As we contemplate the league tables for the Russell Court D1 and D2 midway through the season, attention is drawn to the number of points that are likely to be required to win the Divisions, to secure promotion and, of course, to survive.
Clontarf have opened up a one-match winning gap at the top of RCD1. This may not sound like much - but with their their form and the way in which other teams have been taking points off each other, it gives them a clear advantage going into the second half of the season. Given the likelihood that they will continue to pick up wins against most teams in the league, the real challenge for those chasing, Phoenix and North County, is not only that they have to beat Clontarf in the head to head games but they also have to maintain a near perfect run of wins in their other matches.
Phoenix have certainly been the most consistent side other than Clontarf and like the leaders have been able to pick from a reasonably stable squad of players. But it is asking a lot for them to beat Clontarf [in R8] and win perhaps another five out of their remaining six games. There is little or no room for a slip up.
North County have moved up and down the league table in the first half of the season. While few would doubt their ability on the day to defeat any other team their relative inconsistency would suggest that they will drop points in other games - which given the gap in wins and bonus points with the leaders - they cannot afford to do. Bottom line NC would probably have to win all their matches and still have to rely on Clontarf slipping up elsewhere.
The middle of the league table is a crowded place. With one match still outstanding, there could be three teams on three wins. For these the imperative is to do enough not to be dragged into a battle to avoid relegation. The Hills started the year well and looked to have had a good chance of contesting the title. Three losses and a No Result makes this difficult to imagine now. Injuries and missing players at key junctures have not helped. Much the same might be said of Pembroke who have rarely been able to field their full strength side.
YMCA and Leinster have a crucial re-fix still to play [August 27th apparently]. This could well prove crucial. Both teams will have to fight hard to avoid the play-off spot.
And finally, Cork County. Cork received a welcome boost last week when they chased over 200 in a T20 re-fixture to beat YMCA. It sets them up nicely for their return match with Leinster [R8] which, if they could win, would open the door to possible survival. But it will be a tough task with a squad that does not look strong enough to take many points from the top teams.
Merrion’s relegation from Division 1 last season is looking more like an abberation as each week goes by. It is not just that they are unbeaten in RCD2 but the number of bonus points they have accumulated is massive. At the mid-point they only need one more win to overhaul Dublin University and pretty much secure one of the possible promotion spots [North Kildare would have to win all their remaining matches and Merrion lose all theirs bar the one win to go ahead of DU]. Merrion can afford to lose two and possible three of their remaining matches and still come out on top.
For Malahide, their nearest rivals, a points gap of 71 in six games is a mountain to climb. But there is still plenty to play for and Malahide’s attention will be clearly focussed on the 206 points that DU have already in the bank. It might be possible to overtake the students with three wins and a mass of bonus points, but it will probably take four wins out of their remaining six games. Given that one of these is against Merrion, this puts a lot of pressure on the team to perform well every week.
Given the recent practice of Division 3 sides declining promotion - for the rest of the teams in D2 it is mainly about team development, pride in performance, local rivalries, and the chance of upsetting one of the top teams. But with four teams within a win of each other there will be some anxiety to avoid the bottom spots, just in case the team[s] in Division 3 have a change in heart and decide to take the promotion on offer.
What could go wrong. Well there was Brexit, Trump, the UK General Election and Macron [not to take sides] so we are living in a world full of surprises. Pressure on players - with cup runs to sustain and call-ups for representative duty - can affect the quality of teams turning out each week as well as leading to burn-out and injury. Some teams are more effected than others and it is probably no coincidence that the two sides at the top of RCD1 have no regular players on the Leinster Lightning sides. So it may come down to the strength of the squads and as always some luck at crucial times.