Here is a round-up of the Northumbria Cup semi-finals and League Cup quarter- and semi-finals:

Men's Northumbria Cup (for top 4 Premier teams)

Semi-final round-up:

In the top half, newly-confirmed Premier champions Northumberland 1 took on Northumberland 2, the first time that a genuine 2nd team (as opposed to and 1A/1B setup) had reached the dizzy heights of the Northumbria Cup! This was a formality for Northumberland 1, winning 5-0 (all 3-0 wins).

In the other half, Premier runners-up Northern 1, the 2021/22 league and cup double-winners, went in as only slight favourites against cup-holders and 5-times winners Westoe 1, but again ran out 5-0 winners (again all 3-0 at each string).

The final on Saturday 18th May (5:30pm) in now eagerly anticipated, as Northumberland and Northern shared the League spoils equally in their head-to-heads, with Northumberland only clinching the title by two points, so could be a thriller!

Semi-final results:

• Northumberland 1 beat Northumberland 2  5-0
• Northern 1 beat Westoe 1  5-0

Ladies' Northumbria Cup (for top 4 Division 1 teams)

Semi-final round-up:

League runners-up Northern Ladies 1 conceded their semi-final tie to third-placed Newcastle University Ladies 1B.

League champions Newcastle University Ladies 1A, who are going for the 'double-double' of League and Cup titles, took on 4th-placed Northumberland Ladies 1 in the other semi-final played at the University, and home advantage told as Uni 1A took the match 4-0 to set up another intriguing final between Uni 1A and 1B.

Although Uni 1A are unbeaten all season, the league encounters betwen these two 'split-strength' teams have been very close, with their first match finishing 2-2 and level at 7-7 on games and going to 1A on a points count, the second match again finishing 2-2 and 1A winning 9-7 on a games count and the most recent one finishing 3-1 to 1A (9-6 on games).

Semi-final results:

• Newcastle University Ladies 1B w/o v Northern Ladies 1
• Newcastle University Ladies 1A beat Northumberland Ladies 1  4-0

Men's League Cup A [for Div 1 to 3 teams]

Quarter-final round-up:

In the only all-Division 1 clash, champions and cup favourites Northumberland 3, unbeaten all season, ran out comfortable 4-1 winners against relegated Westoe 2.

Newbiggin 1, the unbeaten Division 2 champions, received a walkover from Primrose 1 of Division 1, who could not raise a team.

Northern 2, who finished in the Division 1 promotion playoff place travelled to Newcastle University 3 who had secured their third successive promotion to move up to Division 2 next season. In a closely-contested tie, Northern came out on top 3-2.

Finally in an all-Division 3 encounter, champions Northern Juniors 1, who remain unbeaten and also promoted for the third successive season, ran out 4-1 winners over Chester-le-Street 2, who failed to make much impression on Juniors in either league or cup matches this season.

Quarter final results [division in brackets]:

• Northumberland 3 [1] beat Westoe 2 [1]  4-1
• Newbiggin 1 [2] w/o v Primrose 1 [1]  5-0
• Northern 2 [1] beat Newcastle University 3 [3]  3-2
• Northen Juniors 1 [3] beat Chester-le-Street 2 [3]  4-1

Semi-final round-up:

The first semi-final was a clash between Northumberland 3 and Newbiggin 1, the unbeaten champions of Divisions 1 and 2 respectively, with the higher-placed Northumberland 3 coming out on top by 4-1.

The other semi-final was an all-Northern affair, with the cupholders Northern 2, who just missed out on promotion to the Premier, managing a narrow 3-2 victory over Division 3 champions Northern Juniors 1, who gave their senior club-mates a real scare.

This sets up a repeat of last year's League Cup A final between Northumberland 3 and Northern 2 (which Northern won 4-1).

