It been over a month since we last had to preview the fortunes of teams in the Premier league. The long mid-season break to allow for cup competitions and the T20 series can make it seem as it one is starting the season afresh. And for some clubs that is probable the best approach. But if it is potentially a new start - the teams are at different places on the grid.
So first a quick recap. With five wins in the first series of matches Merrion and Clontarf are out in front and with bonus points have a one match winning margin over the rest of the field. Leinster currently occupy the bottom step and are pretty much on their own - with only one win to their name so far this season. The remaining five teams are bunched in the middle [27 points separate the teams] and could either make a dash for honours or drop into the relegation zone. So Leinster have most to do to bring about a change in fortune and for the rest pretty much everything else is up for grabs. We said at the start of the season that it promised to be a very competitive year - nothing has changed since.
So on to today. Four matches and due to a scheduling change this is the first time the teams have met in the league. So it is only after today that all teams will have played each other at least once and we can truly say we are turning into the back straight.
We start with what is probably the most important tie of the season for Leinster. Although all points are equal whatever round they occur, Leinster need to put together a winning run [like they did last season to become champions] to get them out of trouble. It is not the last chance - but it is close to it if they cannot secure a victory.
As it turns out they have a window of opportunity today against YMCA who are missing key players in captain Jack Tector, Simi Singh, Andrew Blair White and James Parkinson. With two league debutants - SJ deKlerk and Thompson Mitchell - they field a young, talented but inexperienced team. Herein lies the opportunity for Leinster if they can grasp it.
Leinster look to be at around full strength and the fact that they have only listed 10 players I suspect is not over confidence but a typing error. I am presuming the missing name is wicket-keeper Ian O’Herlihy.
Leinster: G. Dockrell [C], G. Delany, C. Mallon, M. Patel, J. Carroll, J.P. O'Dwyer, A. Clough, D. Coad, S. Bahadur, A. Ahmed
YMCA: Harry Tector [C], Oliver Gunning, Sam Murphy [W], Bobby Gamble, Jarred Barnes, Padraic Flanagan, Aviral Shukla, Tim Tector, SJ deKlerk, Thompson Mitchell, Asher Abassi
An away game v Clontarf is probably not the fixture that Pembroke would have chosen for the return to league cricket. Clontarf have been going well in all competitions and have put together a strong squad [Andrew Poynter and Conor Kelly are absent from the normal team]. This is a big weekend for Clontarf with an ISC quarter final v CSNI in Stormont tomorrow. Clontarf will need the squad to stay fit if they are to mount a challenge across all the tournaments they are still in. But with the focus on today, where they can take the top spot if Merrion slip up, they look to be in good shape.
The Band of Brothers that is Pembroke had a difficult start to the season but managed a couple of big wins against rival Phoenix to keep them in touch with the peloton. But they have a daunting weekend ahead - Clontarf today and a mammoth task tomorrow when they travel to Waringstown in the ISC. Their batting has improved of late with runs coming from Fiachra Tucker, Theo Lawson and Andrew Balbirnie and they have Lorcan Tucker back from his time with Trinity. But they will need them all to fire over the two games if they are to get the results they want, especially as their quick bowling without Josh Little is looking a little light.
Clontarf: Joe Morrissey, Declan Gallagher, Obus Pienaar, David Delany, Robert Forrest [W], Sameer Dutt, Bill Coghlan, Shariful Islam, Waqar Azmat, Faisal Zaman, Asim Nasir.
Pembroke: Tucker F [C], Tucker L [W], Tucker, D, Lawson T, Lawson P, Balbirnie A, Garth J, Ridley A, Gupta, S, Hoey, B, Hoey G.
Phoenix make the long trip to Strabane tomorrow but before that they have a tricky encounter with an improving North County side who are shaping up to mount a challenge for honours. This is a very important match for both teams. Phoenix have given up valuable points to Pembroke, their main rival at the moment towards the bottom end of the league table, but have shown that on their day they can beat any team. Phoenix have won all three of their home games this year - so they will hope that they extend that run today. Phoenix look to be at close to full strength and bring in Dave Vernon for his first league game.
For North County a win is important to keep pressure on Clontarf and Merrion. If they can post a solid total [assuming they are batting first] they will know that they been successful in defence in their four wins [and 4/5 times]. They have yet to successfully chase. So the toss could be important. But overall North County are looking strong with a well balanced side and will be very hopeful of being in with a shout for honours come September.
Phoenix: Tom Anders [C], Rory Anders, Adam Chester,
Ben White, Fletcher Coutts , Brad Kneebone, Sine Tsotsa [W], Gordy Millar, Dave Vernon , Louis McDonagh, Reinhardt Strydom
North County: Niall McGovern [C}, Jamie Grassi, Malcolm Nofal, Jonno Andrews, Eddie Richardson, Andy Sheridan, Safdar Ali, Craig May, Cian Mulvanny, Sean Kingston, Adam Coughlan.
The final game is between current leaders Merrion and The Hills at The Vineyard. It is another busy weekend for Merrion with a ISC QF v Leinster at Anglesea Road tomorrow. Merrion have used the last month to rotate their squad and a number of players have been given opportunities. Today Bravesh Lakhotia comes into the side after some good scores opening for the 2nd XI and JJ Walsh returns with his off-spin. The only player unavailable is Max Neville who is still injured. David Lankford Smith is added to the squad tomorrow.
The Hills got off a relatively poor start to the season losing four of their five games up to the end of May. But they turned this around in June with two big wins. The retirement and return to Australia of Sean Terry is certainly a loss but there is good momentum behind the team which they will hope to bring forward into today’s home game.
Overall there is little to choose between the two sides based on their recent record - The Hills have won five matches to Merrion’s 4 - and a close contest is in prospect.
Merrion [weekend]: D Joyce [C], T Stanton [C], P Tice, J Anderson, J Carty, P Mehta, M Lewis, B Lakhotia, JJ Walsh, T Kane, D Langford Smith,
The Hills: Nicolaas Pretorius [C], Harry Archer
Mark Donegan [W], Max Sorensen, Daya Singh, Albert van der Merwe, Tomas Rooney Murphy, Nazeer Shoukat, Andy Kavanagh, Luke Clinton, Killian Everard
Note: Phoenix v North County is an 11.00 start