Fitzwilliam @ Terenure College , June 27th 2025

Walnuts vs. Fitzwilliam: A Blustery Battle in Terenure

The air was thick with anticipation, and a very strong breeze swept across Terenure as the Walnuts faced Fitzwilliam in a thrilling encounter.

Batting first, Fitzwilliam unleashed a formidable batting display, showcasing a blend of wristy elegance and powerful stroke play to post an impressive total of 129. 

Fitzwilliam's middle-order maestro, Tom, put on a batting masterclass beneath the shade of the Walnut tree, delivering one of the most impressive batting displays we've witnessed in quite a while. Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam's opener Stafford proved to be the linchpin of their innings, laying a crucial foundation with a stoical 20 runs.

Despite Fitzwilliam's aggressive intent, the Walnuts' bowlers, particularly Adam, Brian, Eddie, Liam and debutant Alan, did well to stymie the scoring in patches, preventing an even higher target aided by Garret and Eddie's expert field placing. Nevertheless, the chase was set to be a challenging one for the Walnuts.

And formidable it proved to be.

Though the Walnuts ultimately fell short, we put up a valiant effort, reaching an impressive 105 runs. The chase was anchored by outstanding batting performances from Brian, Junior (who was deservedly named Man of the Match), and captain Garret. Later in the innings, Liam and Eddie added commendable lower order runs with some powerful hitting, but ultimately we were shy of the target.

As the sun set, both teams gathered for post-match revelries under the shelter of the tree and around Cyril's van. It was a testament to the spirit of the game and the quality of the pitch that over 220 runs were scored on the evening, providing immense entertainment (and immense credit to Philip for his immaculate pitch preparation).

Congratulations once again to Fitzwilliam on their win, and a special thank you for the always-welcome cake - a very welcome tradition from their generous captain Kevin and his gracious Fitzwilliam team mates. We're already eagerly looking forward to next year's rematch.