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There’s plenty of cricket to compliment what looks set to be a sunny weekend in the North West with Saturday’s Long’s SuperValu league fixtures preceded on Thursday evening by the start of the Best Western White Horse Hotel T20 competition.

The stakes are high these days in the T20 Cups- the four group winners will go forward to the semi-finals of the Faughan Valley Cup competition with the outright winner then competing in the All-Ireland semi finals and the chance to win a spot in the European Club League.

Brigade know what it’s like to do just that of course and they get their campaign off and running in a mouth-watering clash at Donemana. These two sides will be no strangers over the next few weeks; having played out a cracking league game at Beechgrove last Saturday they meet again at the Holm in the quarter-finals of the senior cup in seven days time!

There should be some crowd at the Tyrone venue for this one on Thursday night.

There could be a few runs scored at Killyclooney too; Glendermott are the visitors there, while in-form Strabane make the short trip to Burndennett for their opener.

Coleraine have a longer drive as they head to Ardmore and the Bannsiders must have thought about making a weekend out of it as they’re back at the ‘Green on Saturday!

The full list of T20 fixtures can be found below-

Best Western White Horse T20 Fixtures

Thursday evening (6.30pm)

Killyclooney v Glendermott

Newbuildings v Ballyspallen

Ardmore v Coleraine

Donemana v Brigade

Eglinton v Bonds Glen

Bready v St Johnston

Burndennett v Strabane

White Horse Hotel

On Saturday, the focus switches to the league and with just 5 points separating the top seven teams in the table, it is clear just how competitive this senior division is set to be. 

Donemana remain top despite their defeat at Brigade last weekend and Dwayne McGerrigle’s men entertain a Fox Lodge side that hasn’t tasted defeat domestically since the opening day of the season.

Having already beaten Brigade this year, Aaron Heywood’s side would love nothing more than another huge scalp, but this is a real test of the Foxes’ ambitions for 2023.

Strabane are in second place after a fantastic start to their summer and Aaron Gillespie’s team look in the mood at present.

The Red Caps would usually be favourites heading to Killyclooney, and probably are again, however Timmy Dougherty’s side seem to relish the ‘underdog’ tag. The home side have a few very attacking batsmen in the ranks and Blayde Capell their overseas man is at the top of the list.

If the visitors keep him quiet it will certainly give them a major advantage, however Strabane will be confident that they have enough quality of their own to get the job done.

Bready v Newbuildings challenges Donemana v Brigade for the ‘match-of-the-day’ tag.

The hosts are currently unbeaten in the league and will be keen to keep that run intact against their neighbours. They have a really good balance in the squad these days but they will come up against a Newbuildings side keen to turn things around after two defeats in their opening three league matches.

Gareth McKeegan might feel they have a point to prove on Saturday and the home side will want to be on their guard against a wounded pack.

Ardmore will be playing just their second league game as they renew rivalries with Coleraine while Brigade v Eglinton could be another fascinating contest.

Both teams will be eyeing up those top eight places first and foremost but both are equally capable of stringing a run together to contest for honours. A win for either side would be a real statement of intent with the hosts slight favourites.

The full list of league fixtures and current table can be found here-

Long’s SuperValu Senior League

Saturday (12 noon)

Donemana v Fox Lodge

Bready v Newbuildings

Ballyspallen v St Johnston

Killyclooney v Strabane

Brigade v Eglinton

Ardmore v Coleraine

Bonds Glen v Glendermott

LONG’S SUPERVALU SENIOR LEAGUE- CURRENT STANDINGS

The ‘Big Three’ in the North West Women’s League remain unbeaten after the first three rounds of matches, although Fox Lodge were given a real scare by Eglinton on Monday evening before holding on to win by 7 runs.

It looked a lost cause for the Ballymagorry girls after the villagers had reached 82-3 chasing 96 but some accurate bowling from Tanisha Hussain (5-20) and Lucy Blair (2-0) turned the match on it’s head.

It was a fantastic effort from Tanisha while Lucy only bowled three balls and two of them were wickets.

Earlier, Eglinton’s young side had contributed to their own downfall by sending down 32 wides in the Foxes total of 96-6. Other than that only Mollie Devine (16), Lucy Blair (14) and Sarah Black (12) had made it to double figures as Jenni Jackson (2-12) and Rosie McHugh (2-21) were among the wickets for the visitors.

