Above: Announcing our new sponsor North Down Marquees are Carl Woodland, with players Sam Haire and Kian Hilton – many thanks to them and ‘watch’ this space as to when you’ll see their marquee on the ground at The Green!
The results won’t have anyone dancing on tables, but there was effort everywhere and the usual handful of bright spots — especially from the ones who keep showing up week after week. It wasn’t a winning weekend, but it was a North Down weekend all the same.
Ladies 1s Win Again — Four in a Row
The Ladies 1s made it four wins on the bounce on Sunday with a brilliant five-run win over unbeaten Holywood at Seapark Oval.
Batting first, Rebecca Webster carried her bat for a superb 58* and guided us to 107 for 4. Gracie Keenan added 19 at the top, and the extras column helped too. Webster’s knock — calm, patient, and mature — was the backbone.
With the ball, we were up against it — especially when Holywood’s South African pro Madison Landsman got going. But Amy Boyd changed the game with a brilliant caught-and-bowled to remove her — a sharp reaction grab that turned the momentum. Gracie Keenan took 4 for 22, Fisher 2 for 13, and we held our nerve in the field. This team’s starting to believe — and it shows.
M2s Open with a Positive Result
Thursday night started things off nicely with a solid league win for the 2s over Instonians 2s at The Green. That’s two wins on the bounce now after five straight losses to start the campaign — and in a league where anything seems to happen, every point could count.
Drew Parker led the way with 3 wickets, with Jacob McClure-Dalzell, Ryan Haire, and Joel Parker taking two each as Inst were held to 99. With the bat, everyone chipped in — Gavin Anderson (25) and James Shields (20) included — and the job was finished with six wickets in hand and plenty of time to spare.
M1s Outgunned at The Lawn
Saturday saw the 1s head to Waringstown, and to be honest, it followed the script. They’re stacked with interprovincials and internationals and playing with confidence — and it showed.
They posted 333 in their 50 overs, taking our bowlers apart in the closing stretch as options ran out. We were still missing Craig Young and Peter Davison, and TK was back bowling for the first time in weeks — so the effort was there, even if the outcome wasn’t.
In reply, Stevie Saul made a really good half-century, and TK backed up last week’s knock with another 50 of his own. We passed 200 and took something from the day — but the focus shifts now to next week’s huge game at Woodvale. That one really matters.
Credit to some of the home crowd, too — more than a few had genuine words of encouragement for our young players. People know we’re building.
M2s Left to Reflect After Plate Exit
Back at The Green, the 2s had hoped to carry that Thursday buzz into Saturday’s Ulster Plate clash with Donemana. It didn’t quite happen.
A wayward 27 wides helped the visitors post 203 after we had them 64 for 4. Ryan Haire and Luke Crothers took three wickets apiece, but we let them off the hook.
In reply, there were starts — Drew Parker hit 51, Andrew Haire 34 — but wickets at the wrong times saw us fall 18 short in a game that really was there for the taking. One that’ll sting.
M2s Fall Short in Junior Cup Shootout
Sunday saw the 2s head to Instonians for a Junior Cup quarter-final, where they ran into James Shannon in full flight. The former international played at a level well below his ability and still smashed an unbeaten ton off 39 balls — blowing the game open and helping the hosts post a ridiculous 327 in 40 overs.
To their credit, the 2s — the same core group that turn up every week — gave it a proper crack. Andrew Haire led the reply with a season-best 74, skipper Drew Parker added 45, and there were runs throughout the order. In the end, we were bowled out 48 runs short.
A double cup exit in one week stings, but the league now becomes the focus. We host bottom side Woodvale this Saturday — a huge fixture.
M3s Stay in Promotion Mix
The 3s made the trip to Ballymena a couple of players short but put in a proper team performance to stay in the Junior 4 promotion race.
Josh Montgomery (33) and Tim Ewart (27) got us to 146, which didn’t feel massive at the time — but the bowlers stepped up. Frazer Mitchell took 4, Thomas Atkinson 3, and Ballymena were bowled out 67 runs short. A cracking result from a side that’s quietly getting the job done most weeks.
M4s Lose Local Derby, But Plenty to Like
The 4s went to Londonderry Park to play Arches 2s and came up just short — beaten by six wickets, but it was a good showing.
Batting first, Isaac Webster hit 41 and Daniel Pooler 35 as we got up to 122. We fought hard with the ball, and while Arches did the job, the fielding effort was strong and the attitude spot on.
Special mention to former 1s skipper Ian Carser, who made a rare appearance and may or may not have bowled a maiden — the scorebook says yes, a few pitchside weren’t so sure. Either way, he brought much-needed calm to a young group.
Webster added two wickets to go with his runs and was the clear standout.
M5s Beaten at The Green
The 5s faced a strong Lisburn side at home and lost by nine wickets, but there was another encouraging knock from Lleyton Jackson — 28* and growing with every game. The results haven’t always been kind, but the development continues.
Final Thought
Not our most successful weekend. But some weeks aren’t about silverware — they’re about showing up, staying honest, and putting in the work, even when the odds aren’t in your favour. Some sides are thriving. Some are learning. Some are simply holding the line.
And if the results don’t fall our way, the effort still has to — because that’s the only way forward.
