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Spent the evening watching CIYMS and Carrickfergus at a sunny Belmont and although CIYMS won - it was great to see the passion and fire that Ryan Eagleson still has for his boyhood club. If there was a proper clubman in the whole Union, then Ryan is your man. Class act.

Impressed with Carrick all round, they are a team on the up and can only improve. Lead well by Iain Parkhill and with the experience of Eagleson, they will trouble teams.

Ivan - before criticising other clubs and their facilities - I think you need to look at your own club first. Horrendous back pitch which isn't playable in my eyes to host games! You also go on about how good Muckamore is and their youth etc. Just seen on ncu site that your u17s conceded to Carrick in the colts cup. It seems a lot needs addressing at your own club, so best you look after that before criticising other clubs.

Sometimes I think that this forum runs the Nolan Show a close second! Ivan and I posted what I felt are reasonable comments about what we see going on. There were no criticisms in either posting and yet the 'whataboutery' starts! This totally misses the points that I was making but I suppose there are those who will see what they think see!

Ivan
You talk about facilities take a look at your back pitch it is a disgrace before you criticise other clubs look closer to home.

Re: NW supporter

Couldn't agree more. The team was clearly picked before the inter-pros were even played. Maybe that's why we won? Maybe a case of, "Who cares if we win, I know I'm picked" from Leinster team

Re: Section 1 Cricketer

Couldn't agree more again, you would think there was only 1 league in our country! Of the 3 three leading journalists in our country, by my calculations one has been doing Ireland coverage and the other 2 were both at the lawn on Saturday. Whats the point?

The only time you ever hear from outside of the premier league is when something goes wrong. E.g. Drumaness folding, Victoria/Lurgan in trouble, Woodvale claiming a game (Rightfully).

When the reality is section 1 & 2 are the most exciting leagues! PL is boring and predictable. Nothing about the great run in there is going to be in section 1 between Downpatrick, Woodvale and Muckamore? The relegation battle at the bottom involving 5/6 teams.

Then to section 2. I'm sure everyone heard about Cliftonville's 3rd XI folding. Yet no mention their 1st XI are the only unbeaten team in the NCU and on course to repeat Armagh's remarkable treble? No mention of the up and coming club cregagh, who's 1st XI average age must be under 20? laurelvale and holywood are also challenging in a 4 horse race for 2 promotion places.

No we will continue to talk about our non local players getting paid to play in the top flight. To refer to Andy Kennedys post hinted at decline again. Simply why should youngsters and clubs outside the top flight bother? All their best youth will get pinched by the big boys.

Do we not see the cycle and why our younger players are giving up our game???

Talented 15 year old -- "Oh come play for us to make it in cricket" -- Win every age group trophy -- 20 years old -- I've been playing 2nd XI cricket for 6 years, whats the point? -- Give up cricket.

This is fact. Time to open our eyes and see what is happening. Do we introduce a loan system? Talented 2nd XI players can go to Section 1/2 clubs and play for a year? Should the big boys be compensating small clubs for stealing their youth?

Re: Andy Kennedy and Ivan McCombe investing in club facilities, i don't think many clubs are in a position to throw mud at others however i have taken many a trip in the past couple of years to the technology park at Antrim and as the main pitch has come on leaps and bounds and indeed turned into one of the nicest pitches in the Northern Union the back pitch continues to fall into disrepair and at some stages quite a dangerous place to play as there are holes all over the mat and a fall away at the back that if you misjudge you are liable to a ball in the face/body. We hear many rumours and some fact that money is offered to local and foreign section 1 players which would be put to much better use improving the club facilities and i don't just mean the bar. it was lovely to see a pub team such as Deriaghy win the league last year who played for each other rather than for a wage.

Thank you to all clubs that hosted games recently against the Cricket Masters Academy from Pune India .
This is the 6th consecutive year that Donacloney have hosted the tour and although the weather was terrible they still managed 11 games in 2 weeks !!
Thanks again to everyone involved
Ps they have left a few bats for me to sell .
Well worth a look and reasonably priced £110-130
07711918875 if interested
Tel. 07711918875 if interested

