After this weekend the Russell Court OC Division 1 League will have passed the quarter way stage in the season. The first season check point comes at the end of May so we should be in a position to get at least a sense of how the league is unfolding.
There are only three matches this weekend - the YMCA v Leinster game is off due to ground unavailability. All matches starting at the normal time of 13.00
Pembroke v Cork County
Clontarf v North County
The Hills v Phoenix
Cork County are the team most under pressure in the league at present. Without a win in three games they need to turn things around and will hope to spring a surprise on a Pembroke side that has itself got off to a somewhat shaky start in the league. Last weekend it was Pembroke’s batting that let them down when they were well beaten by Phoenix - so they will be happy to see the return of Andrew Balbirnie from international duty. Josh Little also returns to bolster their attack in what looks like a near full strength team for this stage of the season.
Pembroke: Lawson P [C], Balbirnie A, Balbirnie J, Cutler N, Garth JJ, Hogan D, Hopkins R, Lawson T [W], Little J, Tucker F, Tucker D
Clontarf v North County promises to be an interesting test of nerves. On paper Clontarf look the stronger side with Andrew Poynter playing for the first time this season and David Delany and Bill Coghlan returning from injury. But will NC be able to exploit the lack of match practice in some players. Clontarf’s record against North County has been less than par [5:6] over the past six years.
In R3 Clontarf demolished Leinster thanks mainly to a rapid century from Brad Barnes. The North County attack should prove more of a test but will it be able to handle the very strong Clontarf batting line-up.
There are a number of changes on the NC side with Manmeet Singh, Craig May and Conor Sheil all returning. They are joined by Ankit Gugale who plays his first game.
North County: Eddie Richardson (C) Jamie Grassi (WK) Conor Sheil, Terry Richardson, Manmeet Singh, Jono Andrews, Niall McGovern, Adam Coughlan, Cian Mulvaney, Ankit Gugale, Craig May.
Clontarf: Joe Morrissey [C], Declan Gallagher, Waqar Azmat, Sameer Dutt, Conor Kelly, Robert Forrest, John Mooney, Brad Barnes, Andrew Poynter, Bill Coghlan, David Delany. Ropu Islam is unavailable.
The final game is perhaps the pick of the round. The Hills have had a great start to the season and if they can win this one they have a chance for a good run as they take on Leinster and Cork before they go head-to-head with Clontarf. Phoenix have won two from three and have proved a much stronger team this year than last. They are at close to full strength with Adam Chester back from exams. It should be an interesting contest and a real test of The Hills’ championship ambitions.
Phoenix: Phoenix: Nicolaas Pretorius [C/W], Reinhardt Strydom, Ari Karvelas, Tom Anders, Ben White, Rory Anders, Andy Brawders, Ian Anders, Gordy Millar, Graham Morris, Adam Chester.
No team-sheets from Cork County or The Hills.