Bangor hosted Donacloney Mill for the final game of the NCU Section One season. There was cloud overhead and, in spite of this, Upritchard Park was a work of art in the dog days of mid-September. Bangor won the toss and elected to bat, hoping scoreboard pressure would prove telling and allow them to finish their season on a high.
Conditions were tough to begin with; however, openers Butler and McMillan were steadfast in their application, Butler using his great ballast to clear the infield for a couple of early boundaries. Disaster struck, though, as with the final ball of the sixth over and the first ball of the seventh, both men were removed—McMillan via a controversial LBW and Butler caught at point, much to his discontent.
The task of rebuilding fell to veteran Hutchinson and skipper Parker, who performed the task with the utmost diligence. They mirrored the thoughts of Confucius, understanding his teaching that “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” There was no wilting in the two men’s application; over the past two weeks they had put on over 200 runs together. Parker met his demise in the 23rd over when he was run out in a tight decision, which our supreme leader accepted in his typically tactful manner.
This brought Jake Rowe to the crease with the ship steadied at 125-2. Taking advantage of this, the social-media sensation began taking the assault back to the bowlers. Rowe sent a meteor shower of balls towards the neighbouring houses, showing contempt for any delivery that missed its length. Hutchinson’s innings came to an end in the midst of this as he was bowled by a delivery that nipped away just enough to beat the bat and hit the top of off stump.
Kirkpatrick joined Rowe at the crease and was equally pugnacious in his approach to the bowling attack. Rowe reached his 50 off 40 deliveries and was then out, caught trying to deliver another lusty blow.
Adam McCusker joined Kirkpatrick and the two showed no signs of letting up. More crucial than the powerful ball-striking—of which there was plenty—was the perspicacious running between the wickets, which made even the good balls profitable. Kirkpatrick was bowled for 30, allowing Manav Chhabra to enter the game and strike a breezy 20 runs off eight deliveries.
McCusker was out, caught off the last ball of the innings, and Bangor finished on 247-7 off 42 overs due to a rain delay mid-innings. The revised target for Donacloney was 257 from 42 overs, and their chase did not get off to the best of starts.
Pyper, bowling in the second over, had become sick of spinners gaining wickets via half-trackers. He decided to take matters into his own hands and bowled one of his own, which Warren chipped tamely to Simpson at cover. Pyper was delighted with this new development in his game and thus continued to bowl half-trackers for his whole opening spell.
At the other end, Chhabra gained another early wicket, bowling beautiful line and length to have the other opener Shaw bowled for six. Jake Rowe re-entered the attack and was rewarded for his good line-and-length bowling, dismissing Kennedy for 19—much to the delight of his numerous fanatical social-media followers, who would no doubt get an update via his official page later that evening. Farrell soon gained a well-deserved wicket as Matthews hit him towards cow corner. Waiting there was Manav Chhabra, who performed an acrobatic miracle to remain within the field of play.
This left Donacloney 80-4, although they would not take this game lying down. Kennedy and Ogle put together a strong partnership. Kennedy was removed by the lesser-spotted bowling of Sam McMillan, courtesy of a well-claimed diving catch by Will Simpson at mid-wicket, aiding Simpson in his attempt to avoid a famous TFC. Chhabra re-entered the attack and claimed new man Goodbarn’s middle stump, reducing ’Cloney to 150-6.
Bangor were well and truly in the driving seat when Pyper re-entered the attack at the death. He first removed the visitors’ skipper Lyttle, bowled, and then Ogle, caught by Farrell at point. The final ball of the season was a wicket for Pyper, as Andrew Kirkpatrick pulled off a stumping à la Jack Russell to allow Pyper to thieve a four-wicket haul.
Bangor’s victory earned them fifth spot in Section One—no mean feat for their return to the league. Armagh finishing in 4th just above the side on Net Run Rate. The side also brought home silverware as well for the third season in a row winning the T20 Trophy back in July. It cannot be overstated how many positives can be taken from this season: a young core mixed with veterans who bring their own personalities, talents, and skills to the squad; a dedication to training and the honing of skills from each player; and, above all, a never-say-die attitude that has produced some thrilling cricket all season long.
But what happens on the field is only one part of what makes a great club. Off the field, the fraternity of the squad is something to behold and evident to all who spend any time around them. The supporters who turn out each week to cheer them on are a barometer of a club behind its first team. And from top to bottom, there is a unity in Bangor Cricket Club as each player, groundsman, scorer, and supporter is committed to the success of their club. When the 2025 season is spoken of, it is the opinion of this humble match reporter that people will say this: Bangor spirit was displayed in excelsis; whether it was a win or a loss, nobody left the pitch without leaving it all out there for their mate. Foundations have been laid, battles have been won, and in 2026 you can bet your bottom dollar that Bangor will come again.
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