior) teams, have now been done and the full draws are available from the www.cricketleinster.ie website. As far as Pembroke sides are concerned...

Third XI - Middle Cup - The holders have been drawn away to Phoenix in the Preliminary Round with the winners of this game playing Rush 2 in the First Round.

Fourth XI - Middle 2 Cup - In the most originally named Cup, last years beaten finalists will be needing their passports as they have drawn an away game to Wicklow County (venue to be confirmed) with the winners progressing to an away game versus the winners of Knockharley or Ballaghaderreen.

Fifth XI - Intermediate Cup - The Fifth XI have the potential to play nothing but home games all the way to the final, but will start with a home game to Phoenix 4th XI.

Sixth XI - Junior Cup - The league for the 6's this season includes such travels as Ballyeighan, Dundalk and Wexford. Therefore it is no surprise that the Cup will continue this trend with the first round game scheduled as an away trip to the winners of the preliminary game between newcomers Greystones and perennial travellers Bagnelstown.

Hi All - Just a note to say thank you to all who supported our recent Quiz night last Friday. 
Congratulations to Craig, James, Steph and Amanda on winning!! And may I also take this opportunity to name and shame Lenny, Paul, Barry and Rory for their continued cheating, fittingly they came last!!
The event was a success and raised over €750 which will go towards ground improvements.
Most importantly though we received good sponsorship from the following Sandymount Businesses  

These generous businesses are well worth our support, so lets use them and don’t forget to mention Pembroke and thank them for helping our club.
Also to say a big Thanks to Pembroke greats Pauline Tighe, Billy & Eithne Gallagher, Mark Leonard, Merve and Kirsty Whaley. 
Kind Regards - EJ “Quiz Master” Whaley

The Annual LCU Dinner took place last Friday and didn't Pembroke do well....

Kevin Ryan (on behalf of the emigrated Mark Holland) collected the Division 13 League trophy, whilst Justin Doherty picked up the Division 8 trophy.

Kim Garth won the Division One batting award, and as she is currently in Bangladesh with the Ireland Women Craig Senior collected the award. Craig also picked up Sharon Corbett's bowling trophy and will be attending the dinner in a skirt if he only gets to collect the Ladies prizes in the future.

Carole Cromer was the winner of the Ladies Fair Play Award (collected by, yes Craig) and Barry McCarthy was awarded the John Dawson Fair Play Award (collected by President Byers).

The impressive amount of silverware was added to by the presence of greatness amongst us. In what was an exceptionally deserved award, Michael Sharp was inducted into the LCU Hall of Fame. Michael's endless knowledge of Leinster cricket honed to a sharp (no pun inte.... bugger it), nay, keen edge over many decades of providing excellent administration as well as his abilities on the field of play in years gone by meant he was a most worthy and, one could say, surprised winner.

The Leinster Cricket Union have announced the league structures for 2012. The Pembroke sides will play in the following leagues...
First XI will play in Division 2 and will face Phoenix 1, Malahide 1, Rush 1, Cork County 1, The Hills 2, Leinster 2, Dublin University 1.
Second XI will play in Division 3 and will face North County 2, Old Belvedere 1, Balbriggan 1, Clontarf 2, Civil Service 1, Merrion 2, YMCA 2.
Third XI under the leadership of Deepak Raj after winning Div 5 will play in Division 4 and face Malahide 2, Oakhill, Railway Union 2, Phoenix 2, North Kildare 1, Mullingar 1, Laois 1. The Thirds are the highest ranked third XI in Leinster.
Justin Doherty's Fourth XI after winning Div 8, will play in Division and will face Merrion 5, The Hills 3, North Kildare 2, Bagenalstown 1, Knockharley 1, Wexford Wanderers 1, Leinster 4, Civil Service 2.
The Fifth XI will continue in Division 10 and face Phoenix 4, Sandyford 2, Leinster 6, Wickow County 3, Malahide 5, Cabinteely 1, Rush 3, Ring Commons 1.
The Sixth XI, lead post Mark Holland by Craig Senior will be in Division 12 after winning Div 13 and will face putting many miles on the clock as they will encounter Old Belvedere 3, Civil Service 4, Merrion 7, Phoenix 5, Wexford Wanderers 2, Ballyeighan 1, Dundalk 2, Clontarf 6. 

The cricketleinster website provides a full review of the league winning Thirds campaign on http://www.cricketleinster.ie/news/division-5-2011-season-review read more ...

cricketleinster.ie continue their excellent analysis of the 2011 season this time with the Fifths in Division 10...

First statistic is that over 2,000 players appeared in Leinster cricket last season.

Top of the leading wicket takers in Leinster was Pembroke's very own Faran Ahmed Khan who collected 57 wickets.

On the batting side, Gary Burrows' 675 runs saw him as the 16th highest run scorer for the season.

As regards appearances, Lorcan Tucker led Pembroke with 31 games (not including his appearances for Pembroke under age and Leinster representative teams). The top figure in Leinster cricket was 35 and the top three spots belonged to Merrion players.

Thursday saw Paul Lawson putting in a full days shift with Richard Hastie, Ed Dwyer, Harry Balbirnie and Emmett Whalley all contributing. However, the work continues apace and your help is still desired.... absolute trojan work has been done and it will all stand to the entire club in the seasons ahead. If you can lend a hand, please do....

Ed Dwyer writes..."The work of re-laying the square and continuing our policy of ensuring Pembroke have the best possible wickets has begun with the digging out of pitches 11 and 12 this morning. Tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday will see the installation of the foundation of sand and stone put in followed by a full 6 inches of imported wicket loam. This work is very labour intensive and therefore I would ask that all members consider giving their Club a couple of hours, perhaps in the evening. Many handswill make lighter work.... Do bring your own shovel...!

Sean Smith was the deserved recipient of Billy Gallagher's final act as President as he handed out the President's Award, Sean also picked up 5th XI MVP from captain Steve McCarthy.

Paul Lawson, Darren Nicol, Deepak Raj, Jonno McNulty and 2012 President Michael Byers picked up the other MVPs. Danny Barclay won the batting trophy as Michael Byers' seven runs for the 5ths dropped his average behind Danny who had no game on Saturday. Faran Khan dominated the bowling, picking up the bowling trophy and also the 'Spud', His nearest challengers managed 29 wickets, whilst Faran took 57. Andy Leonard took the most catches and Rohit Bahl picked up the wicket-keeping award.

Priscilla Pegman, Becca Gallagher and Jude Hayward won the Ladies MVPs and the awards for best bowler and batter went to Sharon Corbett and Kim Garth. Amanda Dunlop was named Lady Member of the Year.

Barry Tucker was the season leading Manager of the Fantasy League, beating second placed Lucy McGolgan and third placed and last placed Amanda Dunlop. Next season's fantasy league will see a few changes and details will be announced in due course.

The season review slideshow went down well and copies are available if anyone would like one.

Justin Doherty and Jonny Bell (on behalf of the absent Mark Holland) picked up their league trophies and Glenn Cunningham's Middle Cup was acknowledged.

On arrival all members present were invited to sign a landscape picture of Sydney Parade, which was then put above the Clubhouse door. Again, mounted copies of the picture (but not of the signatures) are available.

Thus a great night closed the season (apart from the Fifth's final game on Sunday) and everyone eventually made it home. It's now 205 days until next s