Half centuries from William McClintock and Aaron Gillespie plus a four wicket haul for Ryan McBeth saw the North West beat the Norther Cricket Union by 70 runs in their Under 17 interpro game at Donemana on Sunday.

Andrew Forbes (4-32) removed Gary McClintock and Andrew Austin without scoring to leave the NW reeling on 4 for 2. Strabane's Aaron Gillespie (50) steadied the ship with Donemana's Joe Robinson (21), and from there, the NW teenagers never looked back.

William McClintock top scored with a typically boundary laden 68, and there were further double figure contributions from skipper William McBrine (25), Luke Hayes (12) and Matty Barr (11) in a NW total of 222 all out. Waringstown's James Mitchell (3-48) and Instonians Ben Mellor (2-21) offered good support to the penetrative Forbes.

The NCU were never really in the hunt as St Johnston's Ryan McBeth claimed 4 for 19 and William McClintock 2 for 8 as they dismissed for 152. Ross Waite top scored with a fluent 39, while the CIYMS pair of Jack Beattie (24) and James Matchett (20) both got starts but didn't kick on.

The 70 run win for the NW puts them and Leinster on a collision course for the title when they meet next month.

Under 17 INTERPRO at The Holm, Donemana
NW U17 222 (45 overs, W McClintock 68, A Gillespie 50, W McBrine 25, J Robinson 21, A Forbes 4-32, J Mitchell 3-48, B Mellor 2-21)
NCU U17 152 (35 overs, R Waite 39, J Beattie 24, J Matchett 20, R MacBeth 4-19, W McClintock 2-8)
North West U17s beat Northern Cricket Union U17s by 70 runs