Murphy shines in Ardmore cup success at Bready CC

Limavady Grammar School team who defeated Bangor Grammar School.

The Bleachgreen side won the Sammy Jeffrey last season on their way to promotion while their opponents replaced Sion Mills in the Sperrin Springs and duly won the competition.

Newbuidings batted first and a 50-run partnership between man-of-the-match Peter Allen and Gareth Falconer got them off to an impressive start. I say partnership however when Falconer was run out with the score on 53, he had only made two of those - Peter Allen a busy man at the other end.

A run of wickets disrupted their progress somewhat after that, Allen himself among them after he had made 52 including eight fours and two sixes.

Malcolm McCausland and Wes Ferguson rescued the situation a little towards the end of the 20 overs, McCausland with 27 not out and his partner 19 not out as Newbuildings closed on 136 for eight.

Ardmore’s reply started quietly with Conor Brolly dismissed by Dale Culbert for nine before Ciaran Curley and Adrian Murphy took them past 50. Curley fell to Tommy Thompson for 23 but that brought Andrew Riddles to the middle and that was to be as good as it got for Newbuildings.

The fielding side missed a chance to get rid of Murphy soon after but they didn’t take it and the West Indian made them pay with an unbeaten half century (seven fours and a six). Riddles also finished unbeaten - he made 48 and in the end it was a comfortable eight wicket win for the Bleachgreen side.

Meanwhile Ulster Bank Schools Cup holders Limavady GS are through to the second round following a seven wicket win over Bangor GS.