INSTONIANS ended the season as they began it, with victory over North Down, and this time they have a trophy to show for it.

Captain John Stevenson praised the "great team spirit" in a difficult season, and then lifted the ClubTurf Ulster Cup after Regan West and Andrew White (right) had put on an undefeated 123 for the third wicket to take them past North Down's 206 for five. White was named man of the match for his 70 not out from just 54 balls, edging out the returning West, who finished on 84.

It was White, as he done more than once on the big occasion for Ireland, who scored the winning runs, with his ninth four and 10th boundary, to give Instonians their first trophy in eight years. They won the first ClubTurf final at Shane Park in 1999.

North Down showed no ill effects from their championship success less than 24 hours earlier and, on the day, were beaten by what North Down skipper Peter Shields said were "two classy knocks".
White survived a couple of near misses just after he brought up his 50 from 45 balls but West, who only completed a four-game suspension last week, played a chanceless, perfectly timed innings. Instonians had exactly three overs to spare.

North Down professional Taimur Khan got into the 90s for the second successive game — he has scored 277 in the last week — but, seven short of his century, was caught behind off Eugene Moleon, one of seven bowlers who took a wicket in the final but no-one managed a second.
Moleon's 27 runs from his eight overs was the most economical on a day when, as expected, batsmen ruled on Bangor's slow, low artificial pitch. 

At one stage, North Down were looking at a total of 240 but when Billy Dale had Ralph Coetzee stumped for 21 in the 26th over, the Premier League and Challenge Cup double winners lost their way.
In spite of having seven wickets in hand, North Down managed only 86 runs from the last 14 overs and 14 off them came off West's last over.

Taimur put in an early claim for man of the match when he trapped Rory McCann leg before in his second over as Instonians confidently set out in pursuit of their target and it was to be another 18 overs before the second wicket stand was broken, almost inevitably, by North Down's bowler of the season, Marty Moreland.

Stevenson had made 41 of the first 87 runs when he was stumped and even when joined by White, West was content to accumulate in singles, waiting for the short, off-line ball which he would effortlessly pull to the boundary. 

Although outscored by White, West's patience — he still faced only 81 balls and hit two sixes and seven fours — gave the Ireland international the licence to thrill.

Considering the talent of Neil Carson, Moleon, Simon Wells and James Shannon was left unused, it was a comprehensive victory  which  Shields generously acknowledged at the end.

"We were outdone by an Instonians side who played a good game", he said.

Meanwhile, the league action yesterday confirmed Downpatrick will join Lurgan in Section Two next year, Derriaghy's 40 runs win against Lisburn ensuring even run-rate could not save Downpatrick.
They will be replaced in the Premier League next season by CIYMS and Cliftonville, the latter confirming their promotion with victory against Muckamore, even before CI beat Woodvale.
Johnny Hewitt batted through the CI innings, scoring 121 not out with 10 fours and two sixes.