With domestic stuff plodding away nicely, and international cricket about to get going, people must be wondering what the little people (and their cobbler) are up to. As with buses to Drimnagh/Cregagh/Carrigaline --  don't THREE fixtures come along at the same time...

Charlie Butler will lead his past pupil backboned Leps into battle this Wednesday up at Whitechurch in a fixture of 70 or more years standing with St..Columba's. A few father and son confrontations are expected.

We visit another nicely pavilioned ground, Castleknock College, on Sunday 24 to take on (and try and take back the Toucan Trophy) Chapelizod CC.

Things "go international" on Tuesday 26th when a Brian Steele led Wellington Wanderers Over 50 XI arrive in Phoenix (hours of play 1-6 pm). They will follow in Arthur Wellesley's footsteps. One wonders if he thought he'd have a New Zealand city named after him as he walked down the steps to bat against Lord Ashbrook's almost 250 years ago?

Apart from Phoenix WW will play at Mt. Juliet, Trinity, and 'on the mainland', Broadhalfpenny Down, AND  Arundel and watch Tests at Lords & Stormont.  Could their namesake have organised a better campaign?

Only Napoleon would disagree, though he might have quaked at the thought of entering battle beneath a glowering Carson!

Three further sorties occur in late August  (29/30/31) with the South-East tour brought forward a month and a visit from a Ciaran Sharp led group of Aussies, one suspects these will be more Kelly(Ned!) than Welly!