North West launches domestic cricket season

Cricket looks like being the first team sport back in action in the north west and although clubs have long since accepted that they will have to settle for T20 matches, the shortest official format of the game, it hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm.

To their credit, the local Union has done an excellent job during lockdown, maintaining a constant stream of information and dialogue between themselves and clubs.

They have also come up with what, weather permitting, could be a winning formula for this truncated season.

The 15 senior clubs have been broken down into four groups, regionalised to reduce travel, and they will play a round robin tournament of games against each other, home and away.

The winners of the four groups will advance into semi-finals and final with the prize at stake being the Blue Riband trophy, the North West Senior Cup.

It was a bold move by organisers to play for the famous old trophy which is obviously a 50-over competition in any other year. This, of course is not any other year, however the lure of a Senior Cup semi-final has certainly heightened interest in proceedings.

Coleraine and Ballyspallen have the stage to themselves next Friday night (July 17th) when they play the first game of the new season at Sandel Lodge.

That should draw decent support after a long wait for action to begin but the NWCU has been quick to point out that Covid Compliance Officers have been appointed by all clubs and processes must be followed to ensure it is a safe environment for players, officials and spectators alike.

There will be a full programme of fixtures on Saturday afternoon and every Saturday thereafter (starting at 2pm), weather permitting.

It should also be noted that every one of the participating clubs will take their place in the semi-final of a cup competition at the end of the group stages with the Faughan Valley, Sammy Jeffrey and Eric Cooke cups the other trophies up for grabs.

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