North Down will host the 2013 final, but Waringstown and Instonians will contest it and if the formbook wins the day then the Old Boys will retain the trophy. But how often does the formbook win finals and will Waringstown’s great tradition in this competition rise to the surface once again? The finalists had relatively straightforward paths to the final as the anticipated challenge form North Down, Civil Service North and CIYMS didn’t materialise. Little Donacloney reached the semi-final and harboured dreams of a major upset, but Waringstown crunched them by 168 runs in a one-sided exchange. Andrew White’s 88 was the difference between Inst and Civil Service North in the other semi-final as the Old Boys squeezed home by 26 runs.
Both teams are stacked with fine players, but the key to the outcome may well be the performances of two close friends Kyle McCallan and Andrew White in opposition. Kyle has the ability and the experience to win any game with either bat or ball and “Whitey” likewise. Both are fierce competitors and frontline batters and bowlers, and they each have a history of performing well at The Green. It could well come down to their contributions as this game is a close call given that so many top players are on parade. Eugene Moleon will fancy his chances in exposing Waringstown’s inconsistent batting, but if Lee Nelson and Obus Pienaar get into top gear the odds will favour the Villagers.
And will the venue be a crucial factor as it has mixed emotions for both teams and players? Andrew White and opener Neil Russell have pillaged hundreds of runs at Comber down the years, but the Belfast team came a cropper against North Down several weeks ago in a low scoring league game. Waringstown were also involved in a low-scoring league game at Comber, but came out on top, so they have an edge in the battles against their closest rival. But in the early season league clash it was Inst who won and with that solitary league blemish at Comber the Old Boys are currently top of the league and fully justify the tag of favourites.
But come Friday morning it will mean nothing as performance on the day will decide this intriguing tie. The action starts at 11am and local groundsman Raymond Moreland has promised a belter of a wicket. With dry and hot overhead conditions continuing it should be an entertaining high-scoring game. There will be no predictions from this writer as this game is too close to call.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
