Following last weekend’s quarterfinals, we’re down to the final four in both the SolarFix NI Junior Cup and Shield.
Portadown prevailed at Ballymacarn Park to take out the remaining AIL 2XV, while there were also wins for Bangor, Dromore and Omagh.
In the SolarFix NI Junior Shield, Strabane won the North-West derby against Coleraine while Academy got the better of Randalstown. Previous winners, Carrickfergus and Limavady both made use of home advantage to put their names into the hat for the semi-final draw.
It was very much the game of two halves at Upritchard Park where Bangor overturned a halftime deficit against Lurgan to book a semifinal spot by virtue of a 43-21 scoreline.
Ryan Young opened the scoring early on for Bangor, but with the win in their backs, Lurgan replied with three tries of their own. But a try from Bryn Watson brought the hosts back into the contest, and at the break, Lurgan’s lead was cut to just two-points; 19-21.
Buoyed by Watson’s late try in the first half, Bangor wasted no time in raising the tempo at the start of the second half, and just 3 minutes after the restart, winger Young went over for his third try of the game.
Young’s hat-trick was the signal for Bangor to take over and further tries arrived through Gareth Millar and Frankie Shivers to help the North Down men book safe passage to the semi-finals.
Joining Bangor in the semi-finals are Championship 1 table toppers Dromore.
Fielding four debutants, Dromore raced into a 26-6 halftime lead. Cooke improved in the second half but were unable to add to their first half tally and eventually fell to a 6-31 defeat.
Omagh saw off Ballymoney at the Thomas Melon Playing Fields. After a closely fought first half, the Accies pulled away in the second period to advance to the semi-finals 31-12.
Portadown were the only team to win on the road, and they did it in one of the toughest venues too.
Ballynahinch 2XV went into the game with an unbeaten start to the season, and they were still in the contest at the break as they trailed Portadown 13-17.
But the second half belonged to the visitors and Portadown emerged victorious thanks to an 18-23 win.
The quarterfinals of the SolarFix NI Junior Shield were played out over the weekend.
Strabane’s excellent season continued as they accounted for Coleraine 33-10 at Rugby Avenue.
Academy had a more comprehensive win at Roughfort against Randalstown. The North Belfast side bested last season’s beaten finalists 52-17.
Championship 1 side Limavady had too much for Rainey 2XV at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds.
In all, the Roesiders ran in eleven tries on their way to a 75-14 win with Ben Riley helping himself to four touchdowns.
The draw for the semi-finals of the SolarFix NI Junior Cup and Shield will take place on Tuesday 20th October, with the ties to be played on Saturday 28th November.
Click here for a full a full rundown of the weekends results.