PREMIER LEAGUE – PREVIEW

After a well earned rest last week while the World Twenty/20 qualifiers took centre stage at Stormont the battle for supremacy and survival resumes this weekend.

Leaders North Down, despite being faced with two away fixtures, must be fancied to maintain their 100% record against bottom club Derriaghy on Saturday and Carrick the following day. The reigning champions must again do without their strike bowler Peter Connell as the New Zealander is on duty with Ireland who take on Canada over 4 days in the Inter Continental Cup at Malahide.In addition opener Joe Montgomery who has been in splendid form this season with almost 600 runs to his credit misses the game at Queensway due to holidays but returns to the side on Sunday for the visit to Carrick. Their last two outings produced outstanding victories for the Comber side against Waringstown and Instonians and I think they will be too strong for this weekend’s opponents.

Nearest challengers CSNI also have two games this weekend. They take on Lisburn at home and travel to Shaw’s Bridge on Sunday to oppose Instonians. Both CSNI’s opponents are without their Ireland representatives all rounders Greg Thompson and Andrew White – on duty in Dublin. The Wallace Park side will be largely dependent on their South African professional Gerry Strydom continuing his sensational batting exploits if they are to spring a surprise. Instonians, even without White, are a formidable outfit particularly at home and they will test CSNI’s title aspirations to the full.

However I fully expect the top of the table to be unchanged come Sunday evening.

In the other Saturday games Bangor host Carrick at Uprichard Park where their skipper Mark Hutchinson will be hoping for a repeat of the fine form last time out in the defeat of Waringstown. Hutchinson has incidentally announced his retirement from representative cricket having made a solitary appearance for his country at his home ground in 2005 in an ODI against MCC when he was undefeated on 7 in an Ireland total of 351 for 4.

Relegation threatened CIYMS will be hard pushed to add to their 8 points tally at home to Instonians but the Belmont side showed great resolution when just shading Derriaghy last time out and captain Stephen Hughes will be looking for a repeat performance.

Fellow strugglers Cliftonville visit the Lawn without star batsman Paul Stirling who is with the Ireland side although the home side will also be under strength as Kyle McCallan is also in Dublin. The Villagers are suffering their worst League run for many years and will be hoping for a confidence boosting win ahead of the Challenge Cup final the following weekend.

The remaining fixture on Sunday sees Bangor travel to Wallace Park to take on Lisburn. The home side have their sights firmly focused on a third place finish in the League and I fancy them to make progress in that ambition.