Semi-final results [division in brackets]:

• Northumberland 3 [1] beat Newbiggin 1 [2]  4-1
• Northern 2 [1] beat Northern Juniors 1 [3] 3-2

Men's League Cup B [for Div 4 & 5 teams]

Quarter-final round-up:

In one of the two all-Division 4 pairings, promoted Northern 5 progressed to the semi-finals without yet playing a tie, having received a walkover from relegated Hexham 3, who were unable to field a team.

In a thrilling encounter, Benwell Hill 2, promoted from Division 5, pulled off a nailbiting 3-2 win over higher league opponents Northumberland 5, who can at least console themselves with an automatic Division 4 promotion place if they win their final match of the season.

In the only all-Division 5 encounter, 3rd-place (and promoted) Concordia 2 were no match for champions Newcastle University 4 who cruised to a 5-0 victory in their league and cup double-header.

The other all-Division 4 tie saw Chester-le-Street 3 give champions and cup favourites Tynemouth 3 a real fright before Tynemouth emerged narrow 3-2 winners to progress through to the semi-finals.

Quarter final results [division in brackets]:

• Northern 5 [4] w/o v Hexham 3 [4]  5-0
• Benwell Hill 2 [5] beat Northumberland 5 [4]  3-2
• Newcastle University 4 [5] beat Concordia 2 [5]  5-0
• Tynemouth 3 [4] beat Chester-le-Street 3 [4]  3-2

Semi-final round-up:

Both semi-finals were between Division 5 and Division 4 promoted teams, and both produced upsets. In the clash of the 2nd-placed teams, Benwell Hill 2 of Division 5 narrowly overcame Northern 5 of Division 4 by 3-2, and in the meeting of the champions, once again the Division 5 team came out on top, with University 4 dominating Tynemouth 3 in a 5-0 victory to become the new cup favourites in an all-Division 5 final.

Semi-final results [division in brackets]:

• Benwell Hill 2 [5] beat Northern 5 [4]  3-2
• Newcastle University 4 [5] beat Tynemouth 3 [4]  5-0

Ladies' League Cup (for 5th and 6th-placed Division 1 teams and all Division 2 teams)

Quarter-final round-up:

In the first quarter-final tie, Newcastle University Ladies 4 handed slight cup favourites Tynemouth Ladies 1 of Division 1 a walkover into the semi-finals.

Northern Ladies 3 knocked out Tynemouth Ladies 2 by the narrowest of margins, drawing 2-2 but winning 8-6 on games.

Northumberland Ladies 2 had no such trouble against Newcastle University Ladies 3, running out 4-0 winners.

Similarly in the final quarter-final tie, an all-Northern affair, cup second-favourites Ladies 2 of Division 1 comfortably disposed of Ladies 4 by 4-0 to go through to the semi-finals.

Quarter final results [division in brackets]:

• Tynemouth Lades 1 [1] w/o v Newcastle University Ladies 4 [2]  4-0
• Northern Ladies 3 [2] beat Tynemouth Ladies 2 [2]  2-2 (8-6 in games)
• Northumberland Ladies 2 [2] beat Newcastle University Ladies 3 [2]  4-0
• Northern Ladies 2 [1] beat Northern Ladies 4 [2]  4-0

Semi-final round-up:

Tynemouth Ladies 1 went through to the final after being handed a walkover by Northern Ladies 3.

In the other semi-final, a makeshift Northern Ladies 2 team, relegated from Division 1, recorded a 3-1 win against the Division 2 champions Northumberland Ladies 2, who had only 3 players.

Semi-final results [division in brackets]:

• Tynemouth Lades 1 [1] w/o v Northern Ladies 3 [2]
• Northern Ladies 2 [1] beat Northumberland Ladies 2 [2]  3-1

All Cup semi finals were held at the Northumberland Club with the exception of the second Ladies' Northumbria Cup semi-final, hosted by the University.

The Northumberland Club was also the venue for all the Cup Finals, followed by the Presentation Night on Saturday 18th May. See separate news item for the Cup Finals round-up.

The full Cup draws and results may be found here.