North West Cricket: Title and relegation to be decided with double header fixtures

Last Saturday's persistent rain means that (weather permitting) this year's Long's SuperValu Premier Division Section 1 title and relegation issues will now be decided with a double-header set of fixtures this coming weekend.

The scheduled 'last day' programme will go ahead on Saturday as planned, however last weekend's full programme that fell foul of the weather will now take place on Sunday and the likelihood is that the title will be decided by then.

The fly in the ointment is Saturday's weather - if games are washed out on Saturday there will be one more attempt to play them - most likely on the following Saturday.

Sunday's fixtures are of course a second attempt, so any games which are not played then are wiped out completely.

It means that all of the sides battling for something will be keen to play both days, and that is certainly the case for title contenders Brigade and Donemana.

The Beechgrove side have a crucial 'bonus points' lead of six over the reigning champions, but as well as wins being essential, there are 10 bonus points at stake for each of them.

Should Brigade win their two matches this weekend and claim five of the ten bonus points on offer, they will be crowned champions. If they don't, and Donemana claim full points, they would reclaim the title.

Neither side has an easy weekend either - Brigade away to a Strabane side who have proved dogged enough in recent weeks to avoid automatic relegation before completing their programme at home to an Ardmore outfit that is far from out of the woods either.

Fox Lodge skipper Jonny Robinson receives the Long's SuperValu Premier Section 2 trophy from NWCU President Connie McAllister

Donemana entertain third-placed Coleraine on Saturday- there's nothing easy there; and they finish off with a trip to Eglinton who are right on the brink of relegation.

The villagers need to beat Ardmore heavily at the Bleachgreen on Saturday to keep their Section 1 hopes alive until Sunday, but if they do that, it would heap the pressure on Harry Zimmermann's side ahead of that clash at Beechgrove on Sunday.

Newbuildings will have an eye on third place as they head to Bready on Saturday, albeit the home side isn't completely out of the equation in the promotion/relegation play-off stakes either.

The Bannsiders will be hoping they can do enough to close out a top three finish themselves as they end their campaign with a home game against Bready, but there is currently just a single point between themselves and Ross Hunter's side in the league standings.

Fox Lodge have already won Section 2 and subsequent promotion to next season's top flight but they finish off with a couple of tasty games away at play-off chasing Ballyspallen on Saturday and at home to Glendermott on Sunday.

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St Johnston currently occupy that coveted play-off spot, and despite the fact that they only have one game left, it is at home to nearest challengers Ballyspallen in what now looks like being a winner-take-all shoot-out.

Bonds Glen have enjoyed a prolific season at club level and they will hope to finish on a high with Saturday's game at home to Killyclooney followed by a trip to Burndennett where they will complete their 2025 campaign.