...seven correct and two wrong with four matches postponed. It gives me the confidence to try again for the elusive clean sweep!
Busy weekend with Interpro and club action on a holiday weekend. Also, Section 3 teams enter the fray and good luck to the teams that travel far and wide, largely under the media radar.
PREMIER LEAGUE
There were no shocks last weekend although Carrick probably dodged a bullet when their match with Waringstown was postponed because water had got under the covers. They might not be so fortunate at Stormont where Civil Service North will want to quickly bounce back after their hammering from CI last week. I don’t expect them to bat as weakly against Carrick so a home win should get their season back on track. Home advantage might be enough to secure Ballymena their first win of the season against Lisburn and kill the predictions in many circles that they are certainties for the drop. They batted well at Comber last week so confidence should be high even in defeat. CI travel to Comber with all their guns blazing after their resounding win at Stormont. James Cameron-Dow returns to familiar pastures with a five-wicket haul last week and he could be an important factor given his knowledge of the Comber pitch. CI should win this game, but I expect it to be much closer than their first outing.
The biggest match of the day is at Shaw’s Bridge where defending champions Instonians entertain one of their strongest challengers Waringstown and I’m going for a home win. Instonians had James Shannon and Andrew White in top form last week while the Villagers missed out on match action and that can be very important so early in the season.
SECTION 1
It’s a two-match weekend for most of the other NCU teams and although it’s too early to make any end of season predictions a good or bad weekend can determine a lot going forward. Hot favourites Muckamore travel to Bangor on Saturday and entertain Lurgan on Monday and should remain unbeaten given the form they showed last week in trouncing Derriaghy by 213 runs. Neil Gill and Ryan Haire shared the bulk of the wickets and they will be the backbone of their strong attack throughout the season. Derriaghy are at home to Academy in the Senior Cup on Saturday and should win despite Academy’s close win over Cliftonville last week. Ironically in the other cup game Donaghcloney host Cliftonville, but I don’t expect the North Belfast club to get any comfort at the Factory Ground nor at home to Woodvale on Monday. Academy entertains Donaghcloney on Monday so it all seems a bit incestuous, but I expect them to win for the second week in succession in the league.
Bangor’s Monday game is at Derriaghy and they will be hard-pressed to upset the locals on home territory, but I feel they will rise to the occasion and register an away win. It will be a tough weekend for Templepatrick hosting Lurgan on Saturday and then travelling to Downpatrick on Monday as both teams expect to be in the running for promotion as the season progresses. Unfortunately I don’t see the County Antrim side upsetting the odds so their tough opening to the season will continue.
SECTION 2
I’m going for four home wins in Section 2 on Saturday, which will be good news for Armagh, Larne, Laurelvale, and Saintfield, but not so good for Victoria if I’m correct as I expect Holywood to win on the road. The Seasiders should do the ‘double’ with a win over BISC on Monday and there should be double celebrations for Saintfield over Armagh and Laurelvale over Cregagh. Will Victoria bounce back at Drumaness, never an easy place to win? I don’t think so, and I expect neighbours Dundrum to make Larne’s long journey just as unprofitable.
SECTION 3
Everything’s up for grabs in Section 3 as the minnows enter the fray for the first time in 2015. Once again home advantage plays an important part in my predictions as I’m going for three home wins for Cooke-Collegians over Dunmurry, Millpark over Ards and Newforge over Monaghan. That leaves Dungannon under the cosh as I feel Donaghadee will make their trip to County Tyrone a happy excursion and return with all the points.
No predictions on Interpro cricket especially the Twenty20 exchanges because anybody can beat anybody in this format!
As I always say it’s just one person’s opinion as what happens on the field stays on the field!
Let’s hope the weather is kind.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
Not too bad in Round 1 predictions with a 78% return, seven correct and two wrong with four matches postponed. It gives me the confidence to try again for the elusive clean sweep!
Busy weekend with Interpro and club action on a holiday weekend. Also, Section 3 teams enter the fray and good luck to the teams that travel far and wide, largely under the media radar.
PREMIER LEAGUE
There were no shocks last weekend although Carrick probably dodged a bullet when their match with Waringstown was postponed because water had got under the covers. They might not be so fortunate at Stormont where Civil Service North will want to quickly bounce back after their hammering from CI last week. I don’t expect them to bat as weakly against Carrick so a home win should get their season back on track. Home advantage might be enough to secure Ballymena their first win of the season against Lisburn and kill the predictions in many circles that they are certainties for the drop. They batted well at Comber last week so confidence should be high even in defeat. CI travel to Comber with all their guns blazing after their resounding win at Stormont. James Cameron-Dow returns to familiar pastures with a five-wicket haul last week and he could be an important factor given his knowledge of the Comber pitch. CI should win this game, but I expect it to be much closer than their first outing.
The biggest match of the day is at Shaw’s Bridge where defending champions Instonians entertain one of their strongest challengers Waringstown and I’m going for a home win. Instonians had James Shannon and Andrew White in top form last week while the Villagers missed out on match action and that can be very important so early in the season.
SECTION 1
It’s a two-match weekend for most of the other NCU teams and although it’s too early to make any end of season predictions a good or bad weekend can determine a lot going forward. Hot favourites Muckamore travel to Bangor on Saturday and entertain Lurgan on Monday and should remain unbeaten given the form they showed last week in trouncing Derriaghy by 213 runs. Neil Gill and Ryan Haire shared the bulk of the wickets and they will be the backbone of their strong attack throughout the season. Derriaghy are at home to Academy in the Senior Cup on Saturday and should win despite Academy’s close win over Cliftonville last week. Ironically in the other cup game Donaghcloney host Cliftonville, but I don’t expect the North Belfast club to get any comfort at the Factory Ground nor at home to Woodvale on Monday. Academy entertains Donaghcloney on Monday so it all seems a bit incestuous, but I expect them to win for the second week in succession in the league.
Bangor’s Monday game is at Derriaghy and they will be hard-pressed to upset the locals on home territory, but I feel they will rise to the occasion and register an away win. It will be a tough weekend for Templepatrick hosting Lurgan on Saturday and then travelling to Downpatrick on Monday as both teams expect to be in the running for promotion as the season progresses. Unfortunately I don’t see the County Antrim side upsetting the odds so their tough opening to the season will continue.
SECTION 2
I’m going for four home wins in Section 2 on Saturday, which will be good news for Armagh, Larne, Laurelvale, and Saintfield, but not so good for Victoria if I’m correct as I expect Holywood to win on the road. The Seasiders should do the ‘double’ with a win over BISC on Monday and there should be double celebrations for Saintfield over Armagh and Laurelvale over Cregagh. Will Victoria bounce back at Drumaness, never an easy place to win? I don’t think so, and I expect neighbours Dundrum to make Larne’s long journey just as unprofitable.
SECTION 3
Everything’s up for grabs in Section 3 as the minnows enter the fray for the first time in 2015. Once again home advantage plays an important part in my predictions as I’m going for three home wins for Cooke-Collegians over Dunmurry, Millpark over Ards and Newforge over Monaghan. That leaves Dungannon under the cosh as I feel Donaghadee will make their trip to County Tyrone a happy excursion and return with all the points.
No predictions on Interpro cricket especially the Twenty20 exchanges because anybody can beat anybody in this format!
As I always say it’s just one person’s opinion as what happens on the field stays on the field!
Let’s hope the weather is kind.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
