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Ivan you are right about friends and family, this is what keeps many clubs going. Taverners recently fielded three pairs of Brothers. Also one Father prepared the pitch, one umpired and one scored and four local clubs were represented on that team.
Does it show that I've been browsing through our score book?

congratulations to the NIACUS side that almost brought the White Stick Trophy north on Saturday - couple of runs short. Maybe this is the start of a new era to equal that of P.L.O'Hara when he was skippering the team.

Have CIYMS really signed South African legend Justin Kemp? Great signing for profile of NCU if it's true

Alan
I think cricket at club level is still about family , friends , socialising and relaxing. It certainly is at Muckamore and over the last few years I have been to many different clubs and no matter what level , you get the impression it's the same.
Yes winning is important and a lot of fun would disappear if it wasn't but that doesn't take away from having family around, playing with friends and generally socialising and relaxing.
I can't think of any other sport like cricket for developing life time friends and that's probably because of the time you spend together on the pitch and also helping to win as a team.

Caleb.
You said, nailed it when you said "family, friends, socialising and relaxing etc".
Time was a good day at the cricket was exactly that.

Matt .The treasurers report is always worth reading and brilliant work by Dawn but think it should be addressed at the end if anyone wants discuss it , i personally think they spend the money wisely . The NCU do great work but will never get everything 100% which is understandable as they work unpaid to run a sport we all love but unless something changes a lot more players of all ages are leaving the game . People fear change and like myself was againest the PROS but without us getting one our club would be folded as we are on the second phase of 10 year plan with u/11/13/15 teams but getting them to commit to the 50/40 over longer day that is the challenge that all clubs face .Dundrum first team is the weakest in my career but it just motivates me to try and get the next generation of players involved in our small village and we going into at least 8/10 primary schools from both communities and Shimna college and hence the need for overseas coach to help with our volunteers coaches . We also starting to extend the boundary and getting broadband in as it will help keep kids safe in the pavilion and more drainage as we will try and improve our club in every area but its time cricket was enjoyable as opposed to be a chore to get players to want commit on weekends add in EXAMS homework and its getting harder as no doubt if school games were wed or fridays it be lot better for everyone involved . ps FREE ADMISSION to all Ireland and cup finals for all UMPIRES is something that needs addressed as they most important part of the game and lets be honest wouldnt cost very much ?

As regards the reduction of overs in section 2, I believe there is a middle ground that needs to be reached before going down this avenue.

If Sunday's were to be kept free for family, friends, socialising and relaxing etc. Would a 50 over game of cricket on a Saturday be such a hardship for some, or to use Jeff's terminology, " a waste of a full day " ?

Of course, with both Captain's consent, there's no reason why an overdue game couldn't be rescheduled for a Sunday but I agree, the replay should be a match 2 scenario and played midweek.

One problem as I see it with reducing overs in a senior league, is that it somewhat undermines and makes playing 50 overs in Junior 1, rather naff and nonsensical, and I don't think the premier hierarchy want that league reduced?

So why not start an hour earlier if these 'young-uns' have to get away early to see their partners, drink beer, lemonade or whatever it is they do nowadays of a Saturday night ?

And while I'm here, I know the boss doesn't want anymore NRR chat, but if I may be so bold ? Why can't teams tied on league points play a one off, winner takes all match of said amount of overs on an arbitrary date set by the NCU secretary ?

Would seem to me to make more sense in deciding who goes up or who remains, than by someone sitting at their desk on a calculator, pulling their hair out in trying to come to an agreed figure ?

All these points must be highlighted at this year's AGM and then voted upon accordingly, or if not, I see a horrible vision in my crystal that in years to come, we'll all be playing cricket against eachother in our living rooms, online in front of our TV and computer screens!!

' Heaven forbid '

Well said Jeff Maguire. We need fresh thinking from people like you and just a comment on the voting at agm maybe the clubs should be the only people voting?
Don't ignore the financial report as it shows where all the money comes from and is spent. Sponsors pay good money but the union doesn't pass any on in prize money. The clubs need to change this. This is the most important document the agm presents so look at it carefully. Forget the window dressing in the secretary's report and focus on the financial report.

