Impressive Waringstown in top form in both league and cup

Waringstowns Adam Dennison at the draw for the quarter finals of the NCUs Arthur J Gallagher Senior Challenge Cup when the club was drawn away to Lisburn on June 18. Also in the picture are the managing director of Arthur J Gallagher, Shane Matthews, and the President of the NCU, Peter McMorran.

On Sunday in the Irish Cup they swept aside North West outfit Eglinton with comparitive ease, winning by 10 wickets.

The holders had hardly to break sweat as they joined fellow NCU teams Derriaghy, Instonians and CIYMS in the last eight.

The home side batted first but were soon reeling with Waringstown’s South African professional Cobus Pienaar, taking three wickets with his first five balls, including that of Ireland’s Stuart Thompson first ball.

Eglinton rallied from four for three and 37 for seven to reach 124 all out thanks to Ross Millar’s unbeaten half-century but Waringstown were never going to be troubled by such a modest target.

James Hall smashed an unbeaten 80 from 43 balls, including eight fours and five sixes, and with James McCollum unbeaten on 38, the holders were home in the 17th over.

The day before Waringstown took on surprise team Derriaghy at The Lawn who had beaten CIYMS, but in the end they were not match for Lee Nelson’s side.

Derriaghy struggled from the off with wickets tumbling all around and the only resistance of note came from Andrew Kenny who managed to get any momentum with 34 as they slumped to 93 all out.

For Waringstown Phil Eaglestone took 3-27 and Gary Kidd 3-19.

In the Waringstown reply, James Hall made 44 and James McCollum 39 not out as the home side secured the win by eight wickets.

Waringstown take on Carrickfergus in the Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup on Friday night, starting at 6pm.

On Saturday the villagers travel to Stormont to take on CSNI in the Ulster Bank Premier League. Jonathan Bushe, the wicketkeeper, is unavailable with Andrew Mitchell again set to deputise.