Defending champions Waringstown saw their grip on the title loosen further after CSNI completed a seven-wicket victory.

Holywood, the big favourites, won the Women’s Challenge Cup final with a 244 runs victory over Instonians at Stormont, the two professionals outclassing the amateurs from Shaw’s Bridge.

Instonians seemed to be the big losers when Nikolai Smith, first, stepped down from the captaincy, then a week later, left the club, but Muckamore aren’t far behind.

Instonians coach Xander McIlwaine believes his young side have earned the right to enjoy Sunday’s Gallagher Women’s Senior Challenge Cup final and insists they will embrace the challenge of facing Holywood head-on.

Nikolai Smith produced a sensational final-over assault as Lisburn defeated Muckamore by two wickets with three balls to spare, leaving the Premier League table tightly congested with just one victory separating the top five sides.

CSNI and Instonians will contest next month’s Challenge Cup final at Stormont after contrasting semi-final victories.

Downpatrick Cricket Club is proud to announce that it will once again host the Royal Challengers Belfast 's annual cricket tournament Royal Premier League (RPL) Season 5, welcoming teams for one of the region's popular T20 cricket tournaments.

Kian Hilton is hoping to end North Down's silverware drought as they face a testing T20 cup semi-final against Lisburn this weekend.

Chris Dougherty has never been one for the limelight, but this weekend the CI stalwart stands on the brink of a landmark that says everything about his trademarks of quality, consistency and longevity.

Neil Brand has already been one of the standout batters in the NCU this season, but the Muckamore all-rounder is proving just as influential with the ball, leading the season tally along with North Down's Harry Zimmermann.

Shane Dadswell has set the pace in the NCU batting charts, with the Instonians powerhouse sitting proudly at the top of the run aggregates after a blistering opening half of the season.

Muckamore pulled off one of the great escapes at Moylena, defending just 107 to beat North Down by four runs and keep their Premier League title charge alive.

Lisburn reignited their Premier League title hopes in spectacular fashion as Ben Calitz produced a brutal exhibition of hitting to power them to a 110-run win over Woodvale at Wallace Park.

Chris Dougherty marked a memorable personal milestone in fitting fashion, scoring a superb century that carried him past the 10,000-run landmark for CI as the Belmont side held their nerve to beat Cliftonville Academy by 13 runs in a Premier League thriller.

Carrickfergus and Lurgan take advantage of Bangor loss as the Section One title race opens up.

Holywood Women strengthened their grip at the top of the Premiership with a crushing nine-wicket victory after dismissing North Down for 95 for 8 before racing to the target in just 7.3 overs.

In the end it was much closer than anyone expected but Waringstown stayed top of the Premier League table after beating North Down by 33 runs, in a match reduced to 40 overs.

CSNI blew the NCU Premier League title race wide open with a dramatic three-run win over leaders Waringstown in a rain-reduced 10-over thriller.

Luan Liebenberg has emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the NCU Section One bowling averages, with the Armagh 1st XI bowler setting the standard in a highly competitive campaign.

Liam Doddrell is the clear headline act in NCU Section One after a superb season with the bat that has taken him past 900 runs and well clear at the top of the scoring charts.

Cliftonville Academy beat CSNI in the Premiership, while in Section One there are wins for Templepatrick and Cregagh.

Losing his Cricket Ireland contract brought the curtain down on an international career that included Test cricket at Lord's, but the South African-born all-rounder has wasted little time dwelling on what might have been.

After trouncing title rivals Lisburn by 180 runs at Wallace Park, they moved clear into second place, just one win behind Waringstown and backed up their skipper’s confident statement in emphatic style.

Bangor were crowned Banoge Under-13 Cup champions after defeating Instonians by 15 runs in an entertaining final played at a sun-drenched Upritchard Park.

Shane Dadswell is the new captain of Instonians and he insists the defending champions are still the team to beat, adding: “We should be feared”.