NCU AGM DISCUSS . I think the time is right for the NCU and clubs to have separate votes on each section as its JOKE that section 3 and PREMIER clubs vote on what is common sense that its outdated as that is serving no one . I f that means ncu committee making tough decisions so be it as they do a fantastic job 99% every year .Cricket Ireland and all the unions must get together and sort out the structure in getting people of all ages and standards playing the game we all love .Take the treasurers report always superb accounts and no one could do better report but 95% have no interest in hearing it instead why not hand copy out any club that wants discuss can at AOB end of meeting ?Lets get back to proper good old debates at meeting and discuss each section proposals separate and see whats best for each club as far too many vote with who ever they sitting with and in some occasions vote againest there own club reps . Cricket is moving to a new era with lots clubs paying loads players and good luck to them we all got to do what is best for there clubs survival and build for the future in any way .I would love see proper T20 CUP mid week or sunday with prize fund of say 500/1000£ have designated semi and BIG final day say at the green /strangford road with music barbeque and id even open in to junior clubs forming county down /belfast selects to add extra spice and ncu under 17 and 21 teams . Throw in soft ball challenge to any spectator who can hit premiership bowler for six and longest throw competition lots extra things to make it real fun day and better still lots sponsors available to make it cracking day . ps charge clubs 50/100£ team up the prize fund to 2000£ as id say 16/24 teams be up for this ?

Andy 50/40 cricket .I think that 40 over cricket in section two would be far better option for getting age group 15/25 playing more . Dundrum has decent colts cup team 9 of the squad of 12 dont want play 50 over games in fact 90% prefer 20/25 games as in there words not waste of full day . Most them also play school cricket rugby /golf/footie/hockey so we need listen to everyone that shorter games also interesting and enjoyable add in girlfriends and socializing means at that cricket needs to move with times .I would suggest trial over one year in section two and as gambler be certain the clubs would agree that every bit as as good as 50 overs and 8 /9 and some days ten hours away from home .I would also make every rearrangement T20 which can be played midweek and lets get as many sundays back to family life as we need to realize that 200 overs cricket weekends is putting far to much stress on players and families and more importantly the chance for lots enjoy there children . The big bash/ipl and T20 has changed lot players as they also see it can be entertaining and great way for families to enjoy fun cricket and scores similar to 40 and in some cases 50 over scores . ps i loved 50 overs but im talking for the majority of players at dundrum cc looking shorter games but as always ill respect what NCU and clubs decide but game in ten years time will regret not getting survey from all ages as all sports are shorter and squeezing cricket for players quality time .

RE: NRR AND RECENT POSTINGS
Please note this topic Is now closed.
Clarence Hiles
Editor

Good suggestion from Freddie regarding clubs entering data directly to the site rather than a match report, however it would still need to be checked by both the clubs and secretaries. The sad fact is that anything involving data input is always going to have errors, no one means to get things wrong but human error is a fact of life, it must also be unusual for the NRR to be so close over the course of a season.

I too would be raging if a situation cropped up that affected my club due to NRR however I have to say overall the results service provided on the NCU website is excellent, getting the tables and results on a Saturday evening is great and an awful lot of work must go into the process. The League Secretary jobs and NCU positions generally are thankless tasks and we are fortunate to have people volunteering to do them.

There is bound to be something already out there for this NRR, I've seen s few scorers this year using laptops or iPads to keep score, surely if all clubs used the same app or software it could be uploaded instantly, save the whole form filling too?? Maybe a question for the scorers of NIACUS?

Reference NRR

While it is the responsibility of the various divisional secretaries to calculate the run rates surely each individual club should do this themselves and if a query arises take the matter up with the appropriate official. The system of calculation is simple enough. Tough on Laurelvale nonetheless

NRR

Rather than having to fill in the long and tedious Match Report form for the home team and send it by email to the league secretary it makes more sense to have a link on NCU web for the home captain to input the match scorecard into a database which in turn will generate the NRR immediately and the league tables. It would also be of interest to be able to view match scorecards of other matches. I am sure there is some programmer who would be able to achieve this.