YMCA, Queen's University, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Scarborough is the answer to a pretty tough quiz question. What those five varied clubs have in common is that Ed Joyce took each of them for a century during 2001.

Joyce, playing for the University of Western Australia in the first grade in Perth, has had a run-filled start to his season. Straight off the plane he knocked off 55 against Bayswater-Morley before being out for 6 against South Perth. It was here he discovered the uncompromising nature of Aussie cricket when he was run out while indulging in a spot of "gardening". He was dismissed for five in his next game against Rockingham-Mandurah, a victim to former Australia bowler Dave Gilbert.

This weekend Joyce made that fifth century of the year at the University ground in James. The match continues next Saturday.

Other young Leinster cricketers are enjoying adding to their skills in the southern hemisphere this winter.
Ireland opening bowler Paul Mooney is wintering at the Zoo Lake club in Johannesburg, where is former North County teammate Richard Beukes has already scored a century this season. Moons has played three times on the Premier A side, and has the excellent figures of 30.3-4-125-9, an average of 13.89 and a best of 5-71. He made 0 in his only innings. In his two matches for the Saturday A side he made 7 and 0 not out, and has bowling figures of 13-1-60-2, with a best of 2-38. Patrick Byrne of the Hills is also in Johannesburg, playing with the Pirates club.

Australia is the destination for the bulk of Irish players, with two Wesley College transition year students Stuart McDonnell (Ireland Under 15 leg spinner) at Mosman in Sydney and Owen Goodman (Leinster Under 15 slow left armer) at Woollongong. Ireland middle order batsman Niall O'Brien (Railway Union) and Peter Johnson (Leinster) are also wintering at the Allan Border Oval at Mosman.

The most exotic tour is undoubtedly that of Phoenix's Gary Black, who will no doubt be thinking of the winter winds sweeping across the Phoenix Park as he runs in to bowl in Barbados.
LCU Development Officer Briain O'Rourke, who has been instrumental in a lot of the above getting such opportunities - both in terms of encouragement and assistance - is off himself to South Africa. He will be working as a coach with the Gauteng and Border provincial boards and hopes to "throw an arm over" himself at some stage.
We hope to bring further news of these and other winterers over the coming months. Contact: gsiggins@tribune.ie

The death occurred early on Monday 5 November of one of the most prolific of bowlers in Leinster cricket. Chris Mara, who played 313 times for the Merrion first XI from 1935 to 1960, taking a staggering 699 wickets at an average of 14.66, including three eight-fors and 42 five-fors. This follows very closely on the death of another great Merrion stalwart Alphonse McKenna, father of Denis and Al.