Jake Egan is hoping to celebrate his 23rd birthday this weekend by helping CI reach the semi-finals of the NCU Challenge Cup.

Waringstown and Instonians remain on course for a repeat of last year’s NCU Challenge Cup final after the teams were kept apart in the semi-final draw.

North Down were the latest team to return to Laurelvale on Saturday and the latest to leave with four points as the newly promoted side again found the step up to the Premier League a match too far.

There is a familiar line-up in the quarter-finals of the NCU Challenge Cup on Sunday. Seven of the eight clubs left in the competition have all played in the Cup final at least once in the last five years, with Waringstown, the holders, and CI winning on both their appearances.

A magnificent opening partnership between centurions Ryan Hunter and Evan Williams powered MCC XI to a convincing 65-run victory over the NCU Under-19’s.

It was a make or break weekend in the Premier League for defending champions Instonians and after literally throwing away the chance of victory against Waringstown on Saturday they made up for it on Sunday by beating Muckamore less than 16 hours later.

Shane Dadswell ensured Instonians’ title defence remains on track with a one-man display in the champions six wickets win over Muckamore at Moylena

Instonians beat CSNI, while Holywood knocked out holders Waringstown.

There was double cause for celebration in the King's Honours list with NCU stalwarts Brian Walsh and Roger Bell given prestigious awards.

Waringstown joined Lisburn at the top of the Premier League table with a huge victory over defending champions Instonians at The Lawn.

Carrickfergus, Laurelvale, Muckamore, CSNI and CI are all through to the last eight.

It was another record-breaking day for RBAI in the Schools Cup Final as they won the Ferguson Grainger Cup for a fourth successive year, after bowling out their hosts, Campbell College, for 42, the joint lowest total in the final.

Campbell College are bidding to complete the Schools hat-trick on Friday when they meet holders RBAI at Campbell College (3.30pm)

It will be a long-awaited derby day for Waringstown and Lurgan in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, with the holders drawn at home on Sunday week.

Ulster Schools have named their squad for a game against MCC next week.

Graham Hume may have lost his Ireland contract but on Sunday, it looked like Cricket Ireland had made a big mistake.

A devastating bowling spell by Ireland international Graham Hume ensured a comfortable passage into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals for Waringstown, and Lisburn’s first 50-over defeat of the season.

Bangor continued their perfect start to the Section One campaign with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Derriaghy in a rain-reduced 28-over contest at Upritchard Park, while Armagh also won by the same margin against Donacloney Mill.

There are not many clubs who can lose players of the quality of Faiz Fazal, Ryan Macbeth, Josh Manley and Matthew Humphreys and play as if nothing has happened, but that is exactly what Lisburn have done so far.

NEIL BRAND sits proudly at the top of the NCU averages having plundered 530 runs at an incredible average of 106, helping his Muckamore side to second place in the Premiership.

RBAI will meet Campbell College in the final of the Ulster Schools Cup after both recorded convincing wins in Friday's semi-finals.

The stats are in for June with Muckamore's Neil Brand and Lisburn's Jon Hinrichsen topping the batting and bowling charts.

Lisburn moved to the top of the Premier League after hanging on to beat Civil Service North by four runs at Stormont. 

Holders Waringstown survived a spirited challenge from Muckamore to book their place in the next round of the NCU Women’s Cup with a 10-run victory at Moylena.

There were Section One wins for Carrickfergus, Lurgan and Derriaghy.

There were victories in NCU Section One for Bangor, Saintfield, Armagh, Lurgan and

Difficult conditions meant sides batting second were at an advantage.

It’s not often the player of the match is on the losing side but even Woodvale could not dispute that  Instonians professional Shane Dadswell deserved any individual award that was coming. Fact: There wasn’t one.

Cliftonville Academy pulled off the shock of the night as they beat holders Instonians by 14 runs in the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup.

