Derriaghy steady themselves in time to beat the drop

Derriaghy endured an anxious 2026 campaign, flirting with relegation for much of the season before finding enough form at the right time to preserve their Section One status.

It was rarely comfortable. Too often they found themselves playing catch-up, with inconsistent batting and a bowling attack that struggled to apply sustained pressure. Yet when the season reached its decisive stage, Derriaghy responded and did enough to escape the drop.

Craig Lewis was their leading run-scorer, compiling 770 runs at an average of 36.67. The wily veteran struck two centuries and five half-centuries, with an unbeaten 104 his highest score, while his 51 sixes underlined the attacking threat he carried throughout the campaign.

Matt Scoble was equally important, but as Roy Keane would say, 'That's his job' as the Queensway side overseas professional - he scored 663 runs at 36.83, including two hundreds, and also led the bowling with 30 wickets at 20.30. His all-round contribution was central to Derriaghy’s survival.

Ryan Beckett added 528 runs, including a century, while Ross Bailey made 434. Beyond that leading group, however, the returns became thinner, leaving too much responsibility on the top four to build competitive totals.

The bowling showed a similar pattern.

Scoble was the standout, including a five for 18, while Bailey claimed 21 wickets at 26.19 and produced a best of five for 11. Ross Glover and Wayne Hughes both took 16 wickets, but the attack lacked the depth and consistent penetration of the stronger sides in the division.

Craig Lewis chipped in with 13 wickets, while Callum Weir took 10, but Derriaghy too often found themselves needing to defend totals without a truly dominant bowling unit behind them. For much of the season the possibility of relegation was very real, and their position near the bottom reflected the inconsistency that had dogged them.

What mattered, though, was the response when the pressure intensified. Derriaghy managed to find enough resolve and enough contributions from their senior players to drag themselves clear at the right time.

Survival may not have been the target at the start of the year, but given how precarious things became, preserving Section One status represented a significant relief.

The lesson for 2027 is obvious: greater consistency, more depth and less dependence on a small core will be required if they are to avoid another season spent looking nervously over their shoulders in what is always a competitive league.

DERRIAGHY – TOP 10 BATTERS

1. Craig Lewis – 770 runs, average 36.67, HS 104*, 2 hundreds, 5 fifties  
2. Matt Scoble – 663 runs, average 36.83, HS 129, 2 hundreds, 1 fifty  
3. Ryan Beckett – 528 runs, average 24.00, HS 110, 1 hundred, 1 fifty  
4. Ross Bailey – 434 runs, average 20.67, HS 61, 1 fifty  
5. Ross Glover – 188 runs, average 20.89, HS 55, 2 fifties  
6. David Scott – 156 runs, average 12.00, HS 40  
7. Jonathan Bell – 137 runs, average 13.70, HS 34  
8. Mark Coburn – 129 runs, average 12.90, HS 22  
9. Ben Kenny – 118 runs, average 14.75, HS 29  
10. Aaron Kinnin – 85 runs, average 85.00, HS 54*, 1 fifty  

DERRIAGHY – TOP 10 BOWLERS

1. Matt Scoble – 30 wickets, average 20.30, BBI 5-18  
2. Ross Bailey – 21 wickets, average 26.19, BBI 5-11  
3. Ross Glover – 16 wickets, average 27.69, BBI 4-24  
4. Wayne Hughes – 16 wickets, average 32.94, BBI 4-26  
5. Craig Lewis – 13 wickets, average 41.62, BBI 3-32  
6. Callum Weir – 10 wickets, average 38.40, BBI 2-20  
7. Ben Kenny – 7 wickets, average 20.14, BBI 3-23  
8. Benjamin Cairns – 5 wickets, average 30.80, BBI 2-7  
9. Tyler McGladdery – 3 wickets, average 14.00, BBI 3-42  
10. Mark Coburn – 3 wickets, average 19.67, BBI 2-37