VILLAGERS TAKE THE PLUNGE ON FINAL DAY OF NORTH WEST SEASON

It was something of a blessing in disguise that all the main business was taken care of without the need for any play-off's (Intermediate 1 notwithstanding) as the 2011 cricket season hardly needed to be dragged out any further. Weather-wise it has been an instantly forgettable campaign and although hearty congratulations go out to Brigade and Creevedonnell, and indeed Bonds Glen, the break has come at the right time. The championship had been decided before the weekend of course, Limavady's hopes of forcing a play-off washed away at Magheramason but despite their frustrations, few can argue that the best team won in the end. It was clear during Friday night's presentation at Beechgrove that Mark Simpson's side were rooting for Limavady in midweek as they wanted to win the title on the pitch and clear too that they fancied their chances in a shoot-out. Having beaten their nearest challengers so handsomely just a few weeks earlier however, and having put together a run of 12 successive league victories the Billy Henderson Properties trophy has a very deserving home for the winter.

The weekend past was all about the other end of the table and also about who would be making up the places in 2012 and unfortunately for Eglinton their lives finally ran out. The village club have flirted perilously around the wrong end of the table for the past three or four seasons and despite bringing in Richard Wylie and Ryan Butterworth this season it wasn't enough. It seems strange that Andy Christie's men got themselves into such a mess having made a decent enough start but whatever happened along the way the focus was undoubtedly lost. The re-building process won't be easy not just because the club will probably lose one or two players as a result of relegation but also because the Union seems sure to be putting forward the 8-team top flight proposal again at this season's AGM. Should that go ahead, and the feeling on the ground is that the time is probably right, that will mean that the new format will kick in at the start of 2013. In order to prepare for that the North West must decide on whether there will be two teams relegated and none promoted at the end of next season or whether the top 8 places are allocated via a series of play-offs between the sides at the bottom of Division 1 and the top of Division 2. Either way it will make things that much harder to win promotion at the end of next season while an emerging Drummond team as well as the regular threats from Ardmore and St Johnston will also mean that topping the table is no gimme either. A lot of soul searching will probably be required now but Eglinton still have a solid structure in place and they will look to protect that first and foremost. The club has accepted its fate with dignity as you would expect and as one of the biggest in the region there will be plenty hoping to see Andy Christie's team bounce straight back.

For every story like Eglinton's there will be another story of course and the flip side to this one belongs to Bonds Glen. The Bee Gees were in a spin for the first eight weeks of the season and at one stage they probably had a few concerns of their own in terms of morale. It wasn't just that they were getting beaten every week but the manner of those defeats would have been very demoralising. Undaunted, they pressed on with plans to bring in an overseas man and the rest, as they say, writes itself. Gihan Dilruk may have been a while in getting here but when he did, the Sri Lankan was the real deal. Dilruk fitted in perfectly to a club where there are no stars; you may remember that in winning promotion in 2010 Bonds Glen had 8 players who scored over 350 runs and none who scored more than 550. They had 7 players who finished with 25 wickets or more as well showing that this is a team that hunts in packs. I had a conversation with Ian Moore at Fox Lodge a few weeks ago and the Bee Gees man told me that he daren't go to the ground at the Glen to do any work without Dilruk in tow. He wanted to be involved in everything but “G” as he is simply known made sure he did what he was brought over to do when leading his club to safety and in some style too. One thing that clubs expect when hiring a professional is that he will be able to make the difference between winning and losing games along the way and Bonds Glen had no problems on that score so much so that having joined Glendermott on the 10-point mark at the weekend, they are keen to know if that now means they earn an Ulster Cup place.

Taking Eglinton's slot in the top flight will be Creevedonnell after Stephen Scroggie's side beat the Nedd to avoid a play-off with Drummond. This wasn't a promotion out of turn either as the Curryfree Road side will be playing top flight cricket next season for the first time since 1981. Another team to have based their title-winning run on a strong second half performance few will begrudge Brian Dougherty and a hard-working committee their shot at the big league and although the former skipper mistimed his holiday arrangements and missed their moment of glory, I'd say its fair to expect a full scale party when he returns.

Finally for now and you may remember that last week the North West Union announced details of its “think tank” which has been set up to look at ways of improving the sport locally. The group of 7 has now drafted in Richard Kee from Donemana as well and held their first meeting last Thursday evening which was very constructive by all accounts. The panel now intends to make contact with all the clubs in an effort to get a wide range of views and opinions and will report back to the North West within a timescale of 4 to 6 weeks. The group are keen to speak to anyone who may have something to contribute to the process and have asked interested parties to get in touch with them as they progress with this exercise.

We will begin our end of season round up next week and in preparation for the North West awards dinner at the beginning of November I would respectfully ask clubs to get in touch as soon as possible with their end of season averages.