Another important weekend for Division 1 in Leinster, and some things at least are a little clearer. The contest between the two top teams resulted in a win for the leaders Clontarf [over Pembroke] and there is now clear water between themselves and the chasing pack [Pembroke and The Hills]. With only four matches to play it is Clontarf’s title to lose.
At the other end of the table, Phoenix’s loss to The Hills [their fourth in a row] means that they are now in real danger of being dragged into the relegation battle. The three teams below them all have matches in hand and depending on the distribution of the points from these matches all four temas coudl be closely bunched going into the final four rounds of competition. But the main priority for Phoenix must be to start winning again. Their next match is against YMCA and this will be a crucial game for both sides.
Finally, North County’s win over Railway makes it even more difficult for the Sandymount club. Already struggling to play matches in Park Avenue [and awaiting the outcome of an appeals hearing about a refixed match v YMCA] they may need to win three out of their four remaining scheduled matches to get out of trouble. With their next match away to Clontarf - this will not be an easy task.
There were some notable performances in the three matches played over the weekend [YMCA v Merrion was postponed because of the Womens Ireland v South Africa international].
Another half century for Alex Cusack provided the backbone for the Clontarf innings but it was a run a ball 35* from schoolboy David Delany that ensured the Clontarf victory by three wickets. And it was the young attack from Pembroke [David Murphy, Fiachra Tucker and Benn Hoey] that took the wickets for Pembroke. In the Pembroke innings Lorcan Tucker continued his good form with 87 out of a score of 194 all out. Sameer Dutt, who bowled his ten over for 32 and took three wickets, was again the pick of the Clontarf bowlers.
North County used seven bowlers and all got a wicket as Railway made 149 with only Mohammad Tariq [45] and Kenny Carroll [34] making a telling contribution. Four wickets for Charity Fernando ensured that North County had to work for their win - which was mainly down to an undefeated 44 by Eddie Richardson. North County by four wickets
In the final game Max Sorensen [3/28] took out the Phoenix top order and then left it to Albert van der Merve [4/44] to wrap up the innings. In between a fighting 51 from Adam Chester ensured that Phoenix had some sort of total to defend. But 169 was never enough and Max Sorensen finished up a good all round performance with 82 in 63 balls to bring The Hills home by six wickets.