Cracking cricket this weekend in North West Cricket League

There's a more relaxed feel to this weekend's domestic programme after a hectic opening couple of days but there is some cracking cricket lined up including the North West Warriors ongoing participation in Dublin in the season's first IPT20 Festival.

On Saturday, Donemana will bid to build on their impressive win at home to Newbuildings when they host Bready in what could be the game of the day.

Raymond Curry took on the captaincy on his debut at the Holm in that one and although he didn't trouble the scorers then, he showed what he can do on Sunday with a sparkling T20 century against The Nedd.

There is now a fair sprinkling of young talent at Donemana and Rumesh Buddhika looks like he could be a good addition too, although Bready are no back number either.

Ian Young's side easily saw off Killyclooney on Saturday and their new overseas man, Parth Palawat also looks like a decent recruit. This is likely to be a sterner test for both, and should draw a big crowd to the Tyrone venue.

Newbuildings looked out of sorts on Saturday in their 7-wicket defeat and will need to be much better against a Coleraine side that stunned champions Ardmore on opening day.

The Foyleview team are never down for long and Gareth McKeegan will have them fired up for their trip to Sandel Lodge.

The Bannsiders though will be nobody's mugs this season and have added a few quality faces for the summer. They're a team who look as though they quietly fancy themselves for a good summer and a win here would be a huge statement.

Eglinton lost out to the experience of Brigade in a turgid sort of tussle last weekend- scoring was definitely difficult everywhere first up but Andy Britton's side showed the greater resolve in this one.

Lahiru Dilshan - Eglinton's new overseas player.

The villagers go to Killyclooney this weekend and will feel they need to win against a side that punched well above their weight last year on the back of a magnificent season from Blayde Capell.

'Clooney now have to find a way to do it without him and they look up against it, although by no means out of it, on Saturday.

The final top flight game sees Brigade host Ardmore in another eagerly-anticipated clash at Beechgrove. The champions can ill-afford to start with two defeats and Brigade looked solid in their win at Eglinton.

Skipper Rachit Gaur definitely has the visitors thinking differently these days and Ardmore could well be a wounded animal, but they need to improve dramatically to win this.

In Section 2, the main talking point could well be at the Park where Strabane are believed to have signed ex-Ireland International John Mooney as Director of Coaching. The Red Caps will have no doubt registered the all-rounder as a player too, so the Saints' job might suddenly have become a more difficult challenge.

Fox Lodge's game with Strabane was washed out last week, so this is the first league outing for both, and the Ballymagorry side make their belated start at Ballyspallen.

The Roe Valley men seem to have unearthed something special with the signing of James Cusack but it will be vital for them to get enough support around him.

Ryan Nolan bowling for Glendermott on Sunday.

The Foxies clearly have an eye on a title challenge this year and if they are to challenge for promotion, these are the games they need to be winning.

The Nedd and Burndennett, two sides who lost their first outings, lock horns in Ballykelly and there's a lot at stake for both of them you would think.

Glendermott and Bonds Glen claimed winning points on Saturday on the other hand, and that makes their clash at the Rectory very interesting. The two teams squared up at the same venue in a T20 on Sunday, with the Bee Gees emerging victorious in that one.

The Bonds Street venue will also host Sunday's Derry Midweek League Charity Day where Bready Women will meet Fox Lodge women in the first game (12) noon, before Ardmore and Brigade's men's teams clash in their final at 4pm.

Admission for the full day is £5 (£3 concession- kids free).

This weekend's fixtures

Saturday

Long's SuperValu Premiership Section 1 - Killyclooney v Eglinton; Brigade v Ardmore; Donemana v Bready; Coleraine v Newbuildings

Section 2 - Ballyspallen v Fox Lodge; Strabane v St Johnston; The Nedd v Burndennett; Glendermott v Bonds Glen

Sunday

Derry Midweek Charity Cup finals - (At The Rectory) - Bready Women v Fox Lodge Women (12 noon); Ardmore v Brigade (4pm)