Saying that, let's take it from the top with St Pat's Old Boys.

Before the season begun, we predicted that last year's runners up would do one better and take home the 2021/22 title. Instead, they are currently sitting in third place as the best one-loss team.

Although their high-standing, we haven't really learned a whole lot about them. Their two wins have come against a last-placed CYMS side and a victory against newcomers ORC way back in round one.

They lost against Orange City and are struggling to keep pace with Cavaliers this week. Could it be a case of a team that can't mix it with the best? I'm leaning no, but they certainly don't look like the world-beaters that we envisioned.

Next up we have Rugby Union, who we said would finish in second place and who currently sits in second place. A+ for us.

We know they've got the bats to chase down almost any target, but questions with the ball were always going to float around. Similarly to St Pat's, Rugby have so far avoided a key match up with Cavs due to the extensive rain suffered earlier in the season.

So while we are so far spot on with our prediction, I won't be confident Rugby are a force to be reckoned with until their round 11 matchup with the boys in maroon.

Speaking of...we picked Cavs to come in third and that is already looking like too low of a predication.

They have come out in blistering form with the bat. Hugh Middleton and Nick Crowley have already notched centuries, while captain Matt Corben was just a few runs away as well.

But they are far from a one trick pony. As devastating with the bat as they have been, I've always thought of Cavs as a team that looks to dominate with the ball...scary when you think about it. Yep, arguably, their strike force hasn't set things alight just yet.

If I could have one prediction back, it would be to place Cavs as minor premiers because their all-around talent is going to be extremely hard to beat going forward.

Another prediction that is looking pretty good however is that of Orange City. Last year's premiers were picked to finish fourth and currently sit fifth, with a gap between them and their next closest rival.

The loss of a few young players was always going to take its toll, but credit where credit is due, City have managed to scrape together enough to show that should they get into this season's finals series, they have as much chance as anyone to win it.

Can they continue to rely on performances like the one they got from Troy O'Keeffe (54) who was called up from second grade? Probably not, but those are the showings a team looking to find its identity needs to keep them in the hunt.

Taking up our final finals spot for the pre-season rankings was Bathurst City. Considering the whole they've dug themselves into during the current two-day game against Orange City, the Redbacks could conceivably head into the Christmas break second from the bottom in ninth.

A shortened season due to washouts means every playable game means that much more. If the Redbacks don't pick things up fast in the new year, they could quickly see their finals aspirations evaporate.

A prediction that looks a lot better after last Saturday is CYMS to finish in sixth.

They entered round six winless and in last place. But they have already claimed first innings points and will look to build on that this weekend.

Could this be the revival the green and golds need to turn their season around? They'll sure hope so, as first up after the break in the ninth place Centennials Bulls followed by a cross-town derby against Orange City. Is anyone brave enough to predict a hot streak coming?

On that note, we had the Bull to finish seventh this season, which still looks too high. With CYMS having already won on first innings this week, Centennials are the lone winless club left in the BOIDC.

Their top wicket-taker Mick Hutchinson (five) and runs scorer, Kurt Toole (119) both sit outside the top ten competition-wide. The Bulls will need big performances from both in the second half if they are to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.

This one seems a bit fishy. City Colts were tipped to finish eight, but currently sit one spot back of the finals in sixth, despite having just the one win to their name.

If there's one team I can't put my finger on, it's this one. You could tell me they will edge out City or Rugby for the last finals spot, or that they will drop back and finish in the bottom two, and neither answer would surprise me.

Centrals were last year's cellar dwellers and have have finally started to pick things up. A win in round five and a solid start to round six could see the red and blacks near the top five come the break. They will be hoping it's not just a fluke and this form with bat and ball continues.

That brings us to our last-placed prediction and undoubtedly the biggest error up to this point.

We thought we'd tipped a winner after ORC were thumped in round one, but the newcomers have pulled off a comeback of epic proportions. They currently sit fourth, having not lost since that opening day.

Who knows if this is for real, or if the opposition will adjust come the second half of the year, but fair to saw ORC have already shown enough to make us regret handing them the wooden spoon so early.

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