Ulster Bank Premier League

The second week into the 2008 season and mainly being a cup weekend, however the Premier league managed to record 2 full set of fixtures - a double header with games on the Saturday and the bank holiday Monday. Champions North Down carried on their impressive start to the season with a comfortable victory over CIYMS – if not for Tony Adams, it may have been much more comfortable. CI were without their overseas player Matt Dempsey who has returned home due to a family bereavement – and our thoughts are with the popular CI player at this time. North Down also sneaked home by 3 runs against Lisburn on Monday. CI then had a big home game against their fellow ‘newcomers’ Cliftonville. The home side managed to secure their first win in the Premier league by 6 wickets.

Lisburn had lost by 9 wickets to Waringstown a few days before. Lee Nelson topped scored with 71 not out and felling good the Waringstown team traveled to Stormont the play CSN who had lost to Bangor on the Saturday. CSN batted first and made a very average score of 174 and must have given Waringstown the encouragement to register another victory. However the home team managed to defend their score and win by 82 runs – maybe the 174 was above average.

Carrick got their season off to a winning start with 7 wicket victory over their local rivals Cliftonville, and then when traveling to Derriaghy they completed the full house when all the home teams won on bank holiday Monday. Instonians and Bangor only played the once over the weekend, both away and both winning.

Its still early days, but the table has a familiar look to it with North Down top.

Ulster Bank Section 2

The only section 2 game was at The Meadow, Downpatrick on Monday. The visitors were Ballymena, again. The visitors batted first and set a difficult score of 249 for the home side to chase. David Kennedy and Steve Lazurus scoring half centuries each, but the home side couldn’t get near it and Ballymena won by 48 runs.

Ulster Bank Section 3

On Mayday Donacloney travelled to Banford Green to take on Millpark. The home team could only muster 84 and Donacloney managed to creep home for a 2 wicket victory.

TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup

With no Premier league team in at the first round, there would no ‘giant-killing’ or real shocks. The closest to a shock was Dundrum beating Holywood by 4 wickets, but with home advantage the newly promoted Dundrum side would have fancied their chances. They are rewarded with a home tie with Cliftonville.

In the big game of the day, James Kennedy won the man of the match award, but was unable to stop Downpatrick progress to the next round tie with North Down. Laurelvale and Woodvale both beat section 3 teams by 8 wickets and both have home ties versus CSNI and Waringstown respectively.

The final two games saw big victories, Lurgan beating Armagh by 10 wickets chasing 155 and Muckamore winning by 129 runs after bowling Saintfield out for 98. In the next round Lurgan may fancy it against Derriaghy at home, while Muckamore make the short journey to Carrickfergus.

Goldblatt McGuigan Junior Cup

Last years two finalists, Lurgan II the winners and North Down II both fell at the first round this year. Lurgan II couldn’t chase 160 to win over Millpark and North Down II had a huge total to pursue – Templepatrick scoring 308 in 50 overs – but lost by 113 runs.

Instonians II and Bangor II both defeated 1st teams, Donaghadee and Donacloney. Other teams through to the next round are Cregagh, Larne and Lisburn II’s.