Newbuildings stayed top of the table with a 157-run win over bottom side St Johnston. Centuries from stand-in captain Ryan Hunter, who made 116, and Ross Dougherty, who struck 113 from 79 balls, powered the leaders to 365 for seven. Their 183-run partnership proved decisive, while Jared Wilson added an unbeaten 37 from 16 deliveries. St Johnston replied with 208, despite Jack Macbeth’s 56 and Nathan Cole’s 44. Wilson completed an outstanding all-round display by taking five for 20, with Gregory McFaul and Jason Dunn claiming two wickets each. Newbuildings now head confidently into Sunday’s cup semi-final at Fox Lodge.

Strabane's North West Premiership clash with Newbuildings fell victim to the weather after the home side had reached 106 for 2 in 23.1 overs. Rhys Logue top-scored with 38, while Conor Graham added 33 as Strabane made a steady start before torrential rain forced the abandonment of the contest.

Newbuildings moved to the top of the table after edging past Donemana by three wickets in a closely fought contest. Donemana were bowled out for 199, with skipper Gary McClintock making 50 and sharing a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 64 with Levi Dougherty, who struck 45. Both batsmen hit three fours and three sixes, while Josh Wilson (3-29) and Ross Hunter (3-68) led the bowling attack. In reply, former Donemana player Ryan Hunter set the tone with a fluent 48, including eight fours, in a second-wicket partnership of 73 with Jason Dunn (24). Peat Salmon then blasted 44 from just 28 balls, before Ross Dougherty’s unbeaten 38 guided Newbuildings home despite a late wobble.

Newbuildings secured an emphatic 89-run victory over Coleraine in a match reduced to 30 overs. After losing early wickets, a crucial fourth-wicket partnership between Ross Dougherty and Peat Salmon rebuilt the innings. Salmon struck 38 from 37 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Dougherty blasted 56 from just 39 deliveries, clearing the ropes six times as Newbuildings posted 184-9. Coleraine's chase never gained momentum as Newbuildings' bowlers maintained a tight grip throughout. The run out of Louren Steenkamp for 12 proved a key moment, increasing the pressure on the visitors. Varun Chopra battled hard for 43, but with the required rate steadily rising, wickets followed. Captain Ross Hunter finished the job superbly, claiming 4-6 as Coleraine were dismissed for 95.

Newbuildings climbed to second place in the Premiership with an emphatic 73-run victory over neighbours Bready, who remain rooted to the foot of the table. The home side piled up an imposing 324 all out in 49.2 overs thanks largely to a devastating third-wicket partnership between Peat Salmon and Jared Wilson. The pair added 180 in superb fashion after early wickets had given Bready some encouragement. Salmon dominated the attack with a breathtaking 143 from just 94 deliveries, smashing 11 fours and 13 sixes in one of the innings of the season. Wilson provided the perfect foil with an equally aggressive 84, striking 10 fours and four sixes as the hosts took complete control. Mark Hanna added 22 and Josh Wilson chipped in with 20 late in the innings. David Rankin battled hard for Bready with 4-49, while Charlie Downey claimed 3-52 against his former club. Young left-armer Travis Faulkner also impressed with 2-44. Bready were hampered by the absence of professional Josh van Heerden from bowling duties. The chase started brightly as Ben Campbell’s 33 helped put on 62 for the opening wicket with Kenzie Hall. Although David Rankin fell cheaply, Hall and Van Heerden launched an impressive counterattack, adding 85 in just nine overs. Hall made 54 with three fours and three sixes, while Van Heerden blasted a 36-ball 58 featuring nine boundaries and two maximums. At 163 for 2 just after the halfway stage, Bready were firmly in contention, but the dismissal of Van Heerden proved decisive. From there Newbuildings regained control, with skipper Ross Hunter taking four wickets as Bready were eventually bowled out for 251.

Fox Lodge continued their strong form with a 29-run DLS victory over Newbuildings in a rain-affected 32-over contest. The Foxies built their innings around a superb third-wicket partnership of 119 in just 16 overs between Sri Lankan professional Gayan Maneeshan and Jason Milligan. Maneeshan’s prolific early-season form showed no sign of slowing as he hammered 87 from 70 balls, striking 12 fours and three sixes. Milligan provided excellent support with a powerful 53 that included four boundaries and three maximums, while Charlie Simpson laid the early foundations with 33 featuring five fours. Skipper Ross Hunter picked up two wickets for the hosts. Set a revised target of 214, Newbuildings collapsed to 92-7 despite an explosive 28-ball 49 from Peat Salmon before he was removed by Johnny “Bap” Robinson. Ross Dougherty battled gamely with an unbeaten 78 and shared a half-century stand with Josh Wilson, but the required rate proved beyond them. Levi Kerr claimed three wickets, while teenager Swarnim Jha took two in Fox Lodge’s comfortable win.

THERE was a controversial conclusion to the NW Premiership clash at Beechgrove between defending champions Brigade and expected challengers Newbuildings. Chasing 233, the contest was evenly poised with David Barr’s unbeaten 80 having the hosts 160 for 4 in the 39th over when a shower stopped play. Brigade failed to produce a DLS sheet which calculates revised targets in the event of stoppages, with the umpires automatically awarding the match to Newbuildings. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Brigade, but Newbuildings will care little as they get their season up and running. Earlier, a century stand between Jason Dunn (66) and Ryan Hunter (61) laid an excellent platform before Jamie Millar’s five-wicket haul saw them falter to 232 for eight.