This was the year of the Triangular Tournament in England but the South Africans failed to win any of their six Test Matches. Nourse and Taylor batted well for them, Faulkner did "the double" and Pegler took 189 wickets, but the all round skill of the 1907 team was lacking. On the first day the Irish team failed in both departments. They were all out for 108 in 100 minutes and the South Africans scored 223-4. That there was nothing much wrong with the wicket, as a matter of fact it was easy all through the day, was evidenced when the South Africans could score their runs in 2 ¾ hours.

Baker and Quinlan opened the batting for Ireland. Baker was first nearly run out and then was bowled by Taylor (who very seldom bowled) for 3. Morrow also fell to Taylor in his fourth over and GJ Meldon was caught by the wicketkeeper standing back before he had scored. 9-3! Quinlan and Lloyd took the score to 34, Lloyd getting 22 of these runs before being caught off Carter. After batting 45 minutes for 2 singles Quinlan was caught at short leg off Taylor. 42-5-2. Lambert reached a serviceable 21 and then Faulkner came on with leg-breaks and googlies. He got Lambert caught at the wicket by Stricker and then bowled Ryan who had been in half an hour for 5. 83-7 at lunch. At 93 Kelly became Stricker's third victim behind the wicket and at 102 Stedman was run out while attempting a fourth run. PC Ross knocked up 26 in 20 minutes but the innings closed at 108 when Faulkner bowled Ross. Carter had bowled unchanged while Taylor and Faulkner shared the other end.

Tancred and Taylor opened for South Africa to the bowling of Kelly and Ross. They had 33 up in 25 minutes and then a fine catch by Lloyd at mid-on disposed of Taylor (14). Stricker came in and 50 was reached in 35 minutes. At 67 Stricker was caught at the wicket off Clarke for 18. SJ Snooke and Tancred were now together and run getting continued to be brisk. An hour produced 80 runs and 100 was put up in 75 minutes. At tea, the pair were still together. Shortly afterwards the partnership ended when Tancred was well held by Kelly at mid-off from the bowling of Lambert, the sixth bowler tried. Tancred had made 61 in 95 minutes with one six and six fours. He and Snooke had added 75 in only 45 minutes. With Nourse in Snooke ran to his 50 in just under one hour and was eventually caught and bowled by Baker for 81 in 110 minutes. Nourse was 45 not out by the close of play, the score being 223-4.

South Africa were in an impregnable position by the end of the second day. Their total reached 395 and Ireland, losing five wickets for 92, were 195 behind with half the team are ready out. Rain had fallen in the night and the start was delayed until 12:30 p.m. Nourse and Faulkner were both confident and 250 came up in 195 minutes. Quinlan was tried but proved expensive, and Nourse hit him for a four and a six to square-leg. At lunch the score was 305-4, the last 50 having been scored in 20 minutes. Lunch lasted an hour and shortly afterwards Nourse reached a brilliant 100 in 2¼ hours. However, at 331 Faulkner played on to Lambert for a stylish 43. The stand of 108 had taken 75 minutes. Two brilliant running catches by Lloyd on the leg boundary accounted for White, 2, and Beaumont, 9, Lambert being the bowler in each case. Directly afterwards Nourse skied another ball to Lloyd who made a splendid attempt to catch him, but failed, injuring his finger and being forced to retire. Eventually Nourse was out for 113. He played on, as Faulkner had done, to Lambert. Nourse had played in his best thumping style for 155 minutes and had scored a six and 13 fours.

Mitchell, the captain, and Carter were out quickly leaving Hartigan not out for 26. The 395 runs had taken 275 minutes. Lambert took 5-51 in 16 overs and appears to have been grossly under bowled considering the total. 96 overs were bowled in all so Lambert's share was only 1/6 of the total. Ireland went in requiring 287 to avoid an innings defeat. Baker and Quinlan opened and off Taylor's fourth ball Quinlan was caught at the wicket for 0. After tea the pitch was in the bowler's favour and Faulkner began to get a lot of bite and spin. He got Baker lbw for 13. Lambert, 11, and Morrow, 19, both fell to Carter, the former being caught at slip and the latter at mid-on. 49-4. Meldon and Lloyd then had a good stand and took the score to 92. Just before the end Faulkner bowled Lloyd for 27. Meldon was 19 not out. A strange accident befell Hartigan who, after being kept out of the team for some time, had only resumed his place in the eleven on this occasion. In throwing in a ball from the long field he fractured his arm in two places and could play no more cricket during the tour.

The third day's play was very brief. Ireland took its total from 92-5 to 118 all out. Meldon and Ross added 7 and then Ross was caught at mid-off for 3. At the same total, 99, Ryan was bowled by Faulkner off the first ball he received. Meldon was caught at the wicket off Carter without adding to his overnight score of 19. Kelly was missed by Nourse before he had scored and the last two wickets added 19. The innings closed for 118 made in 135 minutes. Carter and Faulkner both bowled extremely well, particularly Faulkner, who bowled 20 overs and took 4-18. 35 years were to elapse before the South Africans returned to play cricket in Ireland.

Derek Scott