He first appeared for the Stormont club in 2011, but it wasn’t a straightforward route to Belfast for the passionate music and sports fan.

Laurelvale knew it was going to be a difficult season on their return to the top flight of NCU cricket and in their first away Premier League game they were no match even for a vastly under-strength Lisburn side.

There were wins in the NCU Premiership for Instonians, Lisburn, Muckamore and CSNI

There were convincing wins in Section One for early season pacesetters Bangor and Carrick, while Cregagh won a tense contest against Armagh.

Lurgan produced the most emphatic result of the night in the NCU T20 Trophy as they demolished Donacloney Mill by ten wickets at Pollock Park.

Shane Dadswell starred again as Instonians got their defence of the Lagan Valley Steels Cup off to a successful start with a 23-run win over Lisburn.

Carrickfergus turned on the power at Middle Road to make a winning start in the NCU T20 Trophy with a commanding 34-run victory over Cregagh in Group A.

Woodvale Cricket Club has announced the launch of a Charity Kit which will be worn in all Cup matches this season.

It was a successful debut too for their new purple kit which will be worn by the Wallace Park club in the T20 Cup to promote and highlight their association with the Northern Ireland pancreatic cancer charity (NIPANC).

There were T20 wins on Friday night for CI at Woodvale, while Derriaghy beat Donacloney Mill in the T20 Trophy.

There were T20 Trophy wins for Bangor, Armagh and Templepatrick.

There were wins for Lisburn, Instonians, and Waringstown on the opening night of the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup.

Michael Waite was the Man-of-the-Match as Waringstown beat Muckamore to win the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Plate trophy held over from last year.

Greg Thompson still has fire in his belly, keen for more success as captain of a Waringstown side that has always been to the forefront of NCU and Irish cricket.

Some things never change. Chris Dougherty top scores for CIYMS against Waringstown and Tom Mayes takes six wickets in the same match.

Waringstown began their defence of the Mercury NCU Women’s Premiership with an emphatic ten-wicket win over Lisburn at The Lawn.

There were wins in Section One for Saintfield, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Cooke Collegians and Lurgan.

There were wins in the NCU Challenge Cup for Lurgan, Bangor, Cregagh, and Derriaghy.

There were wins in the NCU Premier League for North Down, Instonians, Waringstown. Lisburn and Muckamore as the batters piled on the runs.

Sully Gould may not even have been playing in Instonians’ opening defence of their title on Saturday, if Rob McKinley had been available, but the Englishman has guaranteed himself a slot in the starting line-up for the foreseeable future after hitting his maiden senior century

For at least half the 10 clubs, with no aspirations of winning the league, it is a “free-hit” with no relegation this year as the top two teams in Section One will win promotion (if they want!) to form a 12-team Premier League from 2027.

Donacloney Mill had a steady season in 2025, recording eight league wins to finish in a very respectable sixth place in Section One.

Lurgan enjoyed another successful season in 2025 and will be looking for more of the same in 2026.

Cooke Collegians enjoyed a successful 2025 by not only winning the Junior Cup but also securing promotion to Section One.

It's a case of very much as you were for Armagh, who have opted for continuity as they head into the current season on the back of a fourth paced finish in Section One in 2025.

Carrick stormed all before them to clinch Section One with an exciting brand of attacking cricket, but the Middle Road club took the decision to maintain their status quo in the second tier.

North Down have been something of a sleeping giant in recent times when it comes to major silverware but are still capable of beating anyone on their day given the array of talent at their disposal.

The NCU have confirmed that they have pushed back the start of the 2026 season by one week, with games now slated to start on Saturday May 2nd.

After challenging for trophies in recent years, Woodvale found 2025 more of a challenge and have added some depth and quality to their ranks with four signings.

It's been a tough winter for exits all for a variety of reasons with Jared and Varun both returning back to the north west for reasons outside of cricket and a change in Passport and Pro.

