The semi-finals of the Down Democrat Challenge Cup were due to have been played by the 28th June but a combination of factors ruled against this.
First North Down were involved in that classic match against Instonians the first match ending in a tie, when effectively the cup holders got off the canvas as the referee was counting ten and indeed Instonians were already celebrating victory.
As with all good sides you don’t give these guys a second chance as Instonians found to their cost in the replay at Shaw’s Bridge. When rain interrupted on the Saturday North Down had posted 199 and we wondered was it enough for victory.
When play resumed 6 days later due to a combination of unavailability with Irish commitments and the weather, it was apparent that North Down was up for this one. Every run was a prisoner as Instonians eked out just 39 runs from the first 20 overs.
Instonians last hope was Irish international and former North Down man Andrew White and he succumbed to the pressure of needing 8 an over off the last ten. The only real shock was that it was one of the unsung heroes Andrew Haire who received the acclaim and Down Democrat Man of the Match award with 4 for 24.
Now the question is will it be worth the wait. CSN have been wanting to see who their opponents would be since 7 June and since this match was originally scheduled for 28 June, remarkably they did not know who they would face the next day until after 8 PM the preceding evening.
At the same time on 7 June as the remarkable match at Comber was taking place CSN was doing its own version of Lazarus at Middle Road, Carrickfergus. Apparently that match was over as a contest when Carrick struggled to 143 all out, with Regan West taking 4 for 46.
In reply CSN were coasting at 96 for 4, when Andrew Cowden then took 4 wickets in 8 balls to reduce the visitors to 106 for 8.
38 required with only two wickets to fall surely it was in the bag now for Carrickfergus. Unfortunately one of those two wickets was that of Regan West and he led the Stormont side to an unbelievable victory with an unbeaten 70.
It would appear that we have seen it all in the TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup this season but is there more drama to come, in a semi-final where both sides arguably should not be there at all had their last round opponents finished them off.
Much has been made of the fact that CSN has strengthened the team during the winter and now they are a serious challenge to the “Big Two” of North Down and Waringstown. Over two games they will have the chance to prove it.
Victory over cup holders North Down on Saturday will secure a place in the showpiece final on 15 August with Waringstown waiting for whoever wins this one.
Already this season they have defeated Waringstown, albeit an under strength eleven. Indeed some might say that North Down are vulnerable after a tremendous start to the season having lost in recent weeks in the Irish Senior Cup and the ClubTurf.
All the signs point once again to a classic, can the battle scarred veterans hold off the challenge of the pretenders to the throne, if the weather holds all will be revealed at Comber on Saturday
