NW CRICKET: WEATHER PLAYS HAVOC WITH START OF IRISH SENIOR CUP

Bready's Gavin Wallace makes it back to the crease just in time during Sunday's match against Ardmore. INLS1916-125KM

More unseasonal weather put the dampeners on the domestic cricket programme at the weekend with half of the scheduled All-Ireland cup fixtures being lost to the elements.

Unfortunately for North West teams, not a ball was bowled in any of the fixtures due to be staged in the region, meaning they will all now have to relinquish home advantage for the replays, due to be staged on Sunday week.

There was however some good news in the ties that did go ahead up and down the country, with both Eglinton and Fox Lodge progressing to the next round after wins at Muckamore and Leinster respectively.

Bready's Clive Hamilton pictured at the crease during Sunday's match against Ardmore. INLS1916-128KM

An excellent batting performance saw the villagers coast to a 72-run win in their game, that despite a century from Avadhoot Dandekar for the home team.

If anything, Fox Lodge’s win was even more impressive as they accounted for a classy Leinster side; the third time in six years that the Ballymagorry outfit have beaten the southerners in this competition.

There was a boost for Sion Mills too as they got a lucky break in their National Cup match at Cliftonville. This one was also reduced by the rain with the Belfast side making over 200 in just 26 overs but they were then unable to produce the necessary DLS printout and the umpires had no alternative but to award the game to the visitors by default.

No such luck elsewhere however as St Johnston, Ardmore and Bready were well beaten by Phoenix, North County and Waringstown respectively; while Bonds Glen and Killyclooney lost out to North Kildare and Balbriggan in the National Cup.

Sunday saw a couple of games that were washed out on the first weekend in the Long’s SuperValu leagues re-played and there were very significant wins for both Ardmore and Fox Lodge. In the Premier Division a Decker Curry- inspired Bleachgreen side got the better of Bready while the Foxies won a real thriller against St Johnston by 2 runs in the Championship.