NCU Schools Cricket 2026
NCU Section 1
Bangor v Armagh - abandoned.
Upritchard Park, 17 May.
Armagh 196-9 (40 overs; M Steenson 81, L Liebenberg 49, B Mackey 23; A Farrell 4-28, C Pyper 2-30)
Bangor 1-1 (0.4 overs) (Rain interrupted - Bangor target 180 off 33 overs)
Armagh’s hopes of a first NCU Section One win of the season were washed away by heavy rain after their clash with Bangor was abandoned with the hosts just four balls into the chase. Asked to bat first, Armagh recovered impressively from a shaky 35 for 4 to post a competitive 196 for 9 from their 40 overs. Matthew Steenson anchored the rescue effort superbly, striking 81 from 94 balls with nine fours and two sixes in a composed innings under pressure. He shared a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 81 with overseas professional Luan Liebenberg, who counter-attacked with 49 from 52 deliveries, including seven boundaries. Steenson then added another valuable partnership with Ben Mackey, whose 23 helped push the total towards 200. Bangor’s new-ball pair Angus Farrell and Chris Pyper were the pick of the bowlers, Farrell claiming 4 for 28 while Pyper returned 2 for 30. Liebenberg struck immediately in reply, dismissing Seb Yeates in the opening over, but persistent rain soon ended play in frustrating fashion for both sides.
NCU Women's Premier League
Waringstown lost to Holywood by 62 runs.
The Lawn, 17 May.
Holywood 174-1 (20 overs; Madison Landsman 115, Christina Soulsby 37, Erin Bind 13*)
Waringstown 112-9 (20 overs; Naomi Matthews 25, Penny Speer 23, Sophie Hinds 20; M Landsman 3-18, Erin Bond 2-17)
Madison Landsman and Lara Maritz (CricketEurope)
Holywood produced a statement performance as they swept aside defending champions Waringstown Women by 62 runs after a dominant all-round display inspired by skipper Madison Landsman. Holywood piled up an imposing 174-1 from their 20 overs, with Landsman in devastating form. The captain hammered an unbeaten 115 from just 61 balls, peppering the boundary with 11 fours and three sixes in a superb innings that took the game away from the hosts. She shared a commanding 113-run stand with Christina Soulsby, who contributed a composed 37, before adding a further 61 in the final four overs alongside Erin Bond, who finished unbeaten on 13. The only breakthrough for Waringstown came when Lucia Derby claimed the sole wicket of the innings. Facing a daunting chase, Waringstown were always struggling to keep pace with the required rate and eventually closed on 112-9. Captain Naomi Matthews top-scored with 25, while Penny Speer made 23 and Sophie Hinds added 20. Landsman capped a memorable outing by taking 3-18, with Bond claiming 2-17 as Holywood cruised to an impressive victory that outlines their title credentials.
NCU Women's Premier League
Muckamore beat Instonians by 11 runs
Moylena, 17 May.
Muckamore 141-6 (20 overs; Beth McCrea 31, Rebekah Mairs 23*; Sanvi Vinothkumar 3-40)
Instonians 130-4 (20 overs; Anna Ellerby 47*, Matilda McCartney 36)
Muckamore edged a tense contest at Moylena by 11 runs as Instonians were left to rue a costly number of extras in a closely-fought encounter. Batting first, Muckamore posted 141-6 from their 20 overs, with Beth McCrea leading the way with 31, striking four boundaries in a lively innings at the top of the order. Rebekah Mairs then provided an important late flourish, finishing unbeaten on 23 from just 16 balls, including three fours. However, the defining contribution to the innings came from Instonians’ indiscipline with the ball. Muckamore were gifted 46 extras, including a remarkable 36 wides, and those additional runs ultimately proved decisive. Sanvi Vinothkumar was the pick of the bowlers claiming 3-40. Instonians battled hard in reply and looked in contention for much of the chase thanks to an excellent third-wicket partnership of 66 between Anna Ellerby and Matilda McCartney. Ellerby anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 from 45 balls, while McCartney made an aggressive 36 from 25 deliveries, hitting five boundaries. Despite their efforts, Instonians closed on 130-4, just short of their target.
NCU Women's Premier League
CSNI lost to Lisburn by 27 runs
Stormont, 17 May.
