Premier League Review

No change in the League standings as no play was possible yet again last weekend due to horrendous weather conditions which even caused cancellations in other sports such as football and motor cycling – what chance does the “summer” sport of cricket have in such circumstances?

Nevertheless hope springs eternal and there are no less than 12 fixtures arranged for the up coming Bank Holiday weekend. Hopefully action will be possible on all fronts to help clear the back log of fixtures which has prompted the NCU Executive to contemplate using Net Run Rates to decide final League positions.

On Saturday CSNI, fresh from their Challenge Cup triumph, will be aiming to maintain their title aspirations when they visit Queensway to play relegation threatened Derriaghy. On current form the visitors, even without Gary Wilson, are strong favourites to gain full points and keep the pressure on leaders North Down.  Wilson is one of a significant number of NCU players who will be unavailable for their clubs due to Team Ireland commitments in Belfast and the Netherlands over the weekend.

Reigning champions North Down are without pace bowler Peter Connell for the visit of Cliftonville to the Green although their loss is mitigated by the absence from the Cliftonville line up of teenage prodigy Paul Stirling. The Comber side are 4 points ahead of CSNI and I expect them to retain top spot.

Instonians and Lisburn who share third place on 24 points meet at Shaw’s Bridge where the home side are without Andrew White. Both sides have been among the runs lately and the individual tallies of James Shannon (Inst) and Gerry Strydom (Lisburn) will have a major bearing on the final outcome of a close contest.

CIYMS are very much in need of points to climb out of the relegation zone and they entertain Bangor at Belmont. The Seasiders had a comfortable win when these sides met at Uprichard Park in mid July and I fancy them to complete the double.

The other game on Saturday sees Waringstown at home to Carrick and once again the Villagers must do without the considerable services of their Ireland pair Kyle McCallan and Gary Kidd. The visitors are capable of a good performance particularly on the batsman friendly pitch at the Lawn but I take the home side to bounce back from their agonising Cup final defeat and take full points.

There are two games down for decision on Sunday with the game at Queensway catching most attention. Undoubtedly an 8 pointer as Cliftonville are the visitors and the outcome will have a major bearing on the relegation issue. This is a very difficult match to predict but I feel that home advantage could be decisive.

Also on Sunday Instonians travel to Uprichard Park for the first of two meetings with Bangor in the space of 24 hours. With both sides having 3 games scheduled over a busy weekend they will be hoping to improve their already healthy League positions.

Bank Holiday Monday brings a full compliment of fixtures with top billing going to the rematch of last Friday’s epic encounter in the Challenge Cup final being replayed  at the Lawn. Commitments in Stormont and Holland mean that both sides are without key players – Waringstown are missing Messrs. Hall, Gary Kidd and McCallon while the visitors are without Allen Coulter and Regan West – and these factors should make for another close match with possibly the Villagers gaining revenge for their recent defeat in the Cup final with a win on home soil.

Leaders North Down visit Wallace Park to take on third placed Lisburn who gave them a fright earlier in the season at Comber. The visitors are without Ireland “A” skipper Ryan Haire along with Gavin McKenna and Peter Connell and will do well to maintain their 100% League record.

In a crucial relegation battle with once again technically 8 points at stake Cliftonville play CIYMS at Belmont (Cliftonville’s home fixture). Both sides currently have only 2 wins to their name and a win for either would provide a huge boost to the prospects of survival in the Premier League.

Instonians and Bangor reoppose this time at Shaw’s Bridge where James Shannon will be an absentee due to an  Ireland “A” call up and the  final fixture of a packed weekend Carrick host Derriaghy at Upper Road where the visitors will be keen to improve their lowly League position.