Downpatrick 1st XI took maximum points from their two games over the weekend to secure a third place finish in Section 1 of the Ulster Bank Senior League with one game remaining.
 
On Saturday Downpatrick hosted Holywood at Strangford Road. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat and made slow but steady progress to reach 45 before losing the first wicket when Colin Magowan claimed the first of his four victims with the Holywood opener caught by Dale Mullan for 18. Muhammad Farrukh quickly claimed the second wicket with the score on 46 after which Holywood staged a couple of fruitful partnerships to take the score through to 174 for 5 with the wickets going to Mullan and Colin Magowan. After their 50 overs Holywood had accumulated 212 runs for the loss of 8 wickets with Colin Magowan the pick of the Downpatrick bowlers for the third week in a row – this time claiming 4 wickets for 29 runs in his 10 over spell.
 
In reply Downpatrick lost their first wicket in the 7th over when Jeremy McCready was caught at slip for 11 with the score on 26. This brought together professional Muhammad Farrukh and Paul Tate who went on to form an excellent 93 run partnership taking the total to 119 before Farrukh was caught behind for 48. Skipper James Magowan then joined Tate and together they put on a further 88 runs before Tate was caught for an excellent 107, a classy innings including 12 boundaries. Michael Carson (1 no) joined Magowan (28 no) and they chased down the last few runs required to give the home side a comfortable 7 victory in 38 overs.
 
On Sunday Downpatrick travelled to face newly crowned league champions Lurgan, who were unbeaten so far in 2011. This was a 20 over match following the abandonment of an earlier fixture and having won the toss Lurgan opted to bat first. The Downpatrick opening bowlers quickly had the home side in trouble with James Magowan having the Lurgan opener caught by Daniel Carson for 0 and Justin Rea clean bowling their no 3 batsman also for 0. A fine direct hit by Gavin Ringland added to Lurgans woes to leave them on 3 wickets down with only 6 runs on the board. Lurgan lost another wicket with the score on 61, caught Farrukh bowled Dale Mullan and this brought together the Lurgan professionals Heasley and Godbole who batted very well to take the total to 143 before Heasley was caught in the deep by Rea off the bowling of Mullan.Lurgan managed only another 6 runs to finish on 149 after their 20 overs.
 
In reply Downpatrick lost a quick wicket when McCready was caught off the third ball of the innings for 0. Muhammad Farrukh and Paul Tate took the total to 34 before Tate was caught for 6. Downpatricks most potent partnership of Farrukh and James Magowan came together and batted magnificently to take the total to 128 before Farrukh, playing his last game of the season before returning to Pakistan, was run out for a fine 82. Michael Carson joined Magowan and played some clever shots in to finish on 16 not out with Magowan 39 not out as Downpatrick completed a comprehensive victory over the previously unbeaten league champions with three and a half overs to spare.
 
Downpatrick complete their season with a home game against Cliftonville on Saturday.