A late late show for the home side here but a vital win nonetheless.

Coleraine travelled to Bonds Glen and came away with an 8-wicket win courtesy of a player-of-the-match performance from Amy Caulfied.

The all-rounder bowled her 4 overs to return figures of 2-9 with support coming from Chloe Torrens (2-15) and Connie Block (2-27) as the home side were restricted to 95-8.

Bee Gees skipper Lucy Thompson top scored with a well-made 32 (5 fours) with Karen Haslett (15) and Emily Young (12) also chipping in.

Skipper Caulfield then swapped ball for bat and made an unbeaten 58 (10 fours) at the top of the order in a comfortable win.

Kenya McCartney added 24 as the Bannsiders also made it three wins from three so far.

Bready completed the set as they accounted for Strabane by 7 wickets at the Park.

Chloe Deans hit 20 at the top of the Red Caps order with Meghan Moorhead adding 10, but that was to be as good as it got as Mansi Bhavsar (3-4), Cody Wallace (2-15) and Charley Scott (2-17) restricted Strabane to 61 all out batting first.

Cody then made an unbeaten 30 as the Magheramason side made short work of the target, although two run outs and a wicket for Nicola Mullen kept things respectable.

It has turned out to be the feared ‘first round whitewash’ for North West teams in the Arachas Irish Senior Cup this season after Ardmore and Donemana lost out on their travels in Sunday’s two replays.

The Bleachgreen side were second best at the Mardyke- going down by 37 runs after Syed Aiman’s 87 and 35 from Eshan O’Sullivan saw the home side bat first and set a target of 220-9.

Edrees Kharotai (3-29) was best with the ball for the visitors with Aviwe Mgijima, Dharm Singh and Rachit Gaur all picking up two wickets each.

Overseas man Mgijima top scored with 39 in Ardmore’s reply; but despite 29 from Harry Zimmerman and 25 from Conor King- they just couldn’t get close enough and finished all out on 183.

Byron McDonough with three wickets and Aiman, Nabeel Anjum and Stefano Di Bartelomeo with two each, steered County into Round 2.

Gary McClintock’s 61 (5 fours, 3 sixes) along with 43 from DJ Dougherty, 28 from Joe Robinson, Gary Neely’s 27 and 22 from Kyle Dougherty got Donemana to 241 all out at Middle Road against Carrickfergus.

Michael Rippon (4-34) was in fine for with the ball for the hosts as he and Alex Haggan (2-48) kept the North West side at arm’s length.

Carrick’s reply was dominated by two batters- one a former North West man himself- as Craig Averill and Iain Parkhill both scored 72 in the chase.

The NCU team were able to coast home from there despite a fighting effort with the ball from Neely (2-31) in a six-wicket victory.

In the National Cup, Glendermott were unable to add to the existing four survivors as they lost by 5 wickets in Athlone.

Skipper Ben Mills hit 70 (9 fours, 2 sixes) and Jake Montgomery 44 as the Rectory outfit recovered from 47-5 to post 190 all out.

Awais Khalily (4-46) and Nikhil Matta (3-33) were best with the ball for the Midlanders before an unbeaten century from Naveenrohith Nijayan (116*- 12 fours, 7 sixes) settled the contest.

The opener shared in stands with Himanshu Pardeshi (28) and Khalily (33*) as Athlone progressed to Round 2.

It was a day of tight finishes as the North West senior league table began to take shape on Saturday afternoon with Brigade’s 10-run victory over Donemana leaving the top eight teams separated by just five points at the end of Week 3.

Just three teams remain unbeaten in the league so far- Bready, who didn’t play this weekend, St Johnston, who’ve played twice and Ardmore who have still only played one league fixture so far.

Donemana stay top of the pile for now despite their reverse at Beechgrove where a man-of-the-match performance from Scott Macbeth helped the home side overcome their old adversaries.

The North West Warriors all-rounder hit 6 sixes and 2 fours in his 33-ball 65 not out as Brigade posted 240-6 in their 40 overs.

A 127-run partnership between Adam McDaid (72) and Iftikhar Hussain (56) had set a great platform for Andy Britton’s side to attack the final overs, however Macbeth’s innings really changed the impetus of the match.

An unbroken seventh wicket stand of 72 between Scott and his brother Ryan (22 not out) came off the last 35 deliveries and left the visitors with an uphill battle to preserve their own unbeaten start to the season.

