Skipper Artie Campbell had lined up three Division One, Section Three games, but all had to be postponed. Donacloney were scheduled to be at The Cloughan on Friday, with Millpark due at the same venue on Sunday, but the sodden conditions ruled out any possibility of play.

Saturday's fixture was down for decision at Shaw's Bridge against Cooke Collegians, but the south Belfast ground also failed the test. So Templepatrick are left with no fewer than eight league fixtures to fulfil, with only two weekends remaining!

Reflecting on the summer's activities, Campbell said, "This has been a horrendous season as far as we are concerned. The highlight of course was reaching the final of the Junior Cup for the first time in the history of the club, but otherwise it has been a disaster.

"To date we have fulfilled only 10 of our scheduled eighteen league fixtures, and I can't see us playing at home again this season. We had arranged two matches for this weekend at The Cloughan, but the square is like a paddy field, and it would require an unbroken spell of mid-summer conditions to improve the situation. Also, with the start of the rugby season we will be unable to stage any matches on a Saturday.

"We have played only three games since the end of June, and we haven't had an outdoor practice for six or seven weeks. It has been so frustrating for the players. Cricket is an amateur sport, and the top priority is to get the lads out there enjoying themselves at their chosen sport, so I think that there will have to be changes at NCU level.

"The use of artificial wickets will surely have to be addressed, along with some flexibility in the duration of matches, in order to allow midweek games to be decided on a reduced overs one night basis, by agreement with the captains.

"Meanwhile, we have provisional arrangements to entertain leaders Dunmurry next Sunday, followed by the return fixture at Ashley Park a week later, but with Dunmurry almost assured of promotion the chances are that neither game will be played.

"Our promotion hopes seem to be in tatters, even though we have won seven of the 10 fixtures completed. Our main rivals, Cooke Collegians, have obtained some walk-over points that apparently has put them in a strong position to accompany probably Dunmurry in to Section Two," said Artie.