Bready are in pole position to defend their Premiership title after beating nearest challenges Newbuildings by four wickets in yesterday’s titanic clash at Magheramason.

A maximum points win in their final game at home to Eglinton will be enough to retain the title and even if they don’t do that, Newbuildings will probably have to take 50 points from their last two games to have a chance of overtaking them.

It was a low-scoring affair yesterday with young Gavin Roulston the destroyer in chief with the ball, taking four wickets as Jared Wilson’s side were bowled out for 132.

Roulston struck in his second over to dismiss top scorer Ryan Hunter and then bowled Wilson in his next over.

Johnny Thompson and Graeme Sweeney added 30 for the sixth wicket but Roulston ended that stand as well and then held his second return catch to dismiss North West Warriors team-mate Trent McKeegan. The last four wickets added just 24 runs.

The Newbuildings bowlers hit back, however, reducing the champions to 73 for five but, not for the first time this season, skipper Davy Scanlon came to the rescue, hitting 41 not out from just 27 balls (six fours and a six) to see his side to a vital victory in just the 25th over.

Newbuildings' opponents in the Senior Cup final next weekend, Fox Lodge will head to Eglinton in confident form after beating Coleraine, albeit by just one wicket.

Chasing the Bannsiders 209, they were comfortably on course at 191 for five but then lost four wickets for 11 runs leaving Nos 10 and 11, Adam Walker and Joel Smyth still requiring four to win from the last over. But Walker hit the first ball of Matthew Hutchinson’s over to the boundary to seal the win.

The finish was just as exciting at The Bleachgreen after a superb last wicket stand beween Dave Bezzant and Thomas Brolly. They came together with Ardmore 135 for nine in reply to Donemana’s 199 all out, with nine overs left.

They were still together at the start of the last over, needing just three to win but after three ‘dot’ balls, Gary McClintock had Brolly leg before to claim a two runs win.