With attention moving northwards today for the IP50 match between the Northern Knights and the Leinster Lightning we have to wait until Sunday for the weekly fix of RSA D1/D2 league matches. A win for the Leinster Lightning today will secure their second title [they have already won the T20 competition]
In terms of the battle to avoid relegation this is the last opportunity for Phoenix [and indirectly Leinster] to save their season. A win against Pembroke is required to give Phoenix even a remote chance to escape the drop. Victory for Pembroke will give them a fifth win of the league campaign and would not only make it impossible for Phoenix to catch them and, unless Leinster can achieve an unlikely win against league leaders YMCA, effectively put Leinster out of reach of safety as well.
This round of the league will also determine if anyone can mount a challenge to YMCA. Merrion [v Railway] and The Hills [v North County] will both likely need victories to keep within one win of the leaders. With YMCA due to play Pembroke [who will probably be safe from relegation at this point] in the last match of the season, if they can open up a two win gap after this weekend it will be difficult for anyone to catch them. On the other hand if Merrion and The Hills can secure victories they each have matches against YMCA and the opportunity to stage a late push for the Championship.
There is very little at stake in D2 this weekend. The key match is that between Terenure and Balbriggan, with the former seeking points to overtake Merrion II and avoid the second relegation spot. Terenure, with four games to play, need one more win to pass Trinity and move into the second promotion spot. The other two matches between Malahide v Clontarf and Rush v Leinster II are unlikely to have any significant bearing on league outcomes.
Pundits predictions hopefully tomorrow.