The first ever meeting of Ireland and Glamorgan provider rather an extraordinary match. This game celebrated the opening of a new ground at Margam and Glamorgan have hopes of using it as a County ground. The wicket, however, was rather virginal and the medium pace bowlers had merely to throw the ball into the wicket slightly short of a length to ensure success. Rain prevented any play on the first day. The wicket had dried out by the Monday but was very soft. As it became drier the ball began to lift and kick viciously.
In 2¼ hours Glamorgan were all out for 81 on the second morning. In brilliant sunshine Ingram bowled unchanged from one end to take 4-33 in 23 overs. Kenny, Webb and Boucher shared the other end - Kenny being particularly effective. Parkhouse was brilliantly caught in the gully by the newcomer Webb off Kenny at 11. Webb took over from Kenny at 25. Montgomery was caught off Ingram at 32 and then Webb dismissed WE Jones and Alan Watkins in successive overs. At 37 the other opener, PB Clift was caught at cover off Ingram for 12. So, after one hour's play, half the Glamorgan side was out for 37. Pleass was bowled by Ingram at 43 and McConnon joined Wooller. Boucher relieved Webb and bowled six overs for 12 runs but the wicket did not appear to suit him. Kenny returned and at once had Wooller caught. 63-7-12. Davies was bowled by Kenny at 75 and at the same score Ingram bowled McConnon who had batted gallantly for his 18 runs. Actually Davies was out before lunch and McConnon immediately afterwards. Hever was bowled by Kenny at 81 to end the innings.
Ireland, too, struggled for runs in the face of Watkins and Wooller and, in fact, ended up 14 runs behind. Bergin and Mahony scored 19 runs in 77 minutes. Shepherd and Hever had opened the bowling and bowled nine overs between them for five runs. Then McConnon and Watkins came on and the latter, in his third over, had Mahony caught at the wicket for four, scored in 77 minutes! Pollock was stumped for 0 and Haughton lbw for a similar score. Watkins had now taken 3-4 in six overs. Bergin and Ingram were together at tea. When the score was 40 Bergin's monumental effort ended. He was lbw to Watkins for 22, scored in two hours. Ingram stood no nonsense and scored 20 in half an hour with four boundaries. He was lbw to Wooller at 50 after hitting him for 10 in three balls. Armstrong and Martin both left at 57 and five runs later Marks and Webb were both dismissed - Watkins and Wooller sharing these four wickets. Boucher was last out at 67 - caught off Wooller. Watkins took 6-11 in 18 overs. He bowled 13 maidens, including eight in a row, and did not send down a single loose ball. Wooller's 4-21 in 10 overs was also a good performance. In the last 20 minutes Parkhouse, 17, and Davies, 11, batted very confidently and scored 29 runs.
Play began at 11 am on the third day. The wicket was fast and lively and no one knew what the ball was going to do. Webb and Armstrong shared the attack and the batsmen had obviously been told to hit hard with a view to an early declaration - the idea being to get Ireland in on this fiery wicket. Parkhouse was lbw to Armstrong's second ball. 31-1-17. Davies drove Webb for a huge six and was bowled two balls later. 39-2-20. In Armstrong's fourth over Wooller was bowled for seven and two balls later McConnon was caught without scoring. Armstrong got Pleass at 57 and then, after bowling five overs and taking 4-16, he went off in favour of Ingram. Montgomery and Shepherd then added 24 for the sixth wicket. Montgomery drove Webb for a six and when he was bowled three balls later Wooller declared at 81-6. The innings had lasted 67 minutes.
Ireland required 96 in 115 minutes. This was much more difficult than it sounds in view of the state of the wicket. The batsmen began very well in spite of Armstrong being bowled by Shepherd at five. Pollock joined Bergin and batted extremely well. In the next 46 minutes the pair added 50 runs and it really looked as if Ireland must win. Wooller joined the attack and with the first ball of his third over he had Pollock grandly caught by Clift. The last ball of this over accounted for Haughton who was thus unfortunate enough to "bag a pair" on his return to the Irish team. Ingram joined Bergin and these two were together at lunch when the score was 55-2. 41 were now required in 50 minutes and when this was reduced to 25 in 35 minutes the game seemed over. At this stage, however, Bergin was run out by an exceedingly smart throw in by McConnon. This was the turning point. Ingram was bowled by Wooller at 72. Martin and Mahony were both bowled at 75 and Boucher was lbw at 76 while two runs later Marks was bowled. Shepherd and Wooller bowled with devastating pace and accuracy but Webb and Kenny somehow managed to survive the last six minutes. A remarkable match had to be left drawn.
This turned out to be Noel Mahony's last match for Ireland. After its completion he announced his retirement from International Cricket.