Where there's a will
It's usually a given that the team languishing at the foot of a divisional table during the half way point of the season will be one of two to go down.
It's especially true in cricket considering it's an individual team sport. Poor performing teams tend to lack the personnel to drag themselves from the mire.
As we play the final round of matches before the second half begins, you'd be a brave man to bet against Llangwm, Cresselly 2nds, Whitland 2nds and Haverfordwest 4ths from avoiding the drop while Stackpole 2nds look odds on for winning the most wooden of spoons.
All hope is lost then unless you take the St Louis Blues as inspiration.
In January, during the regular season of North America's National Hockey League, they were bottom of their division.
A talented group on paper, they were playing like a rag bag bunch, unable to string a run of results together to dig their way out of the hole.
Things were so bad they considered putting their entire squad up on the trading block, they dumped their coach and introduced a player who was so far removed form the first team at the start of the season he may have been playing tiddlywinks.
The change worked. Slowly but surely the Blues started playing like champs from chumps.
Two weeks ago, they were crowned Stanley Cup Winners; the first title win in their 52 year history. The best winning run in the history of America's top four sports.
Better than anything in American Football, Basketball, Baseball and Ice Hockey.
Unprecedented stuff then.
Whether or not any of today's bottom clubs can string a run of results together remains to be seen, some could if they flood their seconds with first teamers which has happend in the past.
The likelyhood is however, the writing is on the cards.
The same can not be said for the title chasers.
Neyland are ruling the roost in division one, Llechryd in division two and Lamphey in division three but none of those titles are guaranteed either.
Neyland have a 41 point cushion over Lawrenny, Llechryd an 18 point gap over Narberth and Lamphey lead Llanrhian by 16 points.
In division four, Neyland 2nds are top on 234 with Tish 2nds on 205 while Hundleton are riding high in the fifth leading Whitland 3rds by 7.
The pressure is on then and a run of defeats is not unknown.
Narberth in recent years have been smashing all before them before capitulating at the end of a campaign. It happened for Llangwm too when they were in division two before they finally broke fee of their shackles to play in a division their talent deserves.
Neyland, you'd think, would have enough experience and talent to keep clear of the chasing pack but Lawrenny are not to be underestimated and could easily chip away at that lead.
Things are different in division two however. Narberth could pip Llechryd but there's a sense the Ceredigion based club could be in line for a spell with the big boys.
They are slowly growing their club. A thriving junior section is paying dividends while John Curran's talent is being fulfilled having scored three tons already this season.
Finally, he's letting his cricket do the talking.
Division three is a different one to predict. Lamphey lead the way as they did this stage last season before a run of results saw them slip down the table and at real risk of relegation.
Herbie were the form team until the Stags beat them last week so even though they are third, there's enough firepower within their ranks to ensure they don't miss out on a trip to the second division.
Llanrhian meanwhile, just keep picking up results.
In the fourth, something monumental will have to go wrong for Neyland or Tish stiffs not to get promoted.
Tish are in second on 205 points while Llanrhian 2nds are third on 148. A gap of 57 points, too much to make up surely?
In the fifth, the title is Hundleton's to lose.
Nothing can ever be taken for granted in cricket. A century one week can result in a duck the next. Teams will always pull off a shock result but whether or not they can pull off a string of them remains to be seen.
But where there's a will, there's a way.
Team of the week
1. Nigel Delaney 127 not out Llanrhian v Llangwm 2nds
2. Kyle Quartermaine 115 not out Narberth v Johnston
3. Richard Reed 109 Llanrhian v Llangwm 2nds
4. John Curran 106 Llechryd v Pembroke Dock
5. Richard Mackay 98 Stackpole v Haverfordwest 3rds
6. Ollie Roberts 84 not out Llechryd 2nds v Burton 2nds
7. Tom Davies 82 and 4-43 Carew v Cresselly
8. Ross Grieve 83 Carew 3rds v H'west 4ths
9. Had Luff 82 Narberth v Johnston
9. Nic Koomen 83 Neyland v Haverfordwest
10. Simon Bevan 5-8 Stackpole v Haverfordwest 4ths
11. Brad McDermott Jenkins 5-16 Lawrenny v St Ishmaels
It's especially true in cricket considering it's an individual team sport. Poor performing teams tend to lack the personnel to drag themselves from the mire.
