FEW ACADEMY reputations were enhanced on Saturday afternoon in Saintfield, where the home side won the Ulster Bank Section 2 fixture by a massive 214 runs.
The Hydepark bowlers failed to stem the run rate as the County Down lads piled up the daunting total of 290 for six in their fifty overs.
Then in their quest for runs the Academy batsmen threw away their wickets, as they were dismissed for 76 in t
he twenty-sixth over.
Spinners Brian Boyd and Gerry Sloan had to take some stick, but each managed to claim two scalps, with Johnny Irons and David Greenlees taking one apiece.
Commenting club secretary, Jack Quinn, said, "Let's just say it was a bad day at the office all round. Saintfield were relegated at the end of last season and are already being tipped to bounce straight back to the top tier, so we would have had to be at our best to pose a real challenge.
"When the bowlers strayed off line they were severely punished, but Johnny Irons was particularly unfortunate. He beat the bat several times, and conceded a few streaky boundaries off the edge, and on another day would have had several wickets.
"He opened the bowling with BRA student David Moore who also deserved better returns.
"Without our main anchorman, Brian Kelso who was on holiday, the batting lacked stability. We needed David Greenlees to come up with a big score to give us any chance, but he was stumped off his fourth delivery for two, and after that wickets tumbled steadily.
"This was not the result we would have wanted a week before our crucial Junior Cup quarter-final.
"We expect a tight struggle against North Down II when we take them on at Newforge on Saturday, and we had been hoping for a psychological boost with a good result against Saintfield, but let's hope that the lads are all in top form for this important cup tie.
"We won the coveted trophy for the second time last season when we beat Templepatrick in the final, and our immediate aim will be to defend it successfully."
