Johnny Thompson launches Newbuildings into contention

Johnny Thompson was in superb form with both the bat and the ball in Newbuildings' win over St Johnston.

It was another frustrating Saturday for the region's cricketers as rain put paid to a couple of games in the T20 cups while a bereavement in Donemana meant that their game away at Killyclooney was postponed as a mark of respect.

At the halfway stage of the four groups, Newbuildings are now pushing Brigade all the way for top spot while Donemana and Bready are well placed to progress in the senior cup.

Coleraine are faring better than anyone after they won their third match on the bounce after they recorded a DLS win at Ballyspallen.

Mind you, that result looked very unlikely early on after Graham Kennedy (3-7) and his brother Stuart (2-9) had combined to reduce the Bannsiders to 16-5 at one stage.

The resistance however was led by Graham Hume as the South African made a very timely 50; sharing in a 6th wicket stand of 85 with Mattie Smyth who added 25.

Five overs were needed in the second innings in order to produce a result and they had only just completed the sixth before the rain arrived in the Roe Valley.

Needing 29 runs at that point the home side had mustered only 11 without loss as the visitors kept their winning run intact.

Individual performance of the day went to Johnny Thompson who made a half century and then picked up five wickets as Newbuildings thumped St Johnston in Donegal.

Gareth McKeegan hit 5 fours and 4 sixes in his 65 while Thompson found the rope eight times (4 fours, 4 sixes) as the visitors racked up 178-4 in their 20 overs.

Ross Dougherty chipped in with 26 while David Lapsley (2-31) was the pick of the hosts' bowling.

St Johnston were well off the pace in reply - Ramees Machinga easily the best of their 82-7 as he made an unbeaten 38.

It was Thompson's day however, the former North West Warrior claiming 5-15 for an excellent individual effort.

Brigade are keeping their side of the bargain too as they had 8 wickets to spare over neighbours Glendermott.

Alan Johnson's men were limited to 88-9 in their allotted overs thanks to some accurate bowling from Ross Allen (3-14), Ryan Macbeth (3-15) and Iftikhar Hussain (2-18).

Tyler Moore (18*), Jason Lynch (14) and Steve Moore (12) were the only players to reach double figures for the Rectory side.

Intentions were clear early from Brigade as Ryan Hunter (28) and Kyle Magee with a quick 22 set them well on their way. David Barr (23*) saw the champions over the line with 8 wickets and plenty of time in hand.

Bready left it much later to see off the challenge of Fox Lodge- the hosts scoring the winning runs with just two balls to spare.

A delayed start due to rain saw the match reduced to 18 overs a side with the Foxies making 89-8 having been put in to bat.

Jonny Robinson top scored with 25 and Brian Allen added 16 with Conor Olphert returning figures of 2-3 from his 4 overs. The Bready man is bowling quick and straight at present and must surely be in Ian McGregor's Interprovincial plans for later in the month.

Ian Young looked in good nick as well to pick up 2-4 while Dean McCloskey was also on the mark with 2-16.

The home side certainly didn't get things all their own way as a couple of run outs and two wickets for Levi Kerr kept the Foxies well in contention.

Andy Austin top scored with 22 for the Magheramason men but it took an unbeaten 20 from skipper Davy Scanlon to push them over the line well into the last over.

Summary Scores

At Magheramason, Bready (22 pts) beat Fox Lodge (3 pts) by 4 wickets (game reduced to 18 overs)

Fox Lodge 89-8 (18 overs; J Robinson 25, C Olphert 2-3, I Young 2-4, D McCloskey 2-16). Bready 95-6 (17.4 overs; A Austin 22, D Scanlon 20*, L Kerr 2-16).

At Bridge Park, Ballyspallen (2 pts) lost to Coleraine (23 pts) by 18 runs (DLS)

Coleraine 108-7 (19 overs; G Hume 50, M Smyth 25, G Kennedy 3-7, S Kennedy 2-9) (DLS par score at 6 overs- 29). Ballyspallen 11-0 (6 overs).

At Beechgrove, Brigade (24 pts) beat Glendermott (1pt) by 8 wickets

Glendermott 88-9 (20 overs; T Moore 18*, R Allen 3-14, R Macbeth 3-15, I Hussain 2-18). Brigade 93-2 (13.2 overs; R Hunter 28, D Barr 23*, K Magee 22).

At the Boathole, St Johnston (0) lost to Newbuildings (25 pts) by 96 runs

Newbuildings 178-4 (20 overs; G McKeegan 65, J Thompson 51, D Lapsley 2-31). St Johnston 82-7 (20 overs; R Machingal 38*, J Thompson 5-15).