STRABANE START FAVOURITES FOR THREE-IN-A-ROW AS NEW CRICKET SEASON UNDER WAY

The winter is but a distant thought now as the domestic cricket season starts this Saturday with reigning champions Strabane among the favourites to lift the Billy Henderson sponsored senior title.

The Tyrone side is actually bidding for a third consecutive championship but will face stiff opposition from the likes of Brigade, Limavady, Bready and Fox Lodge in one of the most open looking races in years.

Bonds Glen will take their place in the top flight of North West cricket for the first time in their 64-year history but the club faces a tough ask to keep pace in their new surroundings having failed to strengthen the side in the close season. Here’s a look then at Saturday’s opening set of fixtures.

BONDS GLEN V LIMAVADY

The first ever game in Division 1 cricket for the Bee Gees and they couldn’t have asked for a tougher start as Andrew Riddles brings the former champions to the Glen. The hosts will be disappointed that unless they manage a last ditch signing, they will have failed to add to the squad over the winter and a quick look at St Johnston’s stats last season will show how painful an experience that can be. Gary Hamilton’s side doesn’t mind a scrap however and the skipper and his brother Keith, along with the likes of Richard Hepburn, Colin Hall and Roy and David Robinson are all capable of making life difficult for any side. The Roesiders totally under-performed last season, quite possibly allied to the fact that they were unable to play a single game at home all summer, so they will be desperate to set the record straight this time.

Decker Curry will again turn out for the visitors despite intense interest from several other top flight clubs and the former Irish International remains fully capable of winning games on his own. There are doubts over Chris Moore’s fitness and the Roesiders’ bowling looks just a touch light if he fails to make it. The wicket-keeping spot also looks problematic now that David Cooke has left however the visitors still appear much too strong for the new boys.

BREADY V GLENDERMOTT

A tricky start for both teams this and after fairly decent campaigns in 2010 neither will want to kick off with a loss here. The home side will have former Limavady professional Agha Sabir Ali in the ranks and Dean Curry is also a useful recruit whilst they will be without Robert Rankin and Ross Campbell who have both left. Steven Clarke is back after wintering in South Africa and the experience of playing a season there will have done him no harm at all. Clarke, David Rankin, Sabir Ali, and Mark Olphert are a very useful top four although the middle order was found wanting on occasion last time and Bready will be desperately hoping that Ian Young is fit for these early games having broken his leg a couple of months ago.

Stephen Smyth’s two year commitment to Glendermott is a huge relief to the Rectory club although the left hander comes in cold with no pre-season under his belt. Smyth will also skipper the side as Gordon Montgomery sits out a suspension carried over from last year and once more it has been a busy close season there. Gary Neely, Ryan Barr, David Barr and Hanke von Rauenstein have left the club with Roy Silva, Charlie Elder and possibly Peter Allen, Dale Culbert and Chris Cooper coming in. The bowling looks light, particularly the new ball options, and Montgomery’s temporary absence does little to help. Both sides can enjoy a decent summer but the hosts might be the readier of the two at this stage.

BRIGADE V FOX LODGE

This is quite possibly the game of the day and another desperately difficult match to call as last season’s dark horses travel to the senior cup winners. Brigade have lost Niall McDonnell and Richard Wylie during the winter but are believed to be bringing in the Barr brothers from Glendermott and former Pakistan Test bowler Ata-ur- Rehman. Considering their batting has been weakened it seems a strange choice to bring in 36-year old Rehman, although he has proven a capable performer with the willow at league level. McDonnell’s absence means the opening spot to partner Chris Dougherty is up for grabs with either Gareth McKeegan or David Barr likely to be given the nod. The Beechgrove side has a magnificent bowling attack but if McKeegan, Dougherty, Iftikhar Hussain or Johnny Thompson don’t get big runs it is difficult to see who will.

The Foxes were superb last year and only wilted when they lost professional Darryl Brown towards the end of the season. The South African is back and in rude health now and it looks like being another big summer for the Ballymagorry club. The bowling looks compact with Andy Britton, Gareth Heywood, Brown, and Johnny Robinson and when you chuck in Brian Allen, Jonathan Heywood, Jason Milligan and Dean McCarter the batting isn’t shabby either. If this was a football match I would go for a score draw. In the circumstances I’ll opt for the first minor surprise of the season and an away win.

EGLINTON V COLERAINE

The Villagers go into this one knowing that a win would better the whole of last season’s efforts put together, but they will find the Bannsiders a tough nut to crack. Andy Christie has brought in Richard Wylie and new professional Ryan Butterworth, both of whom look sure to have a major influence on their season. Chris Pierce was in blinding form last time and posted another half century last weekend in the Shaun Bradley Memorial trophy win over Ardmore. He along with Johnny Gardiner and the Stewart boys Ricky and Neal are capable of lifting the Villagers by their bootlaces and should ensure their share of wins over the summer.

The visitors will field without Mohammad Salman who is on International duty but will have new signing David Cooke in the team along with Ian McGregor and Stephen Dunn. New skipper Tim Chopra will be buoyed by their “friendly” win over Ballymena last time and with the likes of Scott Campbell, Paul Douglas and Rory Knox a year wiser, they too can enjoy a decent year. Salman of course makes the difference so his loss could be crucial but the Bannsiders still start slight favourites.

STRABANE V DONEMANA

The reigning and former champions lock horns at the new park as Strabane bid for a hat-trick of league titles but they will find their neighbours a tough start to their defence. Niall McDonnell’s return is a massive boost for the holders although his opening partner Kevin Martin could struggle with a shoulder injury. If he were fit that would leave Strabane’s batting line up reading- McDonnell, Martin, Beukes, Gillespie P, Gillespie M, Roulston and Barr, and there are very few around who can better that type of quality. The champions’ bowling remains a slight concern; no problem with the used ball options of the last named quintet but only Phil Eaglestone and Martin Deans are of the prominent seam variety.

The visitors look unlikely to have new professional Kamran Sajid available and will therefore rely on last season’s squad to start with. Ross Campbell comes in from Bready but once again it will be the form of James, Junior and Andrew McBrine as well as Ryan Hunter, Graeme Boyd and new skipper Richard Kee that will tell their tale. The Holm side remains very capable of turning over anyone on their day but without their professional they would probably have preferred not to have to travel to the Park at this stage of the season. It could be a decent contest but on form Strabane should win.