Forum

Now that most Pro's have been appointed and transfers done it must be close to the time for us to try and predict who's going to finish top and who's going to be battling to avoid the drop.

On paper Waringstown's main challengers in the Premier League looks to be CIYMS. Instonians and North Down look like the best of the rest The other four places could very much depend on the performance of the "gun" Pro's. I wouldn't like to try and list them five to eight at this stage.

In Section One I think it's going to be very very competitive. I think any team with Kamy as their pro won't be far away at the end of the season. He's a proven match winner and Armagh proved last season they have a great team spirit and in Colin Russell and the guy Rogers they have two batsmen who could build match winning partnerships with Kamy. If they don't win the league I think they will certainly upset some of the more fancied teams.

Obviously I hope Muckamore will have learnt from last year's experiences and certainly in Ryan Haire and Neil Gill have two of the best all rounders in the league and have others such as Craig Drummond , Jay Hunter and Sam Gordon who can score big and bowlers like Gary Nicholl who are proven at that level.

Ballymena have a lot of players with years of Premier League experience and a team spirit that kept them in that league for years despite being everyone's favourite for the drop. I think they will start as most people's favourites to go straight back up .
Bangor with Tiamur Khan onboard will probably fancy their chances as should Downpatrick who certainly on paper have a team of proven performers at that level and Woodvale especially at Ballygomartin Road are a dangerous side. A top six that might be decided by the team with the biggest "desire" to play in the Premier League in 2017.

In Section Two Cliftonville and Templepatrick will be hoping to go straight back up but Cregagh might have a big say in the final positions .

It will be interesting to see others thoughts on the 2016 season.

Junior Cup

can someone please tell me when the last time a team playing in section 3 at the time won the Junior Cup..

I think the NCU should introduce a cup competition for sections 2 and 3...especially section 3.( LIke the NW do with their leagues )

Gives the players and teams with in each section a chance every year of some silverware especially as you are playing against cricketers of the same ability.

makes no sense to see clubs like dungannon , Monaghan etc who do struggle at times in their leagues to play Junior one teams who when you think about it have players that can play premier league cricket if the chance arises ( injuries / sickness to first team regulars )....

Any opinions ?

Anybody know why there would be a bye in the 1st round of the Ulster Cup?
Surely if a team 'drops out' another team could be moved up to replace them? Is this not the major NCU-NW competition?

Re. Kyle

Kyle's cricketing credentials are impeccable.

But to put this thing to bed why doesn't he simply make a short statement based on the facts of the matter.

There's no point in saying it was a confidential conversation between selector and player as there are now so many versions of that conversation being bandied about.

Similarly Max Sorenson could come out with a statement of the facts also. Or would he need an "Incentive" to do that??

This is tiresome. The Knights should be made up of the best players who are still available for Ireland and will be so for the foreseeable future!!

Rant over!

A few adverse comments on various sites about that wee lad scoring 1009 runs. I realise that such a score would be difficult to achieve in "our" cricket but then again there is no facility for a declaration in the NCU regs.

Rumours

A rumour is a social cancer
not the definitive answer
and very difficult to contain

It makes silly asses
of countless masses.
on entering the brain

And what is stranger
adding to the danger
these rumours seem like fun

Hence spreading infection.
of invidious deception
without a smoking gun

If rumour is part truth
only a clever sleuth
can pinpoint its source

So spreading profuse
like Chinese whispers, let loose
mutating to topical discourse

So don't bite a poisonous apple
or, in idle gossip dapple
for both are subterfuge

Question a rumour's validity
to counter its morbidity
and avoid looking like a stooge

Trust to wise judgement
should a rumour augment
then nip it in the bud

For ignorance is bliss
and what's more, is this
Red not green, the colour of your blood !

EDITOR
Of course he will know it,
But the words of this poet,
Hit crap on the nose
with meaningful prose,
Thanks Caleb, for taking the time to show it.

There have been several posts regarding the reported Max Sorenesen comments, some posted and some not. Most appear to be under the veil of anonymity. I have known Kyle for most of his cricket career and the only place I ever found him him biased or insular was on the cricket field for club and country. I could never fault him for that. Off it, he has been one of Irish cricket's finest ambassadors and I have absolutely no doubt he acts with total integrity in cricket as he does in everyday life. If we removed all the NCU cricket officials who have club affiliations we would have nobody left. Everyone has a club background and it's always easy to throw a cheap shot when something happens that you don't like.

Total nonsense re Kyle McCallan and any suggestions that he's using his position as NCU Selector to benefit Waringstown are a disgrace,

Kyle's volunteered endless hours to both Irish and NCU cricket and there isn't a person in this country who wants his Union or country to do better,

Money talks and one suspects that the players choice to go back to The Hills was based on that. All to easy to shift the focus onto the NCU selection panel.

Re Bob

Surely it isn't right for a selector to have this much sway when still playing for a rival team.

Maybe as well that it seems that John Mooney is now coming to Belmont and he's a retired blow in with no interest in playing for Knights or any interpro team.

Bob,
More likely big Max saw John Mooney had retired and felt it was easier to get onto the Ireland team from Leinster than NCU. Don't knock a decent guy who's a legend in local cricket and who's doing a good job in difficult circumstances. And yes he does speak for the NCU as they appointed him.

Andrew,
Sincere thanks for the information provided. I will follow up leads as advised.

Pat I believe the NIC&FC honours board is located in the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Waring Street. You should also contact Belfast Harlequins for further information. I think they gave the board to the museum for safe keeping
Andrew Babington
Hon Sec CSNI

Interesting to read Max Sorensen's comments about joining CIYMS. Apparently he has decided not to come as the chairman of selectors of the Northern Knights has decided he doesnt want "blow ins" - there's a few questions here:
1. What is the criteria for the Knights now? Born within Counties Armagh, Antrim and Down?
2. Is it a blatant abuse of power that a player for a club's rivals should actively discourage a signing as it may impact negatively on his club's season?
3. Who is in charge of the NCU Knights now? Is it not best vs best anymore? Or is it possibly best mates vs the rest?
4. Did chairman of selectors have backing of powers that be within NCU before his comments to Sorensen?
5. Do you have to play for 1 of 2 clubs before you can be assured of a place on the Knights?

it will be very interesting if any ncu clubs go for yogesh takawale seeing as he is a free agent and given his record of big centuries a welcome addition to any batting lineup as he wont be getting ipl cricket this year

Congratulations to Roy Harrison.
The Duke and Dutchess of Mid Ulster and now an MBE.
Love it!!!!