SENIOR ONE FOCUS

OFTEN described by some cricket pundits as a team that has an abundance of batting talent with little bowling depth, Limavady enter the current campaign on Saturday with potentially the strongest strike attack in the North West league, aided further by the signing of Brigade all-rounder Gregory Wilson this week. With 6ft 4' South African fast bowler Neels Engelbrecht due to make his North West debut on Saturday alongside former Irish International bowler Richard McDaid, Limavady could have a potent opening bowling partnership in the making.

It could be argued that Engelbrecht is a bit of an unknown quantity and it's difficult to predict just how the young Gauteng Premier League cricketer will adjust to the slow early season wickets in the North West, but Decker Curry, for the first time in years, will have an abundance of bowling talent at his disposal should the situation demand it. Gregory Wilson, regarded as one of the tidiest bowlers in the North West, has signed for Limavady this week and will bring valuable years of experience gained in a successful Brigade side that has dominated the league since the turn of the millennium. Mark McDaid, Andrew Riddles, Chris Moore, Simon Dunn, Dean Curry and Decker are all accomplished all round cricketers with plenty of bowling talent to tap into, and all will be used heavily in the long season ahead.

In short, Limavady will have the diversity of nine bowlers to turn to at any stage of an innings- eight on Saturday. "We are missing Mark McDaid this week", said Limavady spokesperson Ivan Lapsley, "but we will still have a strong side available as we begin the season at Donemana." Add opening bat specialist Ian McGregor and wicketkeeper/batsman David Cooke to the long list of talented cricketers at the John Hunter grounds this season and most would see Limavady as genuine title contenders. "I don't make predictions," continued Ivan.

"We have a difficult opening game against Donemana in Tyrone on Saturday and it's one of the toughest places to go and get a result. "If we are to compete at the Holm it is important that we go there and take the game to them. It's one of the most difficult games in the season but at least it will give us an indication of where we are early in the season." The unavailability of Mark McDaid this week has given the Roesiders the chance to blood one of their younger players and according to Ivan, the club will hope to give some of the aspiring seconds players exposure to the top domestic league throughout the season ahead. "It's something that we have always been keen to do at Limavady and there are a few younger guys knocking on the door this season. We will miss Mark this week for his batting, bowling and fielding, but at least we will have a chance to give a fringe player some experience.

 Young players like Adam McDaid are part of our plans for the season and they will get a chance." Meanwhile, former Limavady bowler Keith Burns has decided to return to The Nedd after a number of successful seasons at the John Hunter grounds. Despite playing in both of Limavady's pre-season matches to date, the Ballykelly man has decided that the time is right to move on, and will join his old team mates, under the captaincy of another former Limavady player, Ian Smyth.

Senior Two has competitive edge

North West second tier looks set to offer the best title race in years

SENIOR TWO FOCUS

WITH this season's Senior League One set to suffer from a lack of competitive cricket at the bottom end of the table due to the removal of relegation, much of the excitement may well come from what, on paper looks like one of the best Section Two title races in many years, with any one of five teams capable of making the step into the top league. Ardmore, Burndenett, St. Johnston, Creevedonnell and Drummond may well be the perceived pace setters in Senior Two, but another local side should be well set to knock on the door as they continue to build a side for the future.

Coleraine Cricket Club has formed a team that blends invaluable experience with fresh, competitive youth and they will now look to improve on their comfortable mid-table finish in the league last year. They opened their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Brigade last Sunday and despite losing the game, coach Stephen McCartney told the Northern Constitution that he was looking forward to the next few months. "It was great to get the side on the field again and everyone is looking forward to the season ahead", said the Sandel Lodge stalwart. "We have the same team as last season, with the exception of South African student Bradley Moses, so we have some experience of playing together. "Our other South African from last year, young Simo Ngcobo is still with us and will offer a good left arm bowling option with the new ball. As well as Simo we will have Brian Acheson and Allister Handforth, who had a good season last year. Simon Caulfield is another young player coming through and we will hopefully get a full season out of him.

 "Wilson Torrens will captain a side that will include the likes of Viscal Chopra and Robbie and Geoff Lockhart so we are hoping that the balance is there." With the league season beginning this weekend, Coleraine have one of the hardest trips of the campaign to contend with first up, away to Drummond, a side that has recruited heavily during the winter. "It won't be an easy match, especially with McDaid, Crown, Scott and their new pro Shahzad Butt all looking to make impressions, but these are the sort of games that we look forward to", continued McCartney. When asked about club aspirations for the season ahead, Stephen, who will hope to play a positive role in the Coleraine middle order this weekend said: "A top three finish and a good run in one of the cups would be our main aims for the season. We have North Fermanagh at home in the first round of the senior cup and that is certainly a game that we will be targeting."

Crindle on the march

INTERMEDIATE FOCUS

CRINDLE Cricket Club is a side on the up. Promoted into Intermediate League Two this season, the former North West Senior Cup finalists have aspirations of returning into the top flight and captain Alexander Steele sees this season as a pivotal one in the resurgence of the club. "We had a good season last year and we want to keep building", said Alex, who played in the club's Senior Cup final side of 1995. Richard Millar, who captained Ballyspallen Second XI to cup glory last season, returns to the Myroe venue and will be used as one of the club's main strike bowlers.

"We are glad to welcome Richard back and he will certainly add to a useful looking bowling line-up that includes Johnny Young, Davey Blair and Ian Young", continued Alex. "We are also excited to have Sri Lankan Ronga, who is working in Limavady, at the club. In our pre-season nets he looked like a useful medium pace bowler and he's also a bit of a hitter in the lower order. "The batting looks pretty strong on paper with FA (John Steele) returning to the club. Jason Steele and John (Rempy) Steele will also be looking for runs and I am hoping things go well for me with the bat this season.

"If we can get ourselves in a good run early on this season, then there is no reason why we can't win the league and get a return into senior cricket. Crindle open their league campaign this weekend with the visit of Drummond II. In other Intermediate news, Ballyspallen, who have dropped from Senior League One into tier Three of the Junior Leagues, begin their season with a trip to The Nedd II and should enter the game as firm favourites, despite losing the majority of their senior players over the last two weeks. Nigel McElwee, Ivan McDaid and Stephen Dunn are all expected to remain at the club and may feature in this game.