The third playing of the Triple Crown was in the Northern Cricket Union area. Ireland's first match was at Downpatrick on one of the Club's slower pitches. A win was easily recorded over a youthful Welsh team by six wickets with more than four overs to spare.

Ireland selected 13, keeping the team that played West Indies and adding Gillespie and Nigel Thompson. The latter was a third choice. Eddie Moore cried off due to work and Gordon Cooke was also unable to take Moore's place.

Wales won the toss on a sunny day and batted. In the 7th over Newbold edged Eagleson to Ogilby. 15-1-4. Sylvester and Harris added 38. Graham and Doak took over the bowling and Graham missed a caught and bowled chance offered by Harris (18) at 44. It was not expensive. A quick stumping accounted for Sylvester in the 17th over. 53-2-17. Scoring was slow in the next 10 overs only 13 runs coming. Then Langworth glanced Graham to 3rd man but Harris failed to beat Smyth's throw to Ogilby. 66-3-23.

Only two runs came in the next five overs. Then Langworth was bowled by Graham trying to push to leg. 68-4-4. Doak bowled his 11 overs for 15 and Graham his for 18 and two wickets. By lunch (36 overs) the score was only 75 for four, Bell and Hemp each 3*. In the first over after lunch Ogilby put down a chance from Bell (7) off Lewis at 79. This was expensive as Bell went on to make 50. Harrison had by now begun his bowling stint and had Hemp lbw in his 5th over, the 40th. 94-5-6. Bell and Lewis then made the best stand of the innings - one of 67.

Eagleson came back for the 47th over at 118 and saw Bell missed again at 125. A huge skier went up to point. Smyth should have called for Ogilby but instead offered himself and dropped it! Bell was then 37. The six overs from 47 to 52 increased the score by 40. Bell went to his 50 in over 53 (67 balls) and was bowled by Eagleson in the same over. 161-6-50. Lewis (27) followed in the next over. He hit Patterson for a four and was bowled swinging at the next ball. Off the second last ball of the innings Williams was caught at mid-wicket. All the Irish bowlers did well. Eagleson had most wickets (three) but Graham's two for 18 in mid innings won him the Man-of-the-Match Award from Frank Malin. Patterson bowled eight and Eagleson five overs.

At 3.30 p.m. Ireland set out on what looked to be an easy task and so it proved. Griffiths (the Welsh Captain) opened the bowling with Walton to Warke and Molins. After 10 overs the score was 26, half coming in extras. Griffiths changed ends and with the last ball of the 13th over he bowled Molins who was trying to play to leg. 41-1-11. Eight runs later Warke (23) was lbw to Sylvester. Lewis began in an attacking vein and got most of the strike up to tea (25 overs) when he was 18, including four fours, to Smyth's 9 at 82 for two.

100 was up in over 30 and Lewis hit Kelleher for a six. However in over 35 Lewis failed to get to the pitch while driving and was caught at cover off the same Kelleher. 118-3-37. Benson arrived and was obviously in top form from the start. Smyth inched his way to 30 (65 balls) and was caught off Newbold at 138 in over 40. Benson and Harrison hit off the remaining runs in six overs - Benson completing the job with a six off Kelleher. His 38 came in 36 balls.

Scotland, meanwhile, at Comber, beat England by six wickets chasing only 128 runs.