RSA Division 6
2012 Champion - YMCA 3
2011-12 Top run scorer: R Padmanaban (Sandyford) 743 runs at 46.44
2011-12 Top wicket taker: A Burke (Sandyford) 40 wkts at 14.40
Hopefully none of the clubs in Division 6 will take offence, but whereas some divisions have looked like having all the teams capable of topping the table, Division 6 is the opposite. Let me explain.
The eight teams contain two new teams, five who were in this division last year, and one that came up from Division 7. Let's have a look at them in detail, starting with the new teams.
The game's expansion across the province in the last few years has now moved into the far north-west, with Longford joining Cricket Leinster having played in Connacht previously. Division 6 may be too high, but will provide a fantastic opportunity for cricket in the county. The club have been working feverishly to get their new ground in Newtownforbes ready, and it played it's historic first match last weekend - Longford beating Slieve Bloom. It's difficult to work out how the season will go, but it's difficult to see a promotion.
The other "new" team is Railway Union 4. An influx of players into Park Avenue in the spring meant that the club could step into the shoes of Leinster 4, and have been busy sorting out grounds and fixtures. With everything now ready, the only question is now - how will they play? Last year Railway Union 4 were in Division 11, so the question is are their new players good enough to make up a five division difference? It's certainly not impossible, but as with Longford, it seems unlikely.
Of the five teams that played in Division 6 last year, all finished between 3rd and 7th. Merrion 4 were in 3rd with 63% and for that reason look best placed to do well this year. Early signs are that Merrion as a club will be more or less on par with last year, so the 4ths may be looking good.
Terenure finished 4th in 2012 on 49%, and the 2nds of a Division 1/2 club should be higher than Division 6. This may be the season to do it, with a strengthened first team having knock on effects throughout the club. Phoenix 3 and Rush 2 were next in the pile, and nothing has happened over the winter to change anything there. Phoenix will have improved, but whether that is enough to overtake a stengthened Terenure, only time will tell.
The final team of the 2012 Division 6 quintet is Castleknock. Parachuted into Division 6 for their first season in 2012, Castleknock (or Clonee as they were known then) struggled in some ways, but they will be back this year older and wiser.
Finally, we come to North Kildare 2, who finished third in Division 7 last year. They won't be threatening the promotion race this year, but no reason why they shouldn't survive relegation.
Prediction - Merrion 4 to be run away winners, with Terenure 2 and Phoenix 3 to fight over second place