TITLE RACE CONTINUES WITH PLENTY IN CONTENTION

League action is again to the fore for the North West's cricketers this weekend as the Billy Henderson Properties table starts to take shape. There are still a handful of sides who could conceivably be involved in the latter stages of the title race while at the other end nobody will be taking anything for granted just yet with just two points separating Bonds Glen and Eglinton. There are outstanding league fixtures as well but its fair to expect that clubs will be up to speed in the next week, weather permitting.

BONDS GLEN V GLENDERMOTT

Whether or not the Bees Gees' massive win at home to Bready will be enough to keep them afloat in the top flight remains to be seen but it certainly breathed new life into the scrap at the bottom of the senior table. The hosts' professional, Gihan Dilruk hasn't yet had the desired effect for them but if the Sri Lankan was to manage to turn in even one match-winning performance that could really set off some real fireworks in the survival race. Richard Hepburn has had a very good recent spell for Gary Hamilton's side who haven't shied away from the fight and no doubt the hosts will be looking at this fixture and thinking they have a chance. Glendermott haven't really been at their best this season but more worryingly the body language has been all wrong of late. Simon Killen has been one of the few spots of an indifferent season although Stephen Smyth has shown glimpses of last season's form in the past month without threatening to be anything like as prolific. Glendermott's bowling remains weak but in the knowledge that a defeat here could drag them into the mix, Gordon Montgomery's side might just have enough about them to claim the points.

BRIGADE V BREADY

This could be a really interesting contest as the home side bids to exact revenge for a real hammering from Bready in this season's senior cup. Sub-plots aside it also sees two sides whose batting has failed on more than one occasion this season ,despite both in rampant form last weekend, come face to face and both will know they cannot afford to slip up if they harbour genuine title ambitions. To be fair to the hosts they have improved again following that horror week in which they lost four times and their progress to the final four in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup is testament to the quality in the ranks. Chris Dougherty usually does well against his former team-mates but the pressure remains on him and Iftikhar Hussain as well as Gareth McKeegan and Ata-Ur-Rehman for the bulk of their runs. Bready's batting has been even more suspect at times, particularly in the middle order and the cup finalists know they need to be much better if they are to bring silverware to Magheramason this season. Quality is no issue here either however as Trevor Hamilton surveys an order containing Mark Olphert, David Rankin, Steven Clarke, Agha Sabir Ali, Craig Young and the Scanlon boys. It could be quite a contest as long as Bready don't have one eye on the senior final and whoever bats best will win.

EGLINTON V DONEMANA

Just what the villagers didn't need as they bid to fend off another relegation scrap was a visit from red hot Donemana, with the visitors eyeing top spot in the table to go along with their cup final appearance. Things haven't been happening of late for Andy Christie's side and a very similar pattern to last season is starting to emerge despite the addition of Ryan Butterworth and Richard Wylie. There just doesn't seem to be enough runs in the side at present and despite a decent bowling attack the confidence seems to have been drained from the team. With just that win over Bonds Glen to show for the past two months' work Eglinton really need to buck the trend sooner rather than later. No such problems in the visiting camp, Richard Kee's side seemingly unstoppable at present. Two huge wins from nowhere in their last two games against Fox Lodge and Strabane sees the former champions ready to pounce at the business end of the table and now that the battling spirit seems to be matched in equal measure by strength in depth, they look very dangerous. It is very difficult to see anything other than a Donemana win.

LIMAVADY V FOX LODGE

A few short weeks ago this would have been a clash between two sides with genuine title credentials but two defeats in the space of three days has taken the wind out of the Foxies charge. Against Donemana last midweek their batting capitulated to let the Holm side pull off a stunning win whilst on Saturday they couldn't split Chris Dougherty and Iftikhar Hussain as Brigade gave their bowlers a comprehensive hammering. Pound for pound the Ballymagorry men have as good a squad as any but they seem to lack that bit of spark and maybe more importantly that self belief at key times. The Roesiders are certainly bang in the title mix now and so far they have made light of the absence of Des Curry as they look to challenge on two fronts with an Ulster Cup semi final in the bag. Adnan Akmal has now found his bearings and the wicket-keeper/ batsman looks a very useful addition as the season heats up. Thomas Riddles, Adam McDaid and Stuart Thompson are all in good touch as well as the youngsters too make their mark on the season at the Hunter Grounds. Another defeat for the Foxes will end any hopes of that elusive title but it is difficult to see them upsetting Andrew Riddles' side rhythm on current form.


STRABANE V COLERAINE

Three defeats in their last four games has really taken the wind out of the champions' sails and they look to have a job on now to make it three titles in a row. The cup defeat by Bready apart the Red Caps will be scratching their heads at how they contrived to lose the others, having been 185 for 1 at Limavady and then needing just to take the last Donemana wicket last weekend with still 90 runs to play with. It just goes to show the vagaries of this sport however and Strabane pulled off a fairly similar feat in this reverse fixture earlier in the season when a 62-run last wicket stand between Peter Gillespie and Phil Eaglestone earned them their first points. Its fair to say that the champions are now feeling the pinch in the bowling department from the combination of the loss of Ryan Gallagher and Peter Gillespie's shoulder problems and although Mark Roulston's overs certainly help, the attack remains a concern.

The Bannsiders are enjoying a very decent campaign and have been on a decent run in the past month and their performance at Fox Lodge this week in chasing down 315 shows that they're not too far off the mark. The loss of Tim Chopra is a blow although again, Vischal has come in and did a very good job in the middle order. The youngsters continue to impress too and regardless of what happens between now and September you would reason that Coleraine will feel they have improved again. This is another acid test for the title holders but they know their next defeat is probably the one that sees the trophy slip away.