Roe men are the side to beat

One of the most significant changes in Senior One means that the bottom two sides will be automatically relegated to form an eight team league the following season, also the side finishing third from bottom will have to play the winners of Section two, this is to get in line with the other unions.

To add excitement to this season’s games Power plays will be in operation, where the first ten overs in each innings will be power plays and a further ten overs of power plays will take place with the fielding side having five overs and the batting side also having five overs. The Duckworth Lewis rules will also be in operation.

Eamonn McLaughlin Highland Radio’s Cricket correspondent give his predictions on where the clubs may end up come September.

Limavady

The Roesiders have signed Pakistan wicketkeeper Zeeshan Malik, while Chris Moore also returns. Their bowling let them down on a number of occasions last season and they have strengthened that department with the signing of Andrew Britton form Fox Lodge, they also welcome back Dean Curry, although Mark McDaid has retired because of injury.

Prediction: First.

Brigade

Last seasons champions will be going all out for a repeat, however they lost their talented opening batsman Chris Dougherty who is on his way to CIYMS. They added a new Pakistian professional Ali Khan and the rest of the side will be along the same lines as last season.

Prediction: Second.

Bready

Last seasons Senior cup winners, they are determined to improve on last seasons fifth spot. Agha Sabir returns as the pro while David Scanlon takes over the captaincy from the retired Trevor Hamilton. They will once again expect big performances from David Rankin and Stephen Clarke and Brian Crumley.

Prediction: Third.

Donemana

The men from the Holm were disappointed not to get among the silverware last season and they will want to change that. Richard Kee is skipper and Kamran Sajid returns, the twin McBrine’s will be a force as usual with big things expected from Andy McBrine and Ricky Lee Dougherty.

Prediction: Fourth.

Strabane

A new professional at the Park, Faisal Iqbal comes with an impressive cv but it may take him a while to settle in. Opening bowler Martin Deans is the new man at the helm but they still look a little bit weak in the bowling department.

Prediction: Fifth.

Coleraine

Another club welcoming a new professional to the North West, Sri Lankan Chinthaka Jayasinghe is the man for the Bannsiders, he has played for his country in a number of T twenty internationals.

Ian McGregor takes on the captaincy and Craig Averill has joined from Glendermott.

Prediction: Sixth.

Fox Lodge

The Foxies have suffered a big blow with the departure of Andrew Britton to Limavady, they have also lost the services of professional Darryl Brown who has been replaced by Wajihuddin.

Jonathon Robinson is the skipper and they will be looking for big seasons from the likes of Jason Milligan the skipper himself and Gareth Heywood.

Prediction: Seventh.

Glendermott

The Bonds Street side had a poor season last time and this looks like another, their talented professional Roy Silva returns with Gordon Montgomery leading his charges. Opening bat Craig Averill has left as has Stephen Smyth so they will be looking for the likes of Bob Robinson to get among the runs.

Prediction: Eighth.

Bonds Glen

The Bee Gees did an exceptional job staying up last season and it is no surprise that they are bringing back Gilhan Dilruk who had a big say in their survival. Teams won’t find them easy especially with the effervescent Richard Hepburn captaining the side.

Prediction: Ninth.

Creevedonnell

Newly promoted the Creevies look as if they are in for a season of struggle. It appears that they are not engaging a professional which is very difficult to survive without.

They have a number of players who have Senior One experience in Stephen Scroggie , Nicky Cooke and Alan Philson so that might help and they have added Kyle Morrow from the Nedd.

Prediction: Tenth.