OCD2 League Update and Averages

Division II is building up nicely into an intriguing contest between Leinster, Balbriggan and Cork County for the title and the second ‘play-off’ spot. First of all the current leaders are still Dublin University. They can expect to be overhauled by Leinster with one or at most two wins from their remaining four games. Balbriggan and Cork County need 73 and 82 respectively to overtake the students from five games. Let us say three wins and some bonus points each. So there is a chance that both teams could fail to get enough points to reach second place - but this is unlikely. 

Leinster are the clear favourites but they are by no means out of sight. And as their recent form against North Kildare has shown they are capable of losing games that they might be expected to win. Their first hurdle is a trip to the Mardyke on Bank Holiday Monday. Were they to lose this then it would really open up the title race. 

Leinster are still favourites to take the title. But the contest for runners up is much closer. Balbriggan have their nose ahead and with Cork still having to play Leinster - are in the stronger position. But Balbriggan still have to travel to Cork for the last game of the season - it could easily prove to be a winner takes all match.  

So Cork have to try to stay within @20 points of Balbriggan and hope that they can win the final match. The run in for the two teams leading up to their head to head is as follows:

Balbriggan have to play : Malahide, Terenure, North Kildare and Rush.

Cork have to play - Leinster, Malahide, Terenure, North Kildare 

The league table below includes the points for the North Kildare win over Leinster - the scorecard of which still has to be verified.

In terms of the batting and the bowling averages the thresholds have been set at 300 runs and 15 wickets. The tables include all D2 league and Leisnter Senior CUp matches. DU players who split their season with a D1 club are not included but will of course be part of the overall Senior Averages that brings together the runs / wickets from D1/D2 and LSC. 

In the batting the form of Stephen Doheny of Rush has been very impressive and he has scored over 500 runs and leads the batting averages. In the bowling Matt Petrie is still top of the table but will not have enough wickets to stay there for the rest of the season. Stephen Grobler [Cork] with 22 wickets [best 6/17] is having a great season with bat and ball. George Dockrell, playing for Trinity and Leinster, is the other player to figure on both tables. 

Batting Averages: Threshold 300 Runs [24th July]

Bowling Averages: Threshold 15 Wickets [24th July]