Match 9: Ireland vs Jersey

The goal Sean had for the team was to make it through to Saturday's play and a semi final - so we'd already done that. Taking the Ireland scalp would be our bonus! We'd already played them twice and been beaten, but we had improved in the second game, and fancied this one.

The Irish got a lead early on with a couple of runs in the first, after which they shut out Jersey. The second was a complete shut out by both teams. Then came an inspired period of play over the next three innings where we hit back at them and scored 5 runs, but we were always a run behind.

Ireland had started with a team with a number of reserve players and were forced to substitute starters back into the lineup in a late bid to stave us off.

The most controversial moment of the game was an infield fly which some of the players appeared not to have heard the call, and confusion reigned as the action was hectic. The ball went up, the call was made (1st out), the catch was fumbled, the Irish ran the bases anyway, Jersey recovered the ball to third, the tag on third wasn't taken, the ball was put to two, out number 2, runner from third gets home! ...See - I told you it was hectic.

Ireland took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth and then held their breath as we loaded the bases with two out in the top of the sixth, but nothing came of it. Unfortunately in the seventh we went down tamely.

In the end, that one run was all that separated the two sides in an awesome match that both sides enjoyed immensely, and was Jersey's best match of the tournament by far, and will be the one that people remember us for.

Final score: Ireland 6 - 5 Jersey.