Armagh and Laurelvale set for derby encounter

SATURDAY saw Laurelvale travel to Donacloney Mill where the Factory Ground was in great shape despite the overnight rain.

A delayed start saw the game reduced to 47 overs. The hosts batted first and got off to a steady start before an excellent piece of fielding by Daryl Henry resulted in a run-out to give the ’Vale their breakthrough.

MATCH DETAILS

Donacloney Mill innings: 292 for 4 (47 overs)

Top Donacloney Mill batsmen: Peet Pienaar 152 not out, R. Matthews 76.

Laurelvale innings: 264 (45.1 overs)
Top Laurelvale batsmen: A Malik 27, David Sinton 48, John Livingstone 43, Michael Burns 39, Mohammad Ajmal 35.
Top Donacloney Mill bowlers: A. Kennedy 3 for 44, H. Lockhart 2 for 32; T. McClure 2 for 54.
Donacloney Mill beat Laurelvale by 28 runs.
Laurelvale were to have played Templepatrick at The Cloughan on Sunday, but with that match abandoned it is now void which means no points for either side.

Meanwhile Armagh played Cregagh on Thursday night in a match reduced to 20 overs.
It did not go well for Michael Hoey's men, for they lost by 19 runs.
The match details were as follows:
Cregagh innings: 113 for 9 (20 overs).
Top Cregagh scorers: A. Johnston 26, M. Johnston 33.
Top Armagh bowlers: Ben Mackey 2 for 14, Matthew Wright 3 for 17.
Armagh innings: 94 for 9 (20 overs).
Top Armagh batsmen: M. Steenson 37, Michael Hoey 34 not out.
Top Cregagh bowlers: D. Cooper 2 for 8, A. Watt 3 for 19.
Cregagh won by 19 runs.

Saturday’s scheduled trip to Saintfield also was a victim of the weather, with rain putting paid to that one.

Locals’ fingers are now crossed that this Saturday’s scheduled Laurelvale v Armagh derby in the village will proceed.

Looking ahead to that meeting of the pair now occupying 5th and 7th places in the 10-team race – Laurelvale have 24 points to Armagh’s 20, both having played 13 of their 18 matches – home skipper Sinton said, “Both teams are still looking for wins to guarantee safety, so that's going to make it as competitive as ever."

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