Ian Callender
23 July 2001

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IRELAND'S under-age cricket teams took Europe by storm at the weekend with both the Under 17s and Under 13s returning home with their respective European Championship crowns in Denmark and Netherlands. The Under 13s completed a hat-trick of victories and not one of their opponents reached 90 in any match. On Saturday, they bowled out Netherlands for 61 to record a 88 runs success and yesterday's finale against Denmark was just as emphatic, scoring 165 for five in their 40 overs and bowling out the Danes for 77.

Just for good measure, an Ireland player also brought home the player of the tournament trophies with Armagh's Stuart Lester the top Under 13.

In Deventer, the Under 13s proved themselves in a class of their own with Netherlands dismissed in just 24 overs on Saturday and captain Greg Thompson aggregating four for six from 8.3 overs in the last two games. The batting yesterday was particularly impressive with Conor Geraghty and Downpatrick's James Magowan putting on 74 for the first wicket and then Lester and Mark Robinson of Cooke Collegians added an unbroken 55 for the sixth wicket, Lester's 46 coming off barely 30 balls with three fours and a six on a very large ground.