Derriaghy Seconds take centre stage with league wins and cup final place

With the Derriaghy First XI without a fixture at the weekend due to their opponents involvement in the Senior Challenge Cup, it was the turn of Derriaghy Seconds to take centre stage.
Derriaghy's Ross Bailey in action. Photo by Kevin Scott / PresseyeDerriaghy's Ross Bailey in action. Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye
Derriaghy's Ross Bailey in action. Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye

The Seconds recorded two league wins and also booked a place in the Intermediate Cup final.

On Wednesday evening they managed to complete their rearranged league, albeit in a reduced format, and recorded a fine 29 run win over Instonians.

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Matty Jennings with 52 not out was the lynchpin to the Derriaghy innings of 124 for 2 while Davy Scott hit a quick 28.

The visitors lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually faded to 95 for 7. Kingsley Beckett with 2 for 16 off 3 overs was the most successful of the 7 bowlers used.

A couple of fine catches and 2 run outs also ensured a relatively easy win in the end.

On Sunday at home again in another rearranged league match, they had a much tougher affair in a 20 over game against Templepatrick before winning by 9 runs.

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Stephen Cairnduff got the home side of to a quick start hitting 4 big 6s and 3 other boundaries in his fine knock of 48.

Davy Scott almost matched him with 44 including 3 maximums and 3 fours while Ross Bailey contributed 33 in his innings as Derriaghy finished on 154 for 6.

In reply the visitors made a cautious start against the opening bowling attack of M Jennings and S Hughes and at the half way stage were 56 for 1, leaving them requiring 10 an over.

Some big hits in the next 7 overs saw the equation down to 37 required of 3 with still 8 wickets in hand.

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With Bailey bowling the 18th over from the road end the batsman struck what seemed like a certain 6 only to see Matty Jennings run 10 yards and take a fantastic one handed catch above his head – this undoubtably swung the game in Derriaghy’s favour.

Jennings himself bowled the final over and despite concede 15 runs it was enough to record the 7th win in a row for the Seconds.

On Saturday the Seconds had travelled to Gordon PF to take on Waringstown Thirds in the semi final of the Intermediate cup and came away with an easy 8 wicket win.

On a damp wicket all the Derriaghy bowlers performed well reducing the home team to 14 for 6 and despite a bit of late hitting were eventually dismissed for 59.

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Josh Cardosi and Matty Jennings both collected 3 for 10 while, M Stinson, K Beckett and R Malone got 1 apiece.

Stephen Cairnduff hit a quick fire 28 and aided by 15 wides the Queensway men got home for the loss of just 2 wickets.

They now face Woodvale Seconds in the final at Ballygomartin Road on Saturday 13th August.

The Third XI meanwhile tasted their first league defeat of the season going down to Cooke Collegians in a tightly fought contest at Queensway.

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The visitors batted first and managed to total 167 for 6 in their 35 overs. Michael Jones with 2 for 13 and John Torrans 2 for 29 were the most successful bowlers.

Derriaghy lost 4 early wickets but useful stands involving John Close who finished on 37 not out, Ryan Stewart 28, Joe and Paddy Anderson 17 each saw them edge close to the required total but in the end finished up 15 runs short of victory.

However with 6 wins out of 7 they remain top of Junior League 5 and still favourites for a promotion spot.

This weekend the Firsts return to action with a home match v Instonians on Saturday and then travel to Carrick on Sunday – both games start at 11am.

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The Seconds travel to Templepatrick on Saturday while the Thirds entertain Lisburn on Thursday evening (6.15 start) in a rearranged fixture followed by a trip to Waringstown on Saturday.

Next Thursday (28th) they have another rearrangement at Queensway with Carrick the visitors this time (6.15 start).