2016 Open Comps Division 1 fixtures

 The countdown to the 2016 Cricket Leinster season continues with the release of the Open Competitions Division 1 fixtures. With news of any player movements or overseas signings still only rumours, it is far too early to be looking at any possible title deciders, but even then, it is difficult to get away from some ties that have an added look of importance about them.

2015 champions, Clontarf have a tough start as they meet Merrion at home in the pick of the week 1 matches, to be played on Saturday 30th April. North County did far better than many thought possible last year, and they will face YMCA, a side that fell short of expectations last season.

Promoted sides have had difficulty in staying up in recent seasons, and Phoenix and The Hills will therefore be up against it from the start. The Hills will be bouyed by the reversal of talisman Max Sorensen's decision to move to Belfast, and they face a difficult first tie hosting Pembroke, a side that finished 2015 with eight straight victories.

Phoenix are also in good spirits with news that The Hills' star player Nicolaas Pretorius is heading to Dublin 8, and they start their attenpt to stay in the top flight with an intriguing clash against a Railway Union side that escpaed the clutches of relegation last year.

After thirteen matches, the eight sides will play their last match of the season on Saturday 3rd September, and who knows whether there will be any winner takes all clashed amongst those four games. There will be a final day Park Avenue derby as Pembroke cross the road to play Railway Union; The Hills face YMCA in a game that has the feeling of a miassively important match - although we're not sure at which end of the table!; Merrion also travel to Fingal to take on North County; and Clontarf maybe looking at a second successive league title at home to Phoenix.

Division 2 fixtures will be published on this site tomorrow.