Irish cricket season gets underway in the cold

The Irish season effectively begins this weekend, with the start of club competitions in the Northern and Leinster Cricket Unions.

The Northern Unions will field a 10 team competition while Leinster will have 13 teams. Seven teams will compete in Leinster's A Division, with six teams in the B Division.

The North West Cricket Union will start its season on May 1.

The second round of the Irish Senior Cup will be played on May 15, with the 1998 winner, Strabane, playing away to North Down. This is effectively the opening round, as the first round consists of several preliminary matches.

The national side starts its 1999 campaign on May 4, playing an away game against Northumberland in the NatWest Trophy. A win there means Ireland hosts an Essex Board XI.

The Triple Crown, contested by Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England Amateurs, will be played in Dublin on June 29, 30 and July 1.

Jonty Rhodes will make his Ireland debut against his countrymen when he plays against South Africa 'A' in July. Ireland will play three first class games and four one-day matches against the tourists.

Ireland's representative season will finish with the annual matches against the MCC at Lords on August 5 and Scotland at Downpatrick on August 21.

The interprovincial championship will also be contested by Leinster, Munster, Northern and North West Cricket Unions.