The sixth round of the OCD1/OCD2 leagues take place this weekend. The feature match is between second placed The Hills who are at home to YMCA [3rd]. The Hills will be anxious to bounce back from their loss to North County last weekend and to regain the top spot in the league. With YMCA missing key player Reinhardt Strydom the visitors may struggle against a strong home batting line-up.
At the other end of the table, the contest between Leinster and Phoenix may represent the last realistic chance for one of these teams to plot an escape from relegation. Phoenix, with one win in the league to date and home advantage, probably start as favourites but Leinster have shown some improvement in form in recent weeks and will know that this is their best opportunity to secure their first win.
North County are on a good run at the moment and will be anxious to take this form into their match against Railway Union in Park Avenue. Railway will be hoping that either Kevin O’Brien or Pat Collins can put in another match winning performance, but overall North County look the stronger.
Normally Merrion might be expected to be favourites for the match against Pembroke at Sydney Parade but a string of injuries means that Merrion will be fielding a much weaker side than normal. Pembroke certainly won’t have a better chance this season to get a win against their local rivals.
The most important match in D2 also involves Merrion whose 2nd XI take on Balbriggan in a match that will have an important bearing on the relegation battle. With five or six regular players facing call up to a depleted 1st XI, Balbriggan will start as strong favourites.
The other two matches are Leinster II v Terenure and Malahide v Rush. With a strong team available it is difficult to see anything other than a victory for Terenure. There is only one point between evenly matched Malahide and Rush and whoever wins will be in a position to challenge Trinity for third place in the league [by the end of the season].
Teams for the Weekend
Terenure [v Leinster II] T Fischer, D van Zyl, R Lawrence, B Hoey, E Ahmed, T Lynch, K McDonald, T Williamson, M Hoey, U Jehangir, J Smith.
Phoenix [v Leinster] M Ahmed, C Dickeson, D Magala, R Jeggels, S Ali, T Anders, A Leonard, B Adams, S Davis, S Raza
Merrion II [v Balbriggan] K Beasley, A Parkinson, I Joyce, r Watkins, J Short, N Kenny, A Ragavan, H Kennedy, R Bridge, R Ensor, R Walsh.
Merrion I [v Pembroke] D Watkins, D Poder, N Rowe, S McDonald, S Morrissey, P Blakeney, J Blakeney, S Saharen, A O’Brien, P Tice, A N Other.
YMCA [v The Hills] A van der Merve, J Bray, R Garth, S Mcauley, S Singh, Y Shah, J Cassidy, J Tector, T Johnston, A Lewis, B Gamble.