Sorting multiple lists by a list item

import java.text.SimpleDateFormat

// Returns and removes the list with the lowest/earliest Date from myArray
def extractFirstOrdered( myArray )
{
    firstOrdered = null
    for( list in myArray )
    {
        if( firstOrdered == null || list[2] < firstOrdered[2] )
            firstOrdered = list
    }
    myArray.remove( firstOrdered )
    return firstOrdered
}

a = [1,4,"12MAR2011T14:33",4,6]
b = [3,2,"12MAR2011T14:20",4,6]
c = [2,7,"16JUN2011T14:42",4,6]
d = [5,1,"21MAR2011T18:20",4,6]
e = [6,5,"09MAR2011T14:20",4,6]

def masterArray = [a, b, c, d, e]

SimpleDateFormat dateParser = new SimpleDateFormat("ddMMMyyyy'T'HH:mm")

// Convert date strings to Date objects
for( list in masterArray )
{
    list[2] = dateParser.parse( list[2] )
}

// Sort masterArray
def sortedMasterArray = []
while( !masterArray.isEmpty() )
{
    sortedMasterArray.add( extractFirstOrdered( masterArray ) )
}