Division 12 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2015) - Trevor Wardrop (Halverstown) - 668 runs @ 31.81
Most runs in a Division 12 season - Manoj Jacob (Swords) - 415 runs (2013)
Highest score - Senthil Kumar - 115 - Ballyeighan 1 vs Merrion 7 - Bird Avenue - 24 July 2011
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2015) - Neville Case (Halverstown) - 58 wkts @ 15.09
Most wickets in a Division 12 season - Azhar Abdullah (Cabinteely) - 26 wkts (2015)
Best bowling - Ivan Morgan - 7-36 - Railway Union 6 vs Adamstown 3 - Park Avenue - 31 Aug 2014
Most matches - Stephen Moore (Phoenix) - 43 - (2011-2014)
Highest team score - 333-9 - Adamstown 3 vs Dublin University 3 - Corkagh Park - 27 July 2014
Lowest team score - 12 all out - Merrion 7 vs Malahide 5 - Malahide - 15 Aug 2015
Adamstown 3 were the Division 12 winners in each of the last two seasons, and with them being promoted to bigger and better things, there is a wonderful opportunity for one of this year's participants to fill the gap. League titles have not exactly been rare for the nine teams in this season's Division 12 (only three haven't won a league title in the last ten years), but that doesn't make a league title any less coveted.
Dundrum in general have been one of the success stories of Leinster cricket of the last ten years, and Dundrum 3 in particular have been steadily rising up the ranks. Winners of Division 13 in 2014, they are well able to perform at this level. The problem for them is that lots of other teams are also well able to play at this level. In addition to that, Dundrum are still not 100% sure where they will be playing their matches this season. Put together, there exists enough to predict that Dundrum's steady rise up the leagues may come to a halt. Last year, the team broke into the top 100 of teams in Leinster for the first time, but 99th will not be good enough to stay up. Either there will be another big improvement,or Dundrum will go down.
Phoenix 5 are in a similar position to Dundrum in some respects. Champions of Division 13 last year, they are playing at a level that is right at the top of their recent history. So to stay up, they need a big improvement. So which of the teams above them will they beat? Unfortunately they have poor records of 1-5 against both Cabinteely 1 and Merrion 7, and haven't played against the other strong teams in the division. So any victories look to have to come against the others who we think will come in the bottom half. They have shared the two matches they have played with Dundrum 3 (indicating a similar level), and the only team they can face with confidence is Leinster 6, who they have beaten on both previous occasions they have played. So staying up is possible, but if we had to put money on, it would be to say Phoenix will come 8th.
Leinster 6 have had an existence that defies pigeon-holing. Four years ago they were very much on the top shelf, playing at a level nearly three divisions higher. Now though they are more like a piece of junk mail that has been kicked under the table, and will have to scrap hard to avoid relegation. The same position as last year would see them finish 6th, but against that is a truly awful record against nearly all their opponents. It is only against North County 5 that they have a winning record - and the haven't played Dundrum 3. They could be scrapping with Phoenix 5 for that 7th/8th place.
Malahide 5 have experienced the same fate as many of the bigger clubs in the province - slowly slipping down the rankings as new clubs have emerged in the last ten years. 2012 saw their peak of 76th spot, but since then there has been a slow fall. How much that fall can be prevented will determine their fate. Decent records against mid ranking team such as North County and Leinster indicate they will not struggle too much, and whilst trophies may be a step too far, they should manage a fairly comfortable 6th.
North County 5 finished last year well, but there problem again will be containing the runs on the bowler's graveyard that is Inch. Yet another lower team from a big club who have slipped down the leagues, County look to be similar to Malahide in many respects, and should finish neck and neck with their fellow Fingallians (albeit a bit further north). We'll predict 5th place.
The four remaining teams could probably finish in any order. Civil Service 3 have slipped three divisions since they won the Division 10 title in 2011, and need to stop the slide. Even last year's 87th place would equate to top this year, but how they fare against teams who they haven't played in the last six years is anyone's guess! Civil Service's year may be a bit tougher this year than previously - so we'll say they'll finish 4th.
Last year's 92nd place was only one place below Merrion 7th's previous best of 91 in 2011. Remarkably the team have never won a league title ,and whilst not red hot favourites, they have a decent chance this year. With Sandyford 2, Civil Service 3, Cabinteely 1 and Merrion 7 not meeting at all, in is , not surprisingly, those matches that are going to be crucial. Merrion to come 3rd.
Sandyford CC dropped a team this year, which may be no bad thing, and gives Sandyford 2 an excellent opportunity of winning Division 12. The have only played two of their opponents before, with good winning records over Leinster 6 and Malahide 5. But considering that they are playing three divisions lower than their previous worst finish in the league, they really have to be fancied. That lack of data against the other teams leaves an element of doubt though, and there has to be the odd surprise in sport, so we'll predict 2nd.
That just leaves Cabinteely 1, who we think may just win their first ever league crown. After the trauma of being forced out of their Kilbogget Park home last year, Cabinteely bounced back well on the pitch to finish third. They have finished between 89th and 91st in each of the three years of their existence, so at the very worst that is 2nd. The two matches against Sandyford will be crucial - but we think Cabinteely may pip them to the title.
North County 5 start the Division 12 season with a double weekend at home to Merrion 7 and Leinster 6 on April 16 and 17