Top four clash as title race hots up
THE top four sides in Hongkong's Connaught Saturday League meet head-on today.
Leaders Little Sai Wan take on fourth-placed Kai Tak at Mission Road and second-placed Nomads meet third-placed Crusaders at So Kon Po.
Sai Wan, who have never won the Saturday League, have 132 points from 14 matches, two ahead of Nomads, the holders, who have also played 14. Crusaders have 127 points from 14 and Kai Tak have 119 from 13.
The title run-in sees Little Sai Wan play Kai Tak, Sentinels and Witherers; Nomads play Crusaders, Gap Ramblers and Craigengower; Crusaders play Nomads, Saracens and Hongkong University; and Kai Tak play Little Sai Wan, Diocesan Boys' School, Islanders and Centaurs.
In the Connaught Sunday League tomorrow, leaders Scorpions have a bye, meaning Templars, Optimists and Infidels can all close the gap.
Scorpions have 211 points from 13 matches, Templars have 198 from 12, Optimists 196 from 12 and Infidels 192 from 13.
Tomorrow, Templars entertain Little Sai Wan at Kowloon Cricket Club, Optimists play Vagabonds at Mission Road and Infidels visit Hongkong Cricket Club to take on Wanderers.
The run-in for the four leaders, starting with tomorrow's programme, is: Scorpions bye, Optimists, Templars, Wanderers; Templars v Little Sai Wan, Wanderers, Scorpions, British Forces; Optimists v Vagabonds, Scorpions, Infidels, Little Sai Wan; Infidels vWanderers, Indian Recreation Club, Optimists.
Scorpions welcome back all-rounder Warren Symcox for the rest of the season, but Optimists have lost the services of James Barrington, Richard Nuttall, Mark Wiggett and Phil Grange.
