Quite a few comings and goings at Newbuildings ahead of the new season including a change of overseas player--former Ballyspallen wicket-keeper/ batsman Darnell McCallum replacing Clinton Pienaar at the club.

After a couple of seasons knocking on the door, it is a welcome return to the Premier Division for Ballyspallen.

While there may not be that much actual movement at Sandel Lodge this season, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the availability of some of Coleraine's big-game players for the upcoming summer.

The new North West champions enjoyed a year to savour in 2018 and no doubt having tasted title success they will be desperate now for more.

It is with very deep sadness that we have learned and must report the passing of one of Strabane Cricket Club’s most reverently respected former players, Eddie McGurk.

After a few seasons of consolidation there is little doubt that an air of optimism has started forming again at the Boathole.

It's a return to the Premier Division for the first time in five years for the Rectory boys after an impressive league campaign last time around.

The villagers looked to be a club in disarray at the end of last season but seem to have rallied considerably since the start of the year.

The North West Championship will be a 7-team affair this year after Drummond formally requested to opt out of the senior division due to a lack of players.

It was a largely successful season at Beechgrove last time with the Waterside club taking home two of the three domestic trophies- the senior cup and the Faughan Valley.

Having carried all before them domestically for a number of seasons, 2018 was a very quiet year at the Holm, in the senior ranks at least.

Ryan Barr has left champions Bready and will play the 2019 season at The Rectory.

The league and cup fixtures for Q1 have been confirmed and once again it will be last season's double champions Donemana that will be the team to beat.

At a time when the trend is for clubs to fold, there's a good news story with the formation of a Letterkenny side that will play in the Derry Midweek League this season.

Last week's North West AGM saw a number of changes approved by delegates, one of which was the announcement that Ian McGregor is set to take on an expanded coaching and talent development role in the Warriors set-up.

Glendermott have confirmed the signing of seamer Gareth Burns from Ballyspallen.

Coleraine teenager Marcus Poskitt will be playing the 2019 season with Bready after agreeing a move to the Premier league champions.

There's a new sheriff in town for the North West Cricket Union as Brian Dougherty has taken over from Andrew Fleming as Union Chair following this week's AGM.

There was a major boost for the NW region with five players named in representative squads - three in the Ireland Academy and two in the Women's Super 3 Series.

The latest news of moves and signings in the North West as the season approaches.

After a quiet winter in the North West, there have been a number of personnel changes in recent days with another couple confirmed over the weekend. Stephen Dunn has joined Eglinton having spent the last couple of seasons at Ardmore.

Bready's hopes of retaining their Premiership title have been dealt a severe blow with the departure of Craig Young to North Down.

Eglinton all-rounder Ross Allen has confirmed to CricketEurope that he will be joining Brigade for the 2019 season.

The opening round of the Senior Cup takes place on May 11th, while the final is a week later from its traditional date due to Ireland's Test match at Lord's.

The NW have announced the Championship and Sammy Jeffrey Shield fixtures and dates for the forthcoming season.

The NWCU have unveiled the Premier League fixtures ahead of the start of the season on Saturday April 27th.

Former Railway Union and Strabane all-rounder Rachit Gaur has decided to join Brigade ahead of the new season.

Ireland pace bowler Boyd Rankin has confirmed he will be staying in England to play for Moseley in the Birmingham Premier League.

Fox Lodge have signed 22 year-old South African all-rounder Coenie Nel as their overseas player for the 2019 season.

Bready's Alana Dalzell and Eglinton's Zara Craig have been named in the Ireland Girls Under 19 and 15 squads.

There was mixed news for the NW in the various Ireland squads which were named for the Oman Quadrangular tournament, and the subsequent series against Afghanistan in India.

The NW Warriors have been given a boost ahead of the new season with the news that pace bowler Boyd Rankin will be available for all the campaign following confirmation of his release by Warwickshire.

The NW Warriors will start the defence of the their interpro championship title with an away trip to the Northern Knights at the end of May.

Davy Scanlon is one of 12 nominees shortlisted for the 2018 Derry Sports Personality of the Year.

This year's NW Senior Cup decider will take place at Eglinton following a meeting of the Union's Match Allocation Group.

The draws have been made for the Sammy Jeffrey and Qualifying Cups for next season.