Kyle Dougherty was the pick of the Donemana bowlers with figures of 4-50 and to their credit, they stayed in the hunt the whole way through their reply.

Despite the loss of early wickets, a century stand between Geeth Kumara and William McClintock definitely gave the Holm side a fighting chance of chasing down the target.

McClintock was first to go for a swashbuckling 58 (5 fours, 4 sixes) and while Geeth- who played for Fox Lodge in last year’s senior cup final- batted superbly for his 96 (6 fours, 5 sixes) it was to prove just beyond their reach.

Late wickets for Andy Britton (4-45) added to two apiece for those Macbeth boys saw Donemana’s innings close 10 short on 230-9.

Fox Lodge have recovered really well from their surprise defeat at St Johnston on opening day and the Ballymagorry side is unbeaten domestically since then.

They too were involved in a fairly close game at Eglinton where Craig Doherty’s 59 (4 fours, 3 sixes) along with 58 from Jonny Robinson (7 fours, 2 sixes) and 28 from skipper Aaron Heywood helped the cup holders to a total of exactly 200.

Three wickets each for Lee Ritchie, and the Millar boys Andy and Jamie ensured the damage was no greater.

Andy Millar’s 60 (5 fours, 3 sixes) formed the backbone of the villagers’ reply, however only Tommy Orr (19), Robbie Millar (16) and Richard Wylie (15) offered much in the way of support as the reply closed on 174.

The wickets were shared here too- Heywood, Gayan Maneeshan and Ramey Harpur all with two apiece as the Foxes moved into the top half of the table.

There were even closer finishes at both Burndennett and Newbuildings where both home sides lost out in one-wicket defeats.

Andy Barr hit 66 (9 fours, 2 sixes) while Derek Curry added 33 not out and Corey Roulston 31 as ‘Dennett set St Johnston a target of 205.

Jacob Maroske (3-30) and Nathan Cole (3-48) were best with the ball for the Saints who then needed a huge effort with the bat from their new player/coach Graeme McCarter to get over the line.

At 67-7 the Donegal men looked dead and buried before a 74-run stand between McCarter and Nathan Cole (32) gave them a glimmer of hope.

John McGettigan then picked up the wickets of Cole and David Anthony in the same over to leave the visitors needing 65 with the last pair at the wicket.

That was when McCarter came into his own- hitting 11 fours and 10 sixes in a magnificent 124 not out as the visitors somehow got the win.

Scott Devenney’s share in the last wicket stand of 67 was 4 not out but it was vital nonetheless in sending the points back into the EU.

Ross McCay (3-22) and Mark Pollock (3-26) bowled well in defeat for the hosts.

Mark Hanna top scored with 90 as Newbuildings made 273-6 at home to Coleraine.

Ross Dougherty added 45, Hanu Viljoen 40 and Ryan Hunter 24 while Matthew Hutchinson (2-52) was the most successful bowler in the first innings.

Marcus Poskitt however was back at the top of his form for the Bannsiders as he held the reply together with a brilliant 123 (19 fours, 5 sixes).

Matty Smyth (43), Matthew Hutchinson (34) and Rory Knox (21) took turns to back Poskitt up, but it took an intervention of a different kind to seal the deal in this one.

The umpires subsequently awarded 12 penalty runs to the north coast side at the end of the 38th over for what appears to be a slow over rate, meaning Paddy Carson’s 11 not out was enough to give Coleraine the win by 1 wicket.

It was a bit of a surreal end to the contest but one that keeps Coleraine in those coveted top eight places.

Strabane’s impressive domestic form continued too as they thumped Ballyspallen by 196 runs.

Overseas man Nasir Nawaz was again in the runs as he blasted 16 fours and 5 sixes in his 121.

Nawaz got loads of support from bang-in-form Aaron Gillespie who hit 7 fours and 4 sixes on his way to 83 while Ryan Gallagher also found his best form with an unbeaten 71 (4 fours, 3 sixes).

Gallagher and Rhys Logue shared an unbroken partnership of 80 as the Red Caps racked up 323-3 from their 40 overs.

Stephen Kennedy’s 44 at the top of the order was by far ‘Spallen’s best effort with the bat, with James Thompson (13) and Stuart Kennedy (13) the only others to get into double figures in a total of 127.