As we play the final round of matches before the second half begins, you'd be a brave man to bet against Llangwm, Cresselly 2nds, Whitland 2nds and Haverfordwest 4ths from avoiding the drop while Stackpole 2nds look odds on for winning the most wooden of spoons.
All hope is lost then unless you take the St Louis Blues as inspiration.
In January, during the regular season of North America's National Hockey League, they were bottom of their division.
A talented group on paper, they were playing like a rag bag bunch, unable to string a run of results together to dig their way out of the hole.
Things were so bad they considered putting their entire squad up on the trading block, they dumped their coach and introduced a player who was so far removed form the first team at the start of the season he may have been playing tiddlywinks.
The change worked. Slowly but surely the Blues started playing like champs from chumps.
Two weeks ago, they were crowned Stanley Cup Winners; the first title win in their 52 year history. The best winning run in the history of America's top four sports.
Better than anything in American Football, Basketball, Baseball and Ice Hockey.
Unprecedented stuff then.
Whether or not any of today's bottom clubs can string a run of results together remains to be seen, some could if they flood their seconds with first teamers which has happend in the past.
The likelyhood is however, the writing is on the cards.
The same can not be said for the title chasers.
Neyland are ruling the roost in division one, Llechryd in division two and Lamphey in division three but none of those titles are guaranteed either.
Neyland have a 41 point cushion over Lawrenny, Llechryd an 18 point gap over Narberth and Lamphey lead Llanrhian by 16 points.
In division four, Neyland 2nds are top on 234 with Tish 2nds on 205 while Hundleton are riding high in the fifth leading Whitland 3rds by 7.
The pressure is on then and a run of defeats is not unknown.
Narberth in recent years have been smashing all before them before capitulating at the end of a campaign. It happened for Llangwm too when they were in division two before they finally broke fee of their shackles to play in a division their talent deserves.
Neyland, you'd think, would have enough experience and talent to keep clear of the chasing pack but Lawrenny are not to be underestimated and could easily chip away at that lead.
Things are different in division two however. Narberth could pip Llechryd but there's a sense the Ceredigion based club could be in line for a spell with the big boys.
They are slowly growing their club. A thriving junior section is paying dividends while John Curran's talent is being fulfilled having scored three tons already this season.
Finally, he's letting his cricket do the talking.
Division three is a different one to predict. Lamphey lead the way as they did this stage last season before a run of results saw them slip down the table and at real risk of relegation.
Herbie were the form team until the Stags beat them last week so even though they are third, there's enough firepower within their ranks to ensure they don't miss out on a trip to the second division.
Llanrhian meanwhile, just keep picking up results.
In the fourth, something monumental will have to go wrong for Neyland or Tish stiffs not to get promoted.
Tish are in second on 205 points while Llanrhian 2nds are third on 148. A gap of 57 points, too much to make up surely?
In the fifth, the title is Hundleton's to lose.
Nothing can ever be taken for granted in cricket. A century one week can result in a duck the next. Teams will always pull off a shock result but whether or not they can pull off a string of them remains to be seen.
But where there's a will, there's a way.
Team of the week
1. Nigel Delaney 127 not out Llanrhian v Llangwm 2nds
2. Kyle Quartermaine 115 not out Narberth v Johnston
3. Richard Reed 109 Llanrhian v Llangwm 2nds
4. John Curran 106 Llechryd v Pembroke Dock
5. Richard Mackay 98 Stackpole v Haverfordwest 3rds
6. Ollie Roberts 84 not out Llechryd 2nds v Burton 2nds
7. Tom Davies 82 and 4-43 Carew v Cresselly
8. Ross Grieve 83 Carew 3rds v H'west 4ths
9. Had Luff 82 Narberth v Johnston
9. Nic Koomen 83 Neyland v Haverfordwest
10. Simon Bevan 5-8 Stackpole v Haverfordwest 4ths
11. Brad McDermott Jenkins 5-16 Lawrenny v St Ishmaels
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