BAD WEEK FOR STRABANE AS THEY LOSE TOP OF TABLE CLASH

Brigade's Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup exploits notwithstanding it was league action all the way for local cricketers this week and a chance to catch up on some of those outstanding fixtures caused by the early season poor weather.

The league table bore a dishevelled look as the season entered the half way stage, Donemana for example with only four league matches played prior to Sunday's home win against Bonds Glen. For all of that though there was certainly no shortage of talking points over the weekend especially at Bonds Glen where the hosts won their first league match of the season and at Limavady where the top two in the table locked horns.

Strabane travelled to the Hunter Grounds on Saturday knowing that a win would give them a clear edge in their pursuit of a third consecutive title but the local side was forced to field without the key figure of Mark Gillespie. The all-rounder badly damaged his hand at the Rectory the previous weekend leaving the bowling in particular quite short, although Phil Eaglestone was available again after his holiday and Ciaran Patton declared himself fit having picked up a nasty cut during the cup defeat by Bready.

Limavady took first use of near perfect conditions as Thomas Riddles made 39 early on before for the second time in a week, Strabane were unable to break up a match-winning partnership. Pakistan professional Adnan Akmal was joined by Stuart Thompson and those two took on the visitors' attack to launch Limavady towards a huge total. Akmal played beautifully to finish with a superb knock of 123 while his partner added a solid 64 that laid the foundation for the home side's 317 for 9. Just as in the Bready match, once those two had departed however the bowlers got back into their rhythm and Martin Deans tore through Limavady's middle and lower order to finish with figures of 6 for 57. Chasing the huge total Strabane were always going to have to push hard but were dealt a hammer blow when opener Kevin Martin became the first of 6 dismissals for keeper Akmal having made 18. Skipper Jonathan Beukes then joined Niall McDonnell and for the next two hours Strabane gave Limavady the run around. Shots flowed freely from the bat of McDonnell in particular and when the pair had taken their side to 185 for 1 it looked a completely different game. At that stage though the South African seemed to fall under the spell of the red mist and Simon Dunn tempted him down the track and got one to turn leaving Beukes stranded. That was the lift Limavady needed and their fightback continued when McDonnell holed out to Adam McDaid at long shortly after reaching a superb century. The opener hit 13 fours and 2 sixes in his knock but there could be no disappointment at his dismissal because that, quite simply, is how he plays. Another half hour of Beukes and McDonnell would surely have killed Limavady off and given the Red Caps an amazing shot in the arm but instead the hosts sensed that they were now back in charge. The writing was on the wall once Peter Gillespie's miserable run continued as he offered a simple caught and bowled and although Mark Roulston battled hard for his unbeaten 29 Limavady just about saw out the win to join the champions in top spot.

It's difficult to call them the Division's �new boys� after half a season in the league but there was a wonderful occasion at Bonds Glen on Saturday as Gary Hamilton's side recorded their first ever win in the top flight when they deservedly beat senior cup finalists Bready by 34 runs. Batting first the hosts were indebted to Richard Hepburn who made 38 and 36 from Johnny Heaslett, as well as no fewer than 40 �extras� as they posted a total of 208 all out in their 50 overs. David Scanlon with 3 for 31 was the pick of Bready's bowling while Agha Sabir Ali (2-26) and David Lecky (2 for 28) ensured that the damage was limited. It was to be Bready's batting that was to be their downfall, not for the first time this season either, and skipper Trevor Hamilton must be concerned about that discipline ahead of their date with Donemana at Eglinton at the end of the month. A superb opening spell from David Robinson saw him claim the wickets of Mark Olphert, Steven Clarke, Dean Curry and David Rankin while Richard Hepburn bowled professional Sabir as Bready slumped to 83 for 5. Brian Crumley did his claim for a starting place in the cup final no harm as he led a revival with 37 and despite Brian Scanlon making an unbeaten 41 late on it was to be the Bee Gees' day. The large home support celebrated the win like a cup final and the players themselves could now set the cat among the pigeons in the relegation stakes with one or two clubs now looking anxiously over their shoulders.

The Bee Gees were unable to repeat the dose as they came up short against Donemana on Sunday but they lost nothing in defeat as their learning curve continued. Skipper Gary Hamilton made 43 and Richard Hepburn was in the runs again as he made 35 on his return to his old stomping ground. David Robinson's 29 and 23 from professional Gihan Dilruk looked set to form the basis of a sizeable total but from 149 for 4 the visitors slumped to 182 all out. Junior McBrine with 3 for 44 was the pick of the home attack while Kamran Sajid added 2 for 24. The Bee Gees found themselves in with a shout having reduced their hosts to 62 for 3 before professional Sajid finished matters in style. Richard Hepburn bowled 7 superb overs for just 13 runs before the Pakistani took a shine to him in his 8th, clubbing 4 consecutive sixes to the enjoyment of the big crowd. Sajid finished unbeaten on 72, a knock that included 5 sixes and 4 fours in all as Donemana moved ominously onto the heels of the leaders.

Fox Lodge also worked their way back into the title picture at the weekend as they readily accounted for an Eglinton side that will be rattled by Bonds Glen's win. The villagers batted first against Brian Allen's men and were reliant on 46 from professional Ryan Butterworth as well as 24 from Neal Stewart but in truth their 141 all out was a poor effort. Johnny Robinson claimed 3 for 14, Darryl Brown 3 for 26 and there were 2 wickets apiece for Andy Britton and Gareth Heywood in an impressive display from the Ballymagorry side. The Foxes were none too clever with the bat themselves mind and they needed the steadying runs of Brown (35) and Garvan Heywood (32) to get them over the line for a workmanlike 4-wicket win.

In Division 2 of the Billy Henderson league Ardmore were defeated for the first time this season when Creevedonnell posted a 3-wicket win despite a century from the home side's Adrian Murphy. Chasing 233, Gareth Falconer made 47, Gary Neely 42 not out and Alan Duffy 35 as the visitors opened up the promotion chase. The Bleachgreen side was in action again on Sunday when Sion Mills were the visitors and once again Murphy was the star of the show; the West Indian hitting another ton, this one an unbeaten 108. Sion rallied late on in their innings, number 11Nigel O'Neill top scoring with 33 not out as they had earlier made 203. Unfortunately for the Tyrone side the bowling wasn't as productive as the batting and a Murphy-inspired home team returned to the top of the table with a 7- wicket win.

St Johnston got their season back on track with a 73-run win over Burndennett who are still without a point. The visitors bowled well to restrict the Saints to 180 all out, Johnny Devine with 2 wickets and Eddie McGettigan with 2 as Sachin Dixit top scored for the hosts with 41. Despite an unbeaten 37 from McGettigan Burndennett could muster only 109 in reply as they remain rooted to the bottom.