Logue (4-23) and Vadivel Moorthy (4-24) completed the formalities in an excellent away day for Strabane.

And in the day’s other game, Glendermott’s overseas man Gihan Cloete was also on the century trail- he hit 20 fours and 6 sixes in his unbeaten 139 with Leyland McElwee adding 51 in a total of 218 all out- leaving 28 runs shared among the rest, and 13 of those were wides!

Timmy Dougherty (3-41) was the pick of the Clooney bowlers, however it was their batters- and Blayde Capell and Kenzie Hall in particular who did the damage.

Capell, quickly establishing himself as a real entertainer hit 12 fours an 10 sixes in his unbeaten 135- sharing an unbroken second wicket stand of 212 with Hall who added 78 not out- as ‘Clooney notched up their second league win by an impressive 9 wickets.

Glendermott remain rooted to the bottom and will need to find a way to support Cloete if they are to challenge the top half of the table.

Lawrence Moore looks at the return to Long’s SuperValu Senior League action- 

After a couple of weekends of cup cricket we’re back to the race for Premier Division places on Saturday in the Long’s SuperValu senior league.

With an uneven number of teams in this year’s one-off league, Ardmore sat out the first set of fixtures, so their game against Bready this weekend was to be just their second league outing.

The Bleachgreen club however didn’t manage to get their Irish Senior Cup tie with Cork County finished on Saturday past and they’re now heading to Munster instead for Sunday’s replay- meaning they’ll have still only played once in the league as we head into June!

Donemana have a Sunday replay too at Carrickfergus, but that won’t stop them heading to Beechgrove for Saturday’s big league match of the day.

The visitors are unbeaten after two games but know they’ll need to be at their best to win at the Limavady Road venue. The two sides are set to meet again soon in Tyrone in a North West senior cup quarter-final so there is plenty to whet the appetite here.

Brigade will fancy this but Donemana love nothing more than the ‘underdog’ tag.

St Johnston are also unbeaten, having accounted for Fox Lodge in Week 1 and then sat out the following Saturday, and they will fancy their chances at Burndennett who have lost both league matches to date. Ironically however, ‘Dennett were one of only two North West sides to progress on the field in the All-Ireland cups last weeks, emphasising again the unpredictable start to the summer.

Both teams know that these are the games they need to win to have a chance of finishing in the top eight and the Saints might just get the nod.

Newbuildings host Coleraine at Foyleview Arena and Gareth McKeegan’s men certainly start favourites against a team who often struggle to have everyone available week on week.

There’s no doubting that the visitors clearly have some really good players in the squad and they should be able to secure one of those top eight spots without too much fuss.

They just might find Newbuildings a little bit too hot to handle on Saturday however and it’s difficult to see the Bannsiders’ bowling unit over-powering the hosts order this time.

Glendermott, still searching for their first win, will be eyeing up Killyclooney who arrive at the Rectory this weekend.

‘Clooney seem to be a different proposition at home these days but have several players in their ranks who will find the confines of the Bonds Street venue similar to their own.

What could make for really good viewing is the match-up between two big-hitting overseas players- Glendermott’s Gihan Cloete and the visitors’ Blayde Capell.

It could be a really good contest this, but the home team’s needs look the greater at present.

Ballyspallen are also still searching their first win and James Thompson’s team welcomes a much-improved Strabane side to Bridge Park.

‘Spallen have a big performance in them on any given day but on current form, Aaron Gillespie’s team will take a bit of beating.

‘Uzzy’ Azhar is a great addition to the Red Caps’ attack and overseas man Nasir Nawaz has shown enough to suggest he will offer them plenty this season too.

Left arm spinner Andrew Mullen has been another great find and the form of skipper Gillespie, and the Gallagher brothers among others would make the Tyrone side favourites here.

Eglinton and Fox Lodge are both going to be bang in the mix for those coveted places come the end of the season and theirs is a very difficult game to call on Saturday.

The villagers have several match-winners in their squad- overseas man Mike Erlank is up among the best in the league while Liam Doherty, Tommy Orr and others are capable of changing games too.

The cup holders aren’t too bad in that department themselves and if Brian Allen is back having missed their Irish Senior Cup defeat against The Hills- they’re well up to taking on anyone as they proved last season.

Home advantage maybe gives Eglinton the edge in this one, but not by much.

