It's that time of the year when friendly matches are played in cold and unpleasant conditions and everyone hopes the first week of the season kicks off in sunshine. The signs are not good; wintery conditions have played havoc with ground preparations, practice and friendly games, and looking at recent postings on local cricket websites, temperatures off the field appear much higher than on it.
The business of predicting winners and losers in local cricket matters little as it all depends on what happens on the pitch, assuming there are no administrative skeletons in the cupboard to haunt us yet again. There's always plenty of posturing on websites and some of the most prolific correspondents aren't short of confidence when it comes to telling us how their team is going to perform. Some of these rants are so far off the mark when the season ends that the 'culprits' should be fined for operating under false pretences!
North-West men generally don't hide their feelings so the 'buy-a-player' culture of some of the leading clubs has been well and truly aired from all and sundry over the past few months, so it's now down to the action. A lot of eyes will be on Glendermott with their two new North Down recruits Neil Russell and Martin Dalzell in their ranks, but generally most clubs know each other's players fairly well including the pros, so we can expect much of the same when it comes to August and the winners are all decided. Glendermott have a mountain to climb if they are going to oust Brigade, Limavady and Donemana, as history has shown in North-West cricket that traditions die hard. And there's another NCU twist in the tale with Paul Stafford joining Brigade, so at least three NCU men will be rattling up and down the M2 pretty often in the next four months.
In their wake Russeller and Dazzler have left the reigning NCU champions North Down fairly depleted, a situation exacerbated by the return of prolific batsman David Kennedy to Ballymena, and Ryan Haire missing the first three games due to work commitments with the Ireland Under 15 team in the Caribbean. Civil Service North have recruited the abrasive Regan West and they could be a force this season, but the smart bookie's money is surely on Waringstown to be the team to beat.
The two team relegation/promotion system in NCU cricket has certainly added plenty of spice to every league game and has ensured meaningful interest will continue right to the last match. However, with perennial relegation candidates Lurgan and Downpatrick finally taking the drop, there will be a lot of speculation on whether Derriaghy can continue to hold their own with the big boys, and if CI can actually compete at the highest level, with or without their shopping list of new recruits. It all adds up to an exciting season but don't be surprised if it's back to Waringstown and North Down disputing the spoils as these clubs not only have the strongest squads, they have a winning tradition.
Section Two will have added flavour this season at it appears to be the most competitive for many years and it would be a brave or a foolhardy man to predict the two teams likely to be promoted. Muckamore, Ballymena and Woodvale will certainly fancy their chances, but both Downpatrick and Lurgan expect to return to the top flight at the first time of asking and they will be hard to beat. Everyone will be very interested to see how Saintfield and Dundrum fare as they are up and coming clubs with lots of ambition and drive, but they'll find the going tough at this level despite their enthusiasm and enterprise. This season Section Two teams will play at some of the loveliest grounds in Ireland and win or lose, players should relish the opportunity at playing in some idyllic settings like the Mall, Moylena, the Meadow, and Dundrum, with theMourneMountainsa magnificent backdrop.
Let's hope the weather is kind, the cricket is good and teams play in the spirit of the game as it is still only a sport at club level and above all it should be fun!
Good luck everyone.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
