The weekend saw a significant tightening in the spread of points at the top of the RSA Open Competitions Division 1. With Merrion and The Hills losing and YMCA and North County winning – all these teams are now joined on four wins out of six matches. With one round still to go to complete the first cycle of matches, it is now all to play for in the race for the league title.
Matters are a little clearer in terms of relegation. Phoenix lost out in the ‘head to head’ with Leinster and were thus unable to provide the foundation for a move up the table. With a difficult away match against The Hills next weekend they are likely to reach the halfway stage with at least a two win gap to make up on the third last team. Leinster are in the same position [the one win against Phoenix] and will hope that they can manage a win against an out of form Railway next weekend to give them some hope that they can avoid relegation.
Although Pembroke don’t look like they have the resources to mount a challenge for the league, they will be very pleased to have achieved a close victory over Merrion on Saturday. This provides them with some breathing space going into the second half of the season. Railway Union, after losing their last match to North County, are also on three wins and will be keen to record a win against bottom placed Leinster next week.
Interest in the fate of D2 is waning rapidly. Even though they had no match at the weekend, Clontarf’s 100% record so far this season means that it is likely to prove a gentle coast to the winning line. Terenure [there only challenger] managed another win but it is difficult to see them overhauling Clontarf this year.
The battle for the second relegation spot took a decisive turn. With both clubs fielding weakened teams, Merrion were able to draw on their stronger reserves to record a full point win over Balbriggan. The 42 point gap between the two teams is a lot to make up given the difficulty both will have in getting wins against the leading teams.
There were a number of outstanding individual performances over the weekend. None was more valuable than the 4/19 and 38 from Pembroke’s, Brenton McDonald, that provided the difference between the two sides. Simmi Singh also put in a strong all round performance for YMCA in their win over YMCA. Opening the bowling to took 3/18 in 10 overs and followed up with 29* to see YMCA home by six wickets.
Unfortunately there are no scorecards up for the other two D1 matches or for any of the D2 matches. However, it is worth recording that Isobel Joyce, batting at number 3 for Merrion II, scored the first ever half century by a woman cricketer in senior [D1/D2] cricket.