Long’s SuperValu League fixtures

Saturday (12 noon starts)

Newbuildings v Coleraine

Brigade v Donemana

Glendermott v Killyclooney

Burndennett v St Johnston

Ballyspallen v Strabane

Eglinton v Fox Lodge

The North West Warriors won a thrilling final-over IP50 Cup clash against the Northern Knights at Bready this afternoon to move alongside Simon Johnston’s charges at the top of the table.

The visitors came flying out of the traps having been put in to bat, with Ross Adair and Ruhan Pretorius combining for a 114-run stand for the first wicket in less than 20 overs.

Adair was first to go for a superb 56-ball 76 (5 fours, 5 sixes) and after that the home side changed the pace of the innings as Mike Erlank (4-46) and Scott Macbeth (2-41) pulled the Warriors right back into it.

Runs were much harder come by with the spinners bowling in tandem and the Knights lost momentum in the middle overs as they tried to lift the tempo again.

Pretorius fell to Macbeth for 50 before cameos from Morgan Topping (32), Neil Rock (24) and Theo van Woekom (18) saw them finally post 253-9 in their 50.

The Warriors innings started in a similar vein with Stephen Doheny leading the charge accompanied by Ani Chore.

With the score on 53, Chore was hit full on the toe from Tyron Koen’s first ball and although he tried to struggle on, he was soon retiring to the dressing room.

Mike Erlank came in at 3 and he and Doheny took the score to 105 before the Eglinton man was caught off the bowling of the impressive van Woerkom for 28.

Scott Macbeth came and went before Chore returned and although clearly struggling, he and Doheny added another 32 before the injured batsman was dismissed (again by the first ball of Koen’s second spell) for a valuable 36.

The hosts looked in trouble as Matthew Humphreys removed Doheny for an excellent 78 and then Cameron Melly first ball to leave the reply stumbling at 167-5.

Skipper Shane Getkate was to come to the rescue however- the all-rounder sharing in a 63-run stand with William McClintock (32- 4 sixes) taking the Warriors to the brink.

They needed all the overs however, with Getkate unbeaten on 58 (4 fours, 2 sixes) as the winning run was scored with just two deliveries to spare.

A great win this for Boyd Rankin’s men as the tournament remains very much alive, although the T20 Festivals will now take centre stage until later in the summer.

The North West Warriors are kindly sponsored by – Fleming-Agri Products Ltd

Originally set up in Donegal in the northwest of Ireland by Robert John Fleming in 1860, ownership of the company has remained in the Fleming family to the present, ranking as one of the oldest agricultural machinery companies in the UK and Ireland. The company trades in over 20 countries and employs over 100 people in their modern 6-acre site in Newbuildings. They specialise in agricultural, countryside and ground care machinery with over 100 products on offer: https://www.fleming-agri.com/

The North West Warriors have named their squad for Thursday’s Rario IP50 Cup game against the Northern Knights at Bready (10.45am start).

The North West Warriors were unable to build on an impressive win last week when they lost out by 3 wickets in a terse affair against Leinster Lightning at Bready this afternoon.

The visitors won the toss and invited Andy McBrine’s outfit to bat first but a 49-run stand between Stephen Doheny and Ani Chore helped the home side to start well.

After Chore (16) and then skipper McBrine fell in quick succession, Doheny and Scott Macbeth (23) repaired the damage to take the score to 103-2.

Lightning’s bowlers once again seized back the initiative however- Fionn Hand (3-51), Gavin Hoey (2-20), Samuel Harbinson (2-25) and Barry McCarthy (2-30) firmly pulling the brake on the Warriors’ innings.

Doheny was out for a well-made 46 (6 fours and a six) and after that, only William McClintock (23) offered much by way of resistance as the innings closed on 183.

It looked light at halfway, however a decent fightback with the ball kept the contest alive through the late afternoon.

Opener Jack Tector made 39 and Greg Ford 37, but wickets for Ryan Macbeth (2-45) and Craig Young (2-46) brought the hosts back into the contest.

From 83-2, Lightning found themselves 96-5, however Harbison was making his presence felt with the bat as well as the ball.

Hand added a valuable 24 but an unbeaten 48 from Harbison saw him and Barry McCarthy finally get their side over the line with those three wickets in hand.

This was a first win of the season for Nigel Jones’s charges and a result that sends Boyd Rankin’s team into Thursday’s home game with the Northern Knights needing victory there to take them back into contention at the top of the table.

