Jones is retaining focus as CIYMS eye another clean sweep
may have swept all before them last year but the NCU champions know they can expect two serious contests this weekend when they face North Down in an attractive double-header.
First up tomorrow is the Robinson Services League Cup clash at Comber, although even the losers will expect to finish in the top four with the final round of group games next week to determine who goes through to the semi-finals.
So the most important game is on Sunday at The Lawn, where the teams meet in the Lagan Valley Steels T20 final with a place in the All-ireland T20 finals the prize for the winners.
As holders, CIYMS will be looking for another clean sweep — they are the only three trophies available this year — but skipper Nigel Jones is determined to take it one game at a time.
“It’s really important we get through to the last-four of the Robinson Services Cup but we know what we are about and it’s going to be important that we put our best foot forward, be clear in what we want to do and play positive cricket,” he said.
“Equally, we will be mindful of a couple of their threats and hopefully we can deal with them. Looking at their team, they’ve recruited well and shown in the last year or two that T20 is a decent format for them.”
The biggest threat, of course, will come from Paul Stirling, the Ireland international who plays his last two games for North Down before meeting up with his next set of team-mates at Northamptonshire on Monday for the T20 Blast.
CI pair Mark Adair and Jacob Mulder had first-hand expericiyms
ence of Stirling’s hitting prowess with the Northern Knights yesterday, but they were on the same side.
Instonians, Waringstown and Civil Service North are the other teams in contention for a topfour league finish and all know a win is essential in their games against the bottom three.
In the North West, it is do or die because it is the final round of group games in the Long’s Supervalu T20 Championship with three Senior Cup semi-final places up for grabs.
There are two winner-takeall contests, in Group 3 between Fox Lodge and Bready and in Group 4 between Donemana and surprise package Killyclooney, who have already beaten the T20 Cup holders once this season but must do it again tomorrow, at The Holm, if they are to finish top of the group.
The gap between Bready and Fox Lodge is such that the Magheramason side can actually afford to lose narrowly — by taking at least four points — and still finish first, and it is the same in Group 2 where Brigade are in pole position and, depending on the size of a Newbuildings victory against St Johnston, last year’s double winners may need only five points at their noisy neighbours, Glendermott.
Tomorrow fixtures (2pm): Robinson Services League Cup: Carrickfergus v Waringstown, Civil Service North v Woodvale, Lisburn v Instonians, North Down v CIYMS.
Robinson Services Trophy: Armagh v Cliftonville Academy, Ballymena v Donaghcloney Mill, Cregagh v Saintfield, Downpatrick v Templepatrick, Muckamore v Derriaghy.
Robinson Services Bowl: Lurgan v Victoria, Laurelvale v Cooke Collegians, Bangor v Ards (12pm), Dundrum v Drumaness Superkings, Dunmurry v BISC, Holywood v Donaghadee (12.30pm).
Long’s Supervalu T20 Championship: Coleraine v Eglinton, Glendermott v Brigade, Newbuildings v St Johnston, Burndennett v Strabane, Fox Lodge v Bready, Bonds Glen v Ardmore, Donemana v Killyclooney.
Sunday: Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup final: CIYMS v North Down (The Lawn).