Templepatrick promotion hopes are dashed

In order to keep the dream alive Richard Greer's lads needed to collect full points at Sandy Bay, along with defeat for rivals Cooke Collegians at Shaw's Bridge, but neither of these materialised.

So with Donaghcloney already crowned champions, the runners-up spot will go to either Cooke Collegians or Millpark, with Templepatrick guaranteed a fourth place finish in Section 2.

After having been put in on a damp wicket at Sandy Bay, Templepatrick were quite pleased when they posted a competitive 188 for 9 in forty-nine overs. Jay Hunter top scored with 33, just ahead of skipper Greer who had 32 and Artie Campbell (29), while Richard Brown contributed 20.

Brown and Campbell's second wicket partnership of 34 proved to be a sound foundation; Campbell and Greer then added 31 for the third, followed by the side's top stand of 40 between Greer and Hunter.

However, Larne replied with 192 for 4 to win with six wickets to spare, thanks mainly to a match-winning second wicket partnership between Alexander and Gaw.

“At the end of the day losing our first two league fixtures proved to be crucial,” reflected Richard Greer. “The loss of senior players Keith Wilson and John Busby for the entire season was a big blow, but the young players stepped up to the plate and filled the gaps more than adequately.

“Major ground improvements at our home ground at The Cloughan meant that we have been unable to play there all season, but when we were eventually able to play home games at Ballyclare High School’s grounds we reeled off seven straight wins that rocketed us into the promotion stakes. Under the circumstances a fourth place finish was more than we could ever have expected, and we can look forward to next season with confidence,” speculated Richard.

Meanwhile, Templepatrick’s 3rd XI completed their league programme with a defeat by Holywood III at Seapark.

Owing to the inclement weather the match was reduced to twenty overs a side, and Holywood posted an impressive 131 for 6. Skipper Peter Shepherd was the most successful bowler with 2 for 9 off four overs, while Philip Gregg, Brian McCavery and Jack Magee claimed one victim each.

James Hall top scored in Templepatrick's reply of only 61 scored in 19.1 overs.

“We were in the bottom half of the Division 3 Section 4 table for most of the season, and just avoided relegation when we finished in 6th out of eight places,” Peter Shepherd confirmed.

The 2nd XI had already completed their programme to finish 6th out of 13 in Division 2 Section 3