Templepatrick 'quietly confident' of top three finish, says Greer

Nicely placed in fourth position Richard Greer's lads have to still to play leaders Donaghcloney, second placed Millpark as well as Larne and Drumaness. The Ballyclare-based side must surely fancy their chances of pipping Cooke Collegians to third place.

Millpark's title charge faltered at the weekend when they lost to Donaghcloney who leap-frogged into pole position. They will now be viewing their trip to Ballyclare on Saturday with more than a little apprehension.

Templepatrick kept their hopes of a top three finish alive at the weekend when they beat Cregagh by two wickets at Rashee Road.

In what was a low-scoring, rain-affected match the local side eased home after dismissing the city side for only 103 in twenty-nine overs.

Three figures seemed a long way off when Cregagh were reduced to 46 for 4, but a fifth wicket stand of thirty eased their problems just a little.

Simon Beattie was the home side's most successful bowler with 4 for 24 off seven overs, supported by Robert Smith (2 for 3 off ten), Stephen Boyd (2 for 15 off five) and Josh Dailly (1 for 13 off eight).

Artie Campbell made a valuable contribution in the field, executing a neat run-out in addition to taking two fine catches at mid-off.

In reply, Templepatrick were in a spot of bother when they had Andy McCrea, Mark Thompson, Campbell and Richard Brown back in the changing room with only twenty-five on the board.

However, skipper Greer (29 not out) and teenager David Gibson (25) turned things around with a patient stand of forty-two.

Following a rain interruption , 'Patrick were set a revised target of 96, and another teenager, Ross Bryans, secured victory with a confident stroke to the boundary.

Skipper Greer said: "After a sluggish start to the season in which we had to travel for all our matches, we have run into a fine vein of form since switching to Ballyclare High School's ground on the Rashee Road.

"We have gradually worked our way into the top four, and we are quietly confident of being able to improve upon this, especially when we have to meet the top two teams."

Templepatrick have two fixtures this weekend against Millpark on Saturday and Drumaness on Sunday.