Cricket Preview: If the form book is anything to go by, North County should wrap up Section A of the WMK League today with a win over bottom team The Hills at Inch.
County are unbeaten in 10 league games and only the rain has been able to slow what looks an unstoppable march towards their second successive senior league title.
In contrast, The Hills have had a dismal time of it recently, winning just one league game in nine outings. The thought of travelling to Balrothery to take on the province's top two batsmen, André Botha and Conor Armstrong, with nearly 2,000 runs between them, along with leading wicket-taker Nathan Palmer (47 scalps) won't fill the Milverton men with much joy, particularly as they are currently 54 points beneath the relegation line. Expect County to have sewn up the title by close of play.
As has been the case all season, Section B of the league is by far the more interesting of the two. The fact that any two sides of four could be promoted indicates how close it is at the top with most sides left with just one or two matches to play.
Rush host Old Belvedere in Kenure and are odds-on to top the table. YMCA can go a long way to securing the second promotion place if they beat Pembroke today and Leinster tomorrow. Merrion and CYM, who play Pembroke and Leinster respectively, are also still very much in contention.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday: WMK League Section A: Clontarf v Munster Reds, North County v The Hills, Railway Union v Phoenix Section B: Leinster v CYM, Rush v Old Belvedere, Pembroke v YMCA.
Sunday: Section A: Malahide v Munster Reds Section B: Pembroke v Merrion, Leinster v YMCA.
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