Downpatrick 1st XI lost ground in their battle to avoid the 4th relegation place in the Ulster Bank League Section 1 at the weekend after losing to Holywood by 6 wickets in a rain affected match at Seapark. Although they remain in 4th place they are now equal on points with Holywood and a four way battle including Woodvale and Cliftonville looks set to make the final weeks of the season an extremely tense affair.
 
Downpatrick won the toss at Seapark and opted to bat first but found the going tough initially and had accumulated only 24 runs when Jeremy McCready was out in the 11th over for 10. Muhammad Farrukh joined Ben McIlroy at the crease and they took the score along to 70 before McIlroy was out caught in the gully for 22. James Magowan added a quick 18 before being caught attempting a late cut.

Dale Mullan survived only 5 balls before being caught for 1 and next to go was professional Farrukh who was given LBW for 58. This brought together Gavin Ringland and Michael Carson who helped take the score along to 148 before Carson was caught for 11. Paul Tate then joined Ringland and they formed the most fruitful partnership of the innings to take the score to 209 before Ringland was out caught for a quickfire 41. Tate followed in the penultimate over for 23 and Justin Rea and Daniel Carson finished the innings, which had been reduced to 49 overs following an earlier rain delay, leaving the final score on 218 for 9.
 
Holywood lost an early wicket in reply when Mark Best was caught and bowled by James Magowan with the score on 10 but the rain reappeared and when play recommenced after 1 hour delay  Holywood were set a revised target of 178 to win of a total of 35 overs. When Dale Mullan claimed two wickets in his third over Downpatrick looked to be favourites but the Holywood skipper Peter McCormick had other ideas and he set about chasing down the required target before being caught behind by Tate of the bowling of Muhammad Farrukh for 53 with the score on 102. The game was in the balance at this stage but Downpatrick needed to keep taking wickets which unfortunately did not happen, instead the Holywood middle order batsmen of Purcell and Wood completed a 76 run partnership to reach the required target with 9 balls remaining.
 
Downpatrick’s game on Saturday at Lurgan was abandoned without a ball being bowled and this game will now be replayed as a 20/20 match.
 
This weekend Downpatrick face local rivals Dundrum at Strangford Road on Saturday and will be hoping for a large number of travelling supporters to Derriaghy on Sunday where they face the home side in the final of the Ulster Shield – both matches commence at 12 noon. On Saturday Downpatrick 2nd XI also play in a cup final at the same venue (Derriaghy) when they face CSNI 2nd XI in the final of the Intermediate Cup.