FOX LODGE
They may have taken the difficult route to get there but the fact that the Foxies will compete in next season's Premier League is all that will have mattered to the Ballymagorry club this term.
The loss of Andy Britton to Limavady and Darryl Brown to Lisburn was always going to make for a difficult summer although the addition of Wajihuddin Mohammed offset the deficit to some extent.
Things looked hopeless after just one win from their first nine matches but the fortunes changed in a single weekend as Jonny Robinson's men won at Bready and Strabane in the space of as many days.
A couple of defeats set them back after that but the confidence gleaned from those wins and a very narrow defeat to Brigade weren't to be lost on them.
Needing snookers from their last 5 matches the Foxies won 4 out of 4, including a convincing verdict over Donemana to set up a grand-stand finish.
With Bready having to win their final match at Ballymagorry to have a chance of claiming the title the home side held their nerve to make it 5 on the spin to the delight of players and supporters alike.
Despite the doubters, Wajihuddin's 720 runs and 29 wickets came in very handy while the usual suspects provided solid backing.
Brian Allen and Jason Milligan both went over 500 runs at an average of around 27 while skipper Robinson and Dean McCarter added 400 plus with Andrew McGinnis just short.
The skipper's 38 wickets put him in front of the professional in the bowling stakes while Milligan completed a more than useful season with 23.
Gareth Heywood wasn't quite as successful as last time but still picked up 20 wickets however this was very much a case of mission accomplished with top flight safety assured.
Batting
Wajihuddin 720 runs at an average of 40 (5x50) highest score 86*
B Allen 552 runs at an average of 27.6 (5x50) highest score 80
J Milligan 539 runs at an average of 27 (6x50) highest score 61
J Robinson 430 runs at an average of 23.9 (2x50) highest score 97
D McCarter 407 runs at an average of 27.1 (3x50) highest score 56
Bowling
J Robinson 38 wickets at an average of 23.6, best of 4-39
Wajihuddin 29 wickets at an average of 24.5, best of 4-19
J Milligan 23 wickets at an average of 23.7, best of 3-26
Gareth Heywood 20 wickets at an average of 30.9, best of 4-39
