Lisburn take on Comber to prepare for 2014 season

Before that, Lisburn have arranged a friendly against North Down tomorrow (Saturday) at Comber.

The game will be a 40 over affair with everyone hopefully getting a chance to shake off the winter rust.

Davey will have a very similar squad to last season with one big exception.

Lisburn signed Downpatrick captain James Magowan at the end of last season and he comes in with a fine reputation for scoring runs, having bagged three centuries last year and will open the innings for his new side.

The rest of the batting order will consist of Craig Ervine, Lisburn’s trump card, returning professional Robert Rankin, Darryl Brown, Adam Berry and the captain himself while the team will be missing the big hitting Nathan Waller, who has moved to fresh pastures.

The bowling has always been Lisburn’s strong suit with the quick bowling being in the good hands of Brown, Simpson, Richard McConkey and possibly Mark Berry who showed his talent at the end of last season.

Captain Simpson will be hoping for a more consistent batting performance throughout the league campaign. Too often the team was setting their opponents too low a target with too much pressure on the bowling to grab a result.

Again the teams to watch will be Instonians, Waringstown and North Down and Lisburn will have to defeat these sides if they are to contend for league honours.

Following the friendly against North Down, Lisburn travel to CIYMS on the 26th, Ballymena on the 3 May and on the 10 May they will have to play their Irish Cup match against Clontarf in Dublin because the Wallace Park in not available due to a Council function.

Lisburn Seconds also start their league programme in April and, captained by Graham Elliott, they will be hoping for a more successful season than last as they had to fight off the threat of relegation.

The Thirds will be led by Matthew Gleave and the Fourths by the evergreen Joe Hardial.

Senior practice is held every Tuesday and Thursday between 6pm and 8pm and all new members are more than welcome to attend.

Lisburn’s Junior practices begin on Monday 28 April for U15 and U13 boys from 6.30pm to 8pm while the U11 group will be on Wednesday 30 April, also from 6.30pm to 8pm.

This programme will take the junior groups through to the summer holidays when a fresh programme will be issued.

The coaching will be overseen by club coach Darryl Brown and Lisburn’s Cricket Development Officer Craig Ervine.

Managers of the U15 group will be Gary Blair and Trevor McKeown with John Glass looking after the U13s.

The U11 group will be looked after by Gary Blair and Trevor McKeown until further notice.

Parents should keep in touch with the club by using the website, lisburncricketclub.com or on Twitter at @eofficiallcc.