The North West Warriors are kindly sponsored by – Fleming-Agri Products Ltd

Originally set up in Donegal in the northwest of Ireland by Robert John Fleming in 1860, ownership of the company has remained in the Fleming family to the present, ranking as one of the oldest agricultural machinery companies in the UK and Ireland. The company trades in over 20 countries and employs over 100 people in their modern 6-acre site in Newbuildings. They specialise in agricultural, countryside and ground care machinery with over 100 products on offer: https://www.fleming-agri.com/

Bready, Coleraine and Fox Lodge all won again on Monday night as Week 2 of the Women’s Senior League fixtures went to form across the North West. 

Champions Bready were at Eglinton and the Magheramason side claimed the points with a narrow 16-run verdict over the villagers.

Alana Dalzell top scored with 27 (although there were 30 extras in there as well) as the visitors made 98-7 from their 20 overs.

Charley Scott added 16 while Lucy Carmichael (2-19) was best with the ball for the home side.

Jenni Jackson scored 19, Alice McLaughlin 15 and Arianna McKenna 12 as Eglinton started well to reach 62-3 in reply, however Jodie Spence (4-19) and Mansi Bhavsar turned it back Bready’s way as the home side were all out for 81.

Over at Sandel Lodge, Coleraine claimed the points with a 7-wicket victory against Strabane.

Meghan Moorehead made 15 and Lucy McGranaghan 14, but the Red Caps’ top order found scoring really tough, getting 75-4 from their 20 overs.

Amy Caulfield showed her quality with an unbeaten 41 (6 fours, 1 six) and Eva Gaston chipped in with 13 as the Bannsiders made light work of the chase.

Fox Lodge also maintained their winning start as they saw off Bonds Glen at Ballymagorry.

Sarah Black was again in great form with the bat- hitting 10 fours in her 69 while Hannah McLaughlin added an unbeaten 30 and Lucy Neely 26 in a total of 158-3.

Sophie Curry (3-37) was the pick of the Bee Gees’ bowlers, however only skipper Karen Haslett (29) got among the runs in reply as the visitors were restricted to 89-6.

It was to be another day of disappointment on the Arachas Irish Senior Cup stage as six of the eight North West sides were beaten in the first round of this year’s competition on Saturday.

Ardmore and Donemana are the only survivors- albeit their games were abandoned at the halfway stage meaning both are on the road next Sunday for replays against Cork County and Carrickfergus respectively.

To their credit, both teams had posted very competitive totals as they batted first- Dwayne McGerrigle (95) and William McClintock (45) combining to help the Holm men to 247 all out with Michael Rippon and Jake Egan picking up three wickets apiece for Carrick.

Ryan Brolly hit 83 for the Bleachgreen side with Aviwe Mgijima adding 37 and Mark Chambers 35 as they made 248-8 before the rain arrived meaning the long trek to Cork next weekend.

Of the games that were completed- Brigade will probably feel they should have come through their tie having reduced their hosts Pembroke to 94-8 chasing 151.

Unfortunately for the Waterside club, Lorcan Tucker was proving a much more stubborn proposition and the Irish International posted an unbeaten 72 as he and Joe Prendergast saw the Sydney Parade side over the line with an unbroken 58-run stand for the ninth wicket.

Brothers Ryan (33) and Scott Macbeth (28) were best with the bat for Brigade and the same players picked up two early wickets each to leave the home side teetering on 58-5 in reply.

Paul Lawson (3-41) bowled well for Pembroke, ably supported by Nick Stapleton (2-15), Zach Micklewright (2-26) and Prendergast (2-25).

Brigade however couldn’t shift Tucker and paid the price despite a couple of wickets each for Iftikhar Hussain and Andy Britton to add to the Macbeths’ haul.

Coleraine were also in Dublin but the Bannsiders were no match for a Harry Tector-inspired YMCA.

The Ireland International hit 3 fours and a six in his composed 87 while Ashley Burton added 65 (5 fours) in the hosts’ total of 233-7.

Gareth Burns (4-24) was the pick of the visitors’ bowling with Stephen Hutchinson chipping in with 2-44.

Top order runs for Mattie Smyth (32) and Matthew Hutchinson (22) helped Coleraine to 67-1 at one point, before the wheels came off in style.

