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For the second successive season rain ruined the Newstalk Interprovincial Cup clash between the North West Warriors and the Northern Knights at Coleraine but little doubt it was the home team that was by far the happier to come away with a share of the spoils.
There was little sign of what was to come as Andrew White and Andy McBrine took a crucial toss in brilliant sunshine- White calling correctly and sending the Warriors in to bat.

It didn’t take the NCU side long to make the breakthrough either as Jason Milligan got one from Allan Coulter that kicked off a length and caught the shoulder of his bat through to Chris Dougherty. Four balls later the other opener was gone too- David Barr getting one from Nigel Jones that left him enough to find the edge of his bat and was snaffled by White at slip.

Stuart Thompson began aggressively as he and Niall McDonnell tried to retrieve the situation but with the score on 34, Thompson mistimed a pull shot to deep fine leg and was caught by Coulter off the bowling of David Simpson for 17. Worse was to follow moments later as McDonnell was trapped in front- Coulter again the man involved and 34 for 2 was now 34 for 4.

Andy McBrine and Johnny Thompson did their best to fend off the dominant Knights’ attack but having added 18 between them the Warriors captain seemed to over balance when defending a ball from Simpson and was sharply stumped by Dougherty for 7.

Thompson and Andrew Riddles resisted for a while too, adding 25 for the 6th wicket before the Brigade man was deceived by White and bowled for 13. Riddles and Ricky-Lee Dougherty got the Warriors over 100 in the 30th over but no sooner had they reached the landmark than the former went for one shot too many and gifted a chance to Lee Nelson to end a decent knock of 28.

Gary McClintock came and went without scoring before Craig Young (12) added a few late on and the innings ended soon after when Dougherty was caught behind for 15. That left the home team all out for 120 courtesy of a solid bowling performance from Eugene Moleon’s side. Jones (3-19 from 10) was the pick but Simpson (2-19), Coulter (2-20), White (2-27) and Cameron-Dow (1-21) were all on the money.

Seven overs play were left before lunch which Chris Dougherty(12*) and Nigel Jones (12*) negotiated comfortably to come in on 31-0. When they returned from the dining area however it was a dark and rainy scene that met the players and despite waiting around for several hours things got no better.

In the end the umpires were left with little choice but to abandon with the visitors cursing their luck having been totally in control of the match. Two points apiece it is then but the Warriors will be keen to put on a much better display when the sides meet at Stormont next week in their 3-day game.

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Connaught