...an NCU senior league and cup double, but they are in pole position right now!
The “Old Boys” have never been short of talent over the years, but they have too often flattered to deceive, and always seemed to lack the killer punch when needed. That may not be the modern culture, given the driving force of 2009 captain Eugene Moleon, and of course the fighting qualities and determination of Ireland all rounder Andrew White, a player of tremendous ability who could hold his own with any overseas professional.
Instonians currently sit at the top of the senior league table, and they have reached the senior cup final to be staged at Downpatrick in mid August. But the Belfast team and “Whitey” in particular, will be under no illusions as to who stands in their way, namely North Down. The Comber club has already beaten Instonians this season, and will be just as determined to keep their momentum moving in the right direction having started the season sluggishly.
Instonians Cricket Club is one of the sleeping giants of Belfast cricket, and although they don’t attract a lot of spectators to their games, there are literally thousands of closet supporters who have never forgotten their academic roots, and never fail to follow the school and club results at both cricket and rugby. We can expect to see plenty of them at the Meadow for the NCU showpiece, including members of those great teams they had in the early Sixties. It may seem a long time to go back, but although the club has enjoyed periodic success and performed well at times over the years, their only major senior trophy successes since have been twice in the Ulster Cup, the last ironically against North Down.
Their 1962 league winning team under Tom McCormack’s captaincy was the start of a remarkable five years that saw the club win the senior league title, get relegated, win the senior cup, and then get promoted back to senior one. The 1964 cup winners remain a huge part of club folklore, not least because the team included some of the best players to grace their colours, and of course the captain was the inimitable AD “Dixon” Rose. The Rose name is synonymous with Instonians, and Dixon has been an outstanding servant to the cause. An international hockey player and interprovincial cricketer, he is the only person to have been honoured with the presidency of the Irish Cricket Union, and the Irish Hockey Union (twice) in addition to a plethora of other awards for service to sport.
It is amazing that a club with such a rich pedigree and roots going back to the early days of NCU cricket, should have only one senior league and cup success in their archives, so the incentive and pressure on the team to deliver the double this year is considerable.
So is the current team about to create its own history and lay this 47 years bogey to rest? They won’t have a better opportunity, as the current team has genuine match winners and plenty of experience that has been hard-earned over the years. History may be against them, but right now Instonians won’t be looking back, they be looking forward to the second half of the season.
Good luck to the “Master Race.”
Clarence Hiles
Editor
