CRICKET: We are at that time of year which every cricket-follower dreads: the last weekend of August, the surest indication that the season is winding down with only a handful of Saturdays and Sundays remaining. But, of course, there are quite a few matches remaining, and several important ones at that, and at international, as well as local level.
Not least among them is the three-game play-off between Ireland and Denmark next weekend; a vital series this, with a place in next year's new Intercontinental Cup the glittering prize which is at at stake.
But more of this potentially nail-biting head-to-head anon; in the meantime, the states of play in both sections of the WMK-sponsored Leinster Senior League are heating up, and for those clubs in the top-dog, promotion and relegation stakes, this will be an important weekend indeed.
Last week's crushing five-wicket defeat by Pembroke on a Sydney Parade track which, it has been muttered, left much to be desired, toppled Munster Reds from their top place in Section A, without, ironically, definitely saving the host club from the prospect of relegation.
Though Munster Reds have a match in hand, Phoenix have gone to the top of the table, and they seem likely to improve on that situation at the expense of Railway Union, languishing in last position, at Park Avenue on Saturday.
Munster Reds, meanwhile, are at home at The Mardyke to Pembroke the same day, which should be an interesting encounter, to put it mildly.
Third-placed Malahide also have a game in hand, and should improve their lot in their away match to Railway on Sunday, while North County, the twice Royal Liver Cup winners, with two matches in hand, will hope to improve matters in their home game against Phoenix the same afternoon.
It may be tempting providence to say that in Section B, Clontarf, undefeated in all seven outings so far and leading the Section B table, look certain of promotion, since they have several away matches to play, a number of them re-arranged fixtures.
They take on Rush at Kenure on Saturday; Rush are second last in the table, but with Tifu Gull and Nazeer Shaukat high up on the Leinster bowling averages, Iain Synnott and his men won't be taking anything for granted.
The Hills are in hot pursuit, 36 points adrift of Clontarf in Section B. They will enjoy home advantage against Leinster at Milverton on Sunday, and will be favourites to win against a side which is in fifth spot on the table.
FIXTURES
SATURDAY
Leinster Senior League Section A (12.30): Merrion v North County, Anglesea Road; Railway Union v Phoenix, Park Avenue; Munster Reds v Pembroke, The Mardyke. Section B (12.30): Rush v Clontarf, Kenure; Old Belvedere v The Hills, Cabra.
North West League Section 1 (12.00): Fox Lodge v Drummond, Ballymagorry; Glendermott v Ardmore, The Rectory Field; Donamana v Brigade, The Holm; Strabane v Bready, Strabane Park.
SUNDAY
Leinster Senior League Section A (1.00): North County v Phoenix, Balrothery; Railway Union v Malahide, Park Avenue. Section B: The Hills v Leinster, Milverton, 12.30.
North West League Section 1 (1.00): Eglinton v Limavady; Eglinton; Glendermott v Strabane, The Rectory Field; Fox Lodge v Ardmore, Ballymagorry.
UMPIRES:
SATURDAY: Leinster Senior League Section A: At Anglesea Road: P Byrne, G Lyons; At The Mardyke: E Gilmour, M Russell; At Park Avenue: L Hogan, D Walsh. Section B: At Cabra: S Daultrey, T Byrne; At Kenure: G Black, N Parnell. Senior 2 League: At Rathmines: L Hewson, B Noone. Senior 3 League: At Balrothery: P Cooke, N Adams.
SUNDAY: Leinster Senior League Section A: At Park Avenue: S Daultrey, N Parnell; At Balrothery: R O'Reilly, P Thew. Section B: At Milverton: G Black, G Lyons. Senior 2 League: At Portlaoise: D Thompson, J Fennell; At Civil Service CC: P Cooke, J Ford.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE TABLES
at August 24th, 2003
SECTION A
P W L NR B PTS PTS
Phoenix 10 7 3 - 36 176
Munster Reds 9 6 2 1 14 142
Malahide 9 6 3 - 15 135
North County 8 5 2 1 19 127
Merrion 9 3 6 - 19 79
Pembroke 8 1 7 - 27 47
Railway Union 7 1 6 - 15 35
SECTION B
P W L NR B PTS PTS
Clontarf 7 7 - - 16 156
The hills 8 5 2 - 12 120
CYM 11 4 7 - 35 115
Old belvedere 9 4 5 - 19 99
Leinster 8 4 4 - 17 97
Rush 8 3 4 1 23 91
YMCA 11 3 8 - 28 81
YMCA penalised 7 points for delay in sending in Umpires' reports.