I have read Ivan McCombe's posting about clubs investing in facilities with interest. My reading coincided with the news that the club that is reputed to be the big spenders on the playing side was among the first to call off on Friday for a Saturday game! I agree with Ivan's point but I would remind him that there are clubs struggling for survival - clubs that play on Council pitches ( I recall the outcry a couple of years ago in support of Victoria), clubs that share grounds with rugby clubs where they appear to be the 'junior' partner, etc. I am aware of grants being available from the Big Lottery Fund, government (both central and local) involvement in community development, etc. Is there a role for a Cricket Development Officer charged with following up and investigating the various funds that are out there. In a week where another club has dropped a side I would realistically (and regrettably) predict that a couple of others will follow either before the end of this season or certainly by the start of 2017. There have been postings over the years about the malaise in NCU cricket and little evidence is made public that anything has been done by the centre. The day is fast approaching when the present generation of committed people will say that it's not really 'worth the candle' and throw in the towel - and the young people to take their place? I don't see too many stepping up to the mark. I know that this may appear doom and gloom but last season I made the decision to step back from umpiring Premier league games in order to give the 'Young Turks' who were coming through and this has given me the opportunity to see for myself the decline in standards below the top tier. I realise that there are many who would have a different view and argue that all is well at the top - maybe I'm like the wee lad in the story about the emperor's new clothes!!

RE - u17 Interpros/Ireland u17

Just heard from a mate that following the u17 Interpro series the Ireland U17 team has been selected.

Astonished to see that the winners - NCU - have only TWO players on the 13 man squad - and by my calculations one of them didn't even play in either match ?

Leinster were well beaten by the NCU but have 8 players in the squad - how does that happen ?

We have 3 players in the squad - we lost both matches so probably can't expect much more than that !!

Perhaps someone can explain how the team was picked - is it whoever shouts loudest gets the most players on ?

Also at this level does it mean the Inter -Pro tournament is a waste of time for aspiring young cricketers ? Does it not matter how well you perform in this tournament as the team is already picked ??

Having watched the last hour of today's ODI from Stormont on live streaming I have to say I enjoyed it. Yes it can be improved and I'm sure it will be.
A great way to give the sponsors more exposure as it seems a struggle to get people through the gate .
I was at the game on Tuesday but work meant I couldn't make it today so the live streaming was the next best thing .
If you can't get to the game on Sunday or next Tuesday log on to www.cricketireland.ie and check it out for yourself . I watched part on my phone and the latter stage on my iPad .

Regarding the non coverage of Section 1 games in the Newsletter, could this be due to the fact that one particular team does not play in that section?..".....only asking.

I am making a comment about the lack of coverage that the non premier league clubs get. After buying the News Letter over the past few years I am yet to see of any mention on Section 1 cricket. This being the most competitive league in all sections and not just a 1 or 2 horse race like other leagues (in my opinion). Other than the likes of Waringstown, CIYMS and Instonians the majority of other clubs don't get a mention.

Just a slight criticism in our journalists to maybe look through the top Premier League sides and give some of the smaller clubs the recognition they deserve for some of their achievements!

Played in a game on Sunday at Saintfield against Saintfield 1sts, a match that if there was no play would have been a no result which wouldn't have been good for either team.

A massive well done to both umpires Dessie Milne and Tommy Deegan who used a lot of common sense and showed a willingness to get a result achieved where a few others would have possibly been a bit more fussy and also a big well done to a young Saintfield team led by Gareth Harrison who worked there socks off all day with covers to keep the wicket dry and a top wicket it was too, possibly the best we have played on all season so far.

I just can't understand the N/R ruling, surely even a bowl out would be better than a no result??? I know there is a lot of pressure on guys playing double headers and so on but we have all week to play a 20 over or even 10 over bash to achieve a result instead of the dreaded N/R???

Here's hoping the weather finally picks up over the coming days and we won't have to worry about N/R but just food for thought and would be good to have some thoughts from others.......

Is this the wettest season on record or are we being over protective of our squares ? Or is it time to invest more in protective covering ?
Surely in Northern Ireland we have to accept that every game can't be played in perfect conditions.
The alternative is lots of fixtures crushed in to the end of season , make shift teams fielded , teams playing without pro's , lots of 20 over lotteries .
Why matches are called off at 12 noon when the forecast is for a dry afternoon baffles me . Better a 20 over game starting at 5.30pm with full strength teams than weakened teams on a Friday afternoon.
Is it time to invest in improved drainage instead of an overseas pro ?
When you look at the top three leagues - after 11 weeks of what's a 20 week season we have 17 games out of 56 played in the Premier League , 37 out of 90 played in Section One and only 15 out of 56 in Junior One.
Surely clubs must now invest in extra tarpaulins to cover the square and bowlers run ups , mats to cover old wickets that allow play to go ahead , and better drainage.
Irregular games will drive more and more players to the golf course .
And let's not suggest "less cricket and shorter matches ". At probably only 22 games a season maximum it's a short season. What we need is a "willingness to play in less than perfect conditions " and a bit more help for our groundsmen to repair any damaged ends .

It really has been an awful summer so far. I didn't realise how bad until I looked at Junior cricket tables - CIYMS 2s (1 game), Ards & Donaghadee (3) and Nth Down 4s (4). And we're into the 3rd week in July! Nightmare for fixture secretaries!!