Three wickets each for Burton and Jamie Forbes soon had the home side in cruise control after that as the last nine wickets fell for the addition of 27 runs- a 139-run win for YM.

Bready found things no easier at Railway Union with Davy Scanlon’s side going down by 130.

Punya Mehra hit 68 with Ashal Prakash adding 38 and three more players- Kenny Carrol, Liam McCarthy and Hamza Maan all scoring 28 in Railway’s total of 285 from their allotted overs.

Ian Young’s 51 was an excellent effort in Bready’s reply, but only Irosh Samarasooriya (44) offered anything in the way of support as Brandon Kruger (5-16) and Liam McCarthy (3-20) put a quick end to the Magheramason team’s challenge.

Fox Lodge fared a little better against The Hills than they did at this stage last year when they were all out for 29 against the Skerries team.

Craig Doherty hit 44 and Jonny Robinson 39 as the Foxes posted 151 all out- Gayan Maneeshan adding 23 and Jonny Heywood, back on a short holiday from Australia scored 21 in his first knock in nearly four years!

It wasn’t enough though- Bhavesh Lakotia (88) and Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin (48*) batting through the rain for a 7-wicket win.

Eglinton fell to a 10-wicket defeat at Comber; Alistair Shields making 88 not out and new North West Warriors wicketkeeper/batsman Ani Chore an unbeaten 67 as the NCU side chased down their 166 target with ease.

Shields was also among the wickets for his side- claiming 3-25 as Tommy Orr (30), Mike Erlank (29) and Jamie Millar 28 fared best with the bat for the villagers.

It was a fairly similar story at Foyleview Arena where Waringstown bowled Newbuildings out for 99 and chased it down for the loss of one wicket.

Adam Dennison made 53 not out and Ross Waite an unbeaten 41 in a bloodless victory for the Lawn side.

Things were a little better in the National Cup as Ballyspallen and St Johnston were both already guaranteed their second round places before action had even got under way.

That pair will now be joined by Killyclooney and Burndennett who secured home wins over Templepatrick and Laois respectively.

‘Clooney were set a revised target of 144 as their game was badly hit by rain after the visitors had made 174.

Vishad Vayas scored 48 and skipper Ross Bryans 47 for the NCU outfit with Mark Gordon (3-23), Kenzie Hall (3-44) and Jason Wallace (2-48) all among the wickets for the Tyrone side.

Overseas man Blayde Capell thumped 93 not out (14 fours, 3 sixes) for the hosts with Timmy Dougherty chipping in with 24 as ‘Clooney won by 7 wickets.

Burndennett’s Mark Pollock hit an excellent 105 not out as they racked up 199-8 in 39 overs at home to Laois.

Matt Auret hit an unbeaten 50 and Jawad Amin 28 in the Laois reply, but a third wicket for Corey Roulston (3-17) just before the rain arrived meant the visitors were 13 short on DLS.

Glendermott’s game at home to Athlone was halted by the weather after the Rectory side had reached 244-5 in the 34th over. No-one will be more annoyed by that than Gihan Cloete whose 150 (19 fours, 6 sixes) now counts as little more than batting practice for next week’s replay.

Former Glendermott player, Nathan McGuire was a man in touch as Rush rattled up a mammoth 415-9 in their 40 overs against Strabane.

Openers Neil Rock (142) and Llew Johnson (106) put on 231 for the first wicket with skipper McGuire adding 57 in a total run-fest.

Rhys Logue took 4-91 from his 8 overs with the Gallagher brothers Kevin (36) and Ryan (25) faring best in their 144 all out reply.

David Cooke made 45 and Stephen Dunn 23 not out as Bonds Glen were all out for 140 at North Kildare.

Dunn was excellent with the new ball as well- figures of 4-26 for the former Donemana man and with skipper Raymond Curry picking up 3-27, the visitors were always in the game.

Unfortunately they just didn’t have enough runs in the end as the southerners held on for a 3-wicket win.

In the day’s final game, Letterkenny were edged out by Cregagh by 5 wickets at Gibson Park.

Ramees Machingal top scored with 30 with Vamsi Dasari adding 21, Aswin Sreedharan 21 and Rammohan Goud 20 as the Donegal team posted 128 all out.

Cregagh were soon in trouble at 18-3 in reply before Aaron Johnston (49)and Paul Douglas (34 not out) helped them to recover and progress to Round 2.