We come to the penultimate and critical round of the RSA OC League D1 for 2013. Tomorrow YMCA and The Hills battle it out for the Championship. Unless YMCA win handsomely, nothing will be finally decided until the last weekend but with both teams due then to play opponents from the lower reaches of the table [with nothing at stake for them], the winner tomorrow must be counted most likely to take the title.
YMCA probably start as favourites. They have already won the Leinster Senior Cup and were only defeated in the semi-final of the RSA Irish Senior Cup by the eventual winners, Clontarf. Although they have been known to collapse spectacularly, notably against Leinster two weeks ago, their all round strength should be enough to see them across the line. Jeremy Bray is in great form with the bat and is third overall in the D1 averages. Simmi Singh has taken most wickets in Leinster this year [34] and has been ably supported by Yacoub Ali who is now 4th in the averages. The Hills also have to contend with potential match winners in Reinhardt Strydom, Trent Johnston and Albert van der Merve.
Were YMCA to win they would become the 22nd team to do the domestic double – stretching back to 1940 when Merrion were the first to win both league and cup in the same year. The last team to do the double was Clontarf in 2009 and YMCA last achieved the feat in 1990 [when they also won the Alan Murray T20, the only team to achieve the hat-trick].
The Hills have got to this stage of the competition thanks to a number of fighting team performances that has enabled them to win key matches from unfavourable positions. While they have only one player [Mark Dwyer] at the top of the individual averages [third in bowling with 24 wickets], they have a host of all-rounders who are in top form. Nicolaas Pretorius and Nazeer Shoukat are among the top five All Rounders in Leinster this year and in Max Sorensen [who is 7th] have a player who is capable of tearing any attack apart.
All in all an intriguing prospect for anyone that can make it out to The Vineyard tomorrow. Match starts at 12.00
Although the eventual champions are likely to be one of the above two teams, Merrion will want to maintain pressure on the leaders in the hope that they slip up and Merrion can spring a late surprise. Merrion are at home to Pembroke and will be looking not only for a win but for maximum bonus points.
In the final two matches, Leinster v Phoenix and North County v Railway Union, it is really only pride at stake although mathematically Leinster can still catch Railway Union – but they have to make up 49 points over the remaining two games.
No team announcements unfortunately.