Sport

Survival is focus of busy weekend

Cricket/WMK League preview: With North County well out in front at the top of the WMK League, the excitement in Section A could…

James Fitzgerald
Sat Aug 27 2005 - 01:00

Cricket/WMK League preview: With North County well out in front at the top of the WMK League, the excitement in Section A could come at the other end with three sides trying to avoid the two relegation spots.

Without a win so far in the league, it looks like Munster Reds are favourites to go down but with just six matches played, they could still avoid the drop.

However, it doesn't help their cause much having to play the undefeated County today, albeit at home in the Mardyke.

Rush are currently holding that second relegation position but, with three games in hand over CYM and just two points behind, they must feel confident they can wriggle out of it. They will know a lot more by close of play tomorrow as they play two difficult games, against Clontarf in Castle Avenue today and Malahide at Kenure tomorrow.

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CYM also have a double weekend and they know nothing less than two wins will be good enough. Today they travel to play Phoenix while tomorrow they host Clontarf in Terenure, hoping the absence of Jeremy Bray (foot injury) will affect Clontarf's batting.

Section B looks a lot tighter at the top with YMCA, The Hills and Railway Union battling for the two promotion spots.

YM had been in pole position but defeat to Merrion on Thursday was a serious setback. They have a chance to remedy that situation today with the rematch against the Anglesea Road side in what has been a happy hunting ground for Johnny Harte and his team recently.

If YM can win today in what is their final game of the season, they should have done enough to go up, particularly as The Hills and Railway still have to play each other. If not, they could see themselves miss out in favour of the other two. Those two early defeats to The Hills could prove the difference when the gear is finally put away for the winter.

FIXTURES: Saturday - WMK League (12.30) Section A: Clontarf v Rush, Phoenix v CYM, Munster Reds v North County. Section B: Merrion v YMCA, Pembroke v Old Belvedere. Sunday - WMK League (12.30) Section A: CYM v Clontarf, Rush v Malahide. Section B: Merrion v The Hills