The Tandragee side had a 47 run victory over Larne in a match that seemed to contain almost everything and NCU Chairman Billy Boyd had a hard job with his man of the match adjudication.
Batting first Laurelvale posted 168 all out with the only man to top twenty in the match as it turned out being former Ireland international Charlie McCrum. McCrum made 58 from 74 balls and shared in a partnership of 55 for the second wicket with Wayne Pearson.
The Laurelvale innings ended in spectacular fashion as they slumped from 168 for 7 to 168 all out as Larne’s Johnny Baxter took a hat trick, finishing with 4 for 19.
In the Larne reply Bruce Topping had six dismissals behind the stumps as the visitors slid from 42 for no wicket to 121 all out. Charlie McCrum took 2 for 19, to secure the TCH Man of the Match award against some stiff opposition.
Last year’s beaten finalists CIYMS had an impressive start with a nine wicket victory over Muckamore at Moylena. Muckamore started strongly with an opening stand of 80 between Dunlop and Gill but the introduction of Ross Monteith brought about their downfall.
Monteith took 5 for 22 and the man of the match award in his ten overs and captain Stephen Hughes backed this up with 3 for 29.
It is not often that Johnny Hewitt finds himself outscored but in the CI reply Hewitt made 55 with 5 fours off 107 balls before being run out and his opening partner Michael Hingston finished on 73 no containing 11 fours in 111 balls.
Dave Glover took the man of the match in the Dunmurry versus Armagh match, which was a low scoring affair. Dunmurry were 138 all out with three wickets apiece for Gillespie and Stinson and Neil Connelly provided the match’s top score of 30.
In reply Armagh collapsed to 125 all out with Glover removing the top four in his opening spell. Gary King also caught the eye with 4 for 8.
In the final match Woodvale outclassed Cooke Collegians by 200 runs. Woodvale made 251 for 3 with a first wicket partnership of 172 between Simon Johnston with 67 and Timmy Browne 73. Johnston was dropped on at least five occasions and there was still time for Dempster to make an unbeaten half-century.
However none of these got their hands on the Man of the Match trophy as this went to Marty McKeown with the best figures of the day 5 for 20 ably assisted by 3 for 21 from Ian Cleland.
Courtesy of the Down Democrat
