Waringstown and Instonians stay on winning trail as NCU Premier League title race hits boiling point ahead of crunch clash
Only run-rate separates the joint leaders after both continued their winning runs on Saturday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Waringstown and Instonians stay on winning trail as NCU Premier League title race hits boiling point ahead of crunch clash
Waringstown host Instonians on Saturday, August 2 in a match which could decide the 2025 NCU Premier League title. Only run-rate separates the joint leaders after both continued their winning runs on Saturday.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Cliftonville Academy eager to put League struggles behind us in T20 Final clash with Instonians, says Jared Wilson
Wilson is player/coach of a side who have set aside their League struggles to be the surprise package of the shortest format, and go into the game with no fear. 'It's certainly been an interesting League campaign where we have lost a few games by small margins,' said Wilson. 'Against Instonians for example, I was on 95 as we were chasing 325 and there was a long delay looking for a lost ball and my concentration was broken, getting out the next ball. We lost that game by just 10 runs. 'There was another match where we also came out the wrong side of a tight contest versus Muckamore, and in that I and our overseas player Abhishek (Raut) got nought. 'If we had won both those then our season would have been on a different trajectory, and we would have been in the top six rather than in the bottom four. 'In the T20 campaign we have played some really good cricket and it's exciting to be in the Final. 'It's obviously going to be tough against Instonians who are flying in all competitions, but T20 cricket can be a bit of a leveller, making it a more even contest. 'They're full of confidence with the season they're having, but we have got a few wins recently that will help us in the Final. The South African born all-rounder came to Northern Ireland as a teenager, enjoying success with Ardmore and Newbuildings in the North-West, before switching to Cliftonville Academy where he started initially as a director of cricket, before moving to his current role. 'I came here to Ireland not really knowing anything about the place to be honest,' he said. 'I started at Ardmore where I really enjoyed it and we had a lot of success. I also captained Newbuildings to the Premiership and Faughan Valley Cup. 'We just missed out on the treble, beaten by Fox Lodge in the Senior Cup Final in one of the best games I've ever played in. 'The crowd, the pressure, the atmosphere. It was just an incredible occasion. 'I loved my time in the region, and still am based in Derry, along with my partner Shannon, and two sons Eden and Reuben who are aged four and two. 'It's a great place and the people are just so warm and funny. It was a bit of a change from Cape Town but six years later I'm still here and looking forward to the future.' He's relishing the opportunity to add more silverware to his collection, hoping an all-round team effort can topple the Shaw's Bridge side 'There's a massive buzz around the club ahead of the Final,' said the 25-year-old. 'It's certainly going to be one of the proudest days in the club's history and we have the players to achieve that. 'To win one of the biggest trophies in domestic cricket would be great for all at the club, and we will be trying hard to do that. 'We have a great opening partnership with Abhishek Raut, who has played in the IPL, and Frank Collins. They've laid the foundation with strong starts, and the middle-order has backed that up. 'We have a varied bowling attack with plenty of variety. Matthew McCord, John Glass, Ben Kane, Abhishek and myself have complemented each other well. 'We don't really have any superstars, but what we do have is a real team ethic. 'That's been the hallmark of our success in the T20's and If we all stick together and fire, there's no reason why we can't lift the trophy on Sunday.' The Final on Sunday is part of a double-header with Bangor meeting Cregagh in the T20 Trophy ahead of the main event (11.00am). There's also a busy League programme on Saturday with leaders Instonians hosting North Down, second-placed Waringstown travelling to Muckamore, and CIYMS at home to Lisburn. In the bottom four Templepatrick entertain CSNI, while Cliftonville Academy warm up for their big day with a home clash against Woodvale. In today's Premiership games, the top two meet at the Foyleview Arena with Newbuildings playing leaders Donemana in a dress rehearsal for next week's Senior Cup final. In the other games, Bready are home to Ardmore, Strabane host Coleraine, while Brigade entertain bottom side Eglinton. There are also three rearranged matches on Sunday with Strabane at home to Donemana, Newbuildings taking on Brigade and Bready meeting Eglinton.
Belfast Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Nikolai Smith reveals what the key behind Inst's rise from bottom half to treble chasers has been
That's a far cry from the struggles of 2024, and skipper Nikolai Smith has hailed the influence of their overseas professional in the upturn in their fortunes. 'It's all gone really, really well so far with so many guys in great form,' said Smith. 'We have bounced back really well from last season when we were in the bottom half of the League. 'Shane Dadswell returning as our overseas professional has made a huge difference as he is fantastic with the players. 'He's so positive and having him in the team is massive. Not only his contributions with bat and ball but the way he interacts with everyone has just given the club a massive boost. 'He adds so much and lifts everyone, making them feel two feet taller, giving them tremendous belief in their ability. 'Cade Carmichael, Neil Rock and Cian Robertson are having excellent seasons, as well as others all chipping in. Everyone has stepped up and are all doing really well for us. 'We're helped too by the fact we have such a strong second XI, and they are pushing for places and putting the first-team guys under pressure, which is helping everyone be at their best and perform. 'The key to our success this year so far has been individuals focusing on their own job and doing it well.' Despite that strong start, they haven't won anything yet, and have some huge matches coming up against Waringstown both in the Premiership and Cup Final, as well as a T20 Final next week against Cliftonville Academy. 'There are some really good teams in the League, so there are no games where you think that this will be easy. You have to be at your best every week. We are really looking forward to the Cup Finals,' continued Smith. 'They are so tough to win, and the fact that we are mostly playing away from home in the remaining matches makes it a little bit tougher, but we are in a great position. 'It won't just be Waringstown that we have to perform against as you have to beat good teams to win things, and we will be doing our best just to do that.' Instonians passed two massive tests of their trophy credentials in July with back-to-back wins over rivals Lisburn – victories that have given the Shaw's Bridge side massive belief. 'While the toss in those matches was obviously important, the guys were really up for it and played some tremendous cricket against a very good team,' he added. 'The bowling unit was superb and the batters all did their jobs. We weren't expecting to chase 180 both days, so to win comfortably just instils more confidence that we can beat any team on our day.' Smith has actually played international cricket – not for his native South Africa or indeed Ireland where he has lived for the past 12 years with his local wife and two young children, but for Italy, where his mother hails from. It's been a huge week for the Azzurri, who beat Scotland to qualify for next year's T20 World Cup. Smith played 10 times for Italy, making his debut in 2019, and scoring a century against Kenya in a 50-overs game. Was there any chance of a return for the 32-year-old all-rounder? 'It's been a fantastic achievement for them to qualify as these tournaments are always notoriously tough. It's so good for Italian cricket as a whole and will allow them to really grow the game,' he said. 'In terms of myself, I would love to play for them again, but I'm realistic enough to know they have some really fantastic players now and I didn't really perform that well when I was there. 'I'm certainly still available for selection, but if it did happen, I would have to score runs and try and nail down a spot. 'Not being in the team is down to me not really taking the chances when I had them.' Instonians are away at CIYMS in the first match of the top-six split, while Lisburn entertain Muckamore and North Down host Waringstown. In the relegation battle, Woodvale take on CSNI, while Cliftonville Academy face Templepatrick. In the North West, Newbuildings and Brigade meet twice, firstly in the League and on Sunday in their rearranged Faughan Valley Cup Final. Leaders Donemana are at struggling Strabane, Bready host bottom side Eglinton and Ardmore meet Coleraine.