Lisburn 131-7 (20 overs; Talia Hurley 80; Vanessa Minford 2-14, Katie West 2-36)
CSNI 104-8 (20 overs; Jemma Gillan 29; Talia Hurley 2-13, Amelia Hughes 2-17, Lucy Andrews 2-19)
Talia Hurley was the match winner for Lisburn (Lisburn CC)
An outstanding all-round display from overseas player Talia Hurley guided Lisburn to a convincing 27-run victory over CSNI in the Women's Premiership. Hurley dominated the Lisburn innings with a superb 80 from 60 balls, striking 14 boundaries in a commanding knock that formed the backbone of her side’s total of 131-7 from 20 overs. While wickets fell regularly around her, the New Zealander kept the scoreboard moving throughout with a mixture of timing and aggression. CSNI fought back well with the ball, led by Vanessa Minford and Katie West, who both claimed two wickets. Minford’s accurate spell earned figures of 2-14, while West picked up 2-36. In reply, CSNI never quite managed to build the momentum required in the chase. Captain Jemma Gillan top-scored with a steady 29, but regular wickets left the home side struggling to keep pace with the asking rate. Hurley then capped a memorable performance by taking 2-13 to help derail the chase, while Lucy Andrews and Amelia Hughes also collected two wickets apiece as CSNI closed on 104-8.
Ulster Schools Cup
Round 3
- RBAI v Ballyclare HS
- Campbell College v Bangor GS
- Friends School Lisburn v Sullivan Upper
- Belfast Royal Academy v Carrickfergus GS
Round 2
- Bangor GS beat Regent House by 8 wickets.
Regent House 157-9 (J Parker 47, D Rayner 3-32, J Monaghan 2-16)
Bangor GS 161-2 (F McMillan 66*, J Monaghan 50*) - Campbell College beat Coleraine GS by 263 runs.
Campbell College 295-3 (S Yeates 111, M McNaught 53*, H Brand 50, J McClure Dalzell 35*)
Coleraine GS 32 (J Campbell 5-9) - Sullivan Upper School beat Ballymena Academy by 113 runs.
Sullivan Upper School 158-2
Ballymena Academy 45 - RBAI beat Grosvenor Grammar School by 7 wickets.
Grosvenor GS 61 (L Crothers 3-14, J West 3-14)
RBAI 62-3 - Foyle College lost to Ballyclare HS by 89 runs.
Ballyclare High School 128 (E Carlisle 28)
Foyle College 39 (E Carlisle 5-14, J Smyth 3-3) - Lurgan College lost to Carrickfergus GS by 22 runs.
Carrickfergus GS 84-7 (J Parkhill 45)
Lurgan College 62 (X McKay 4-11, B Brown 3-11) - RBAI II lost to Friends School Lisburn.
- Belfast Royal Academy beat Strabane Academy.
Round 1
- Belfast HS lost to Belfast Royal Academy by 43 runs.
Belfast Royal Academy 172-3 (25 overs, E Harte 61, C McVicker 70*)
Belfast HS 129-8 (25 overs, J Irvine 23, S Darshan 22, T Sharma 20; C Weir 2-24, J Murray 2-24) - Wallace HS lost to Strabane Academy by 3 runs.
Strabane Academy 143-6 (J Orr 28, M Robinson 28, O Britton 28)
Wallace HS 140-6 (Spence 56, R McCollam 34; I Black 4-24) - Bangor GS beat Methodist College Belfast by 17 runs.
Bangor GS 145-6 (M Walker 33, D Rayner 23; T Trigg 2-18, J Green 2-30)
Methodist College Belfast 128 (O Hull 26; D Rayner 4-15, G Wilson 2-14) - Down HS lost to Regent House.
Regent House 132-5 (Z Parker 51*, J. Heron 29)
Down HS 101-6 (D Johnson 3-10) - Limavady GS lost to Foyle College by 9 wickets.
Limavady GS 1125 (25 overs, R Lamrock 65*, T Ferguson 24; B Campbell 2-26)
Foyle College 115-1 (B Campbell 43*, C Gault 38*) - Royal School Armagh lost to Ballyclare HS by 10 wickets.
Royal School Armagh 52 (15 overs; C Donnelly 3-8, E Carlisle 3-21)
Ballyclare HS 53-0 (J Smyth 37*)
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