Wins for the NCU and Leinster in the U-15 interprovincials

Ballymena's John Glass and Lurgan's Callum Gibson led the NCU to a 17-run victory over the North West at Malahide on the first day of this year's U-15 interprovincials.

Glass, who made an unbeaten 78 from 115 balls, came to the crease with the NCU on 64 for 3, Varun Chopra having dismissed Max Burton and Jack Carson with successive deliveries.

He then saw the NCU slide to 92 for 6 before he was joined by Gibson. With the NCU's number eight surviving an early chance in the field, the Lurgan batsman then launched an astonishing attack on the North West bowlers, making 81 from only 54 balls in a partnership of 139.

The NCU finished on 254-8 from their 50 overs. The pick of the North West bowlers was Coleraine's Chopra, who recorded miserly figures of 2-17 from his 10 overs.

In response the North West never really threatened: despite seven batsmen getting to 20, only Bready's Marc McCloskey (41 from 48 balls) got past 30 as the junior Warriors lost wickets at regular intervals before being dismissed for 237 in the last over.

Glass was the leading NCU bowler, taking 3-35 from 8 overs with his off-spin, while Gibson picked up the last two wickets for only 11 runs.

Meanwhile, at Sydney Parade, Leinster beat the Southern XI by three wickets, chasing down their target of 193 with more than forty balls to spare.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, the Southern XI were struggling at 103-6 before Andrew Brawders hit JJ Garth for 28 in an over.

Brawders made 44 from only 21 deliveries, striking 3 fours and 5 sixes, while Sufyan Khan was a rock at first down, making an unbeaten 41 from 130 balls as his team made 192.

YMCA's Harry Tector was the star turn with the ball for Leinster, delivering his overs for only 11 runs, taking three wickets in the process.

There was a couple of wickets apiece for Garth and Andrew Vincent.

Playing in his only match of the tournament - he joins up tomorrow with the U-19 squad - Tector then starred with the bat, making a vital 49* from only 47 balls as Leinster wobbled at 145-6.

Ian Anders recorded the next highest score for the home side, making 35 from 55 deliveries. Andrew Cawley bowled well for the Southern XI, taking 2 for 27 in his 10 overs, while Aaron O'Neill also bagged a brace, but Leinster reached their target in the 44th over.