It's been a bit of a fairytale year for Laurelvale, who after an impressive 2025 to finish runners-up in Section One, got an unexpected chance to play in the Premiership after Carrickfergus declined their promotion.

There's been a rebranding over the close season at Belmont with the artist formerly known as CIYMS now being known as CI.

There have been major changes at Lisburn over the winter with the main one being a new overseas player in the shape of Jon Hinrichsen.

Neil Gill is at the helm once more, and he will be delighted the Moylena side has secured the services of a quality overseas professional in Neil Brand.

As selected by North Down stalwart and prolific cricket author and historian Clarence Hiles.

Bangor made a successful return to Section One last season, picking up a trophy along the way as they lifted the T20 Trophy.

Instonians enjoyed a very productive and successful 2025 season capturing three major pieces of silverware - the Premier League as well as T20 success in the NCU and All-Ireland T20 cups. 

Waringstown have always been there or thereabouts when it comes to major trophies and there's no reason to think it will be any different in 2026.

It was an excellent 2025 for Saintfield who secured promotion to Section One by winning the Section Two title. They know it will be a tough task up the next rung of the NCU ladder but one that they intend to fully embrace and enjoy along the way.

Former Irish international Stuart Thompson has the captain's armband at CSNI, and there will be a few changes when the Stormont side take the field this year.

Cregagh go into the season with a new skipper at the helm in Robert Moore, and he is naturally full of enthusiasm for the campaign.

Woodvale have announced the signing of Ross Bryans from Templepatrick ahead of the new season next month.

Waringstown have announced the signing of South African Steve Stolk as their overseas professional for the 2026 campaign.

Derriaghy have announced the signing of New Zealand bowling all-rounder Matthew Scoble as their overseas player for the upcoming season.

Instonians will start the defence of their Premiership crown with a home clash at Shaw's Bridge against North Down on Saturday April 25th.

Carson Rose, once famously described by the late David Holmes as Instonians royalty, has died at the age of 90.

Holders Woodvale have been given a home draw against Ardmore in the opening round of the Ulster Plate.

Waringstown have been handed a tough assignment in the opening round of the Irish Senior Cup  facing Dublin kingpins Pembroke. It's a repeat of the 2019 final, when the Leinster side denied Waringstown a record-extending seventh title.

We asked Alan Waite with the unenviable task to name his all-time Waringstown XI. The famous club was founded in 1851, and will celebrate their 175th anniversary this season.

The Ards Club Red Hard Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament 2026, held at The Meadow grounds on 25th April 2026 brought together nine teams from across Ireland.

Castle Sports World successfully hosted the inaugural AdRi’s Royal Castle Cup 2026 T10 Red Hard Tennis ball tournament.

The draw has been made for the opening two rounds of the GMcG Junior Cup.

Cregagh have announced the signing the signing of Peter Davison from North Down ahead of the start of the 2026 campaign.

North Down have signed South African Nicolien Janse van Rensburg for the forthcoming 2026 season.

Lisburn have been drawn to play holders Waringstown in the second round of the NCU Challenge Cup,

CSNI have confirmed the signing of Indian professional Ashwin Hebbar for the 2026 campaign.

Two losses for the NCU. but much to be proud of with two valiant displays against Western Province CC.

Five wickets for Katie West and a century for Niamh Lowry were the highlights for the NCU Girls as they completed a memorable double over Boland.

Excellent wickets, strong opposition and 25 degree heat - Everything we wanted on day one of the NCU Girls U16 and U18 tour to South Africa

Woodvale have announced the signing of Francis Collins from Cliftonville Academy.

Lisburn-based company Mercury Security & Facilities Management (MSFM) has been unveiled as the new title sponsor of the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) Senior Leagues.

NIACUS, in conjunction with the NCU, are in desperate need for new umpires to officiate in the upcoming season.

Woodvale have confirmed that Ruhan Pretorius has signed a contract extension, committing his future to the club until the conclusion of the 2030 season.