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Congratulations to North Down on winning the O'Neils Ulster Cup.
BumperDale, I think it is time you retired to give the rest of us a chance of promotion, Well done on gaining promotion #notbitter lol
As I drove home from yesterday's game for just a few moments I contemplated was today's game the perfect one for announcing my retirement from playing the game.
Opened the batting- top scored with 41, took 2 catches and 5 wickets to ensure victory and promotion!
BUT THAT THOUGHT SOON PASSED!
MAYBE WHEN I SCORE MY FIRST 100!!!!!!!
LIKE CRICKET - NO I LOVE IT!!!!
Watched Carrick v inst yesterday at middle road and must say a great day out. Credit to the Carrick club they have great facilities and the first eleven seem to have a great spirit about them pulling off a great win.
Glad to hear that Pip's dad is still getting out & about to games and knowing him as the absolute gentleman that he is I am sure that he would be shocked by the events, as posted. The umpires' report might be interesting !!
After all the stick CIYMS are getting it was great to see that they are only team in the league playing without a professional. I think a lot of teams could take a leaf out of their book! Cricket the way it is supposed to be. Also 6 players who were under the age of 22 in the firsts I'm informed. Maybe now some other clubs need a good hard look at how they go about their own selection.
I have to agree that net run rates should be published from week 1 and updated on a weekly basis when all official scorecards are received. This could be done by creating a straight forward formula on a spreadsheet to automatically calculate the NRRs.
rules will always be pushed to their limits but i find it hard to acknowledge a team can gain an advantage by not fulfilling a fixture the season is not over yet this was not rain affected but null and void due to a certain team not agreeing a rearangement date thus guaranteeing promotion i hope someone sees sense
Just back from the Drumaness v Cregagh 1st XI game and I just had to post something on the forum for the first time ever. A hard fought and competitive game was deservedly won by Drumaness, who bowled exceptionally well, but the scene at the end of the game was nothing short of disgraceful. At the fall of the last Cregagh wicket the Drumaness skipper proceeded to run from the wicket across to where the Cregagh players and supporters were gathered and shout 'you can all f*ck off, just f*ck off' and point aggressively.
I've been playing the game for a number of years now and have never witnessed such a display of aggression directed at both players and supporters.
I headed down today to Drumaness with my father (an experienced retired umpire) and two sons (a 6 year old and 9 year old) with the aim of relaxing and watching a good game of cricket.on a Saturday afternoon. Its fair to say the afternoon, and to a large degree the game of cricket, was heavily tarnished by the display I witnessed.
I've always enjoyed playing at Drumaness but I'm afraid my opinion has now changed. As for my two sons I think its fair to say that they will never being going there again.
How did local cricket get to the stage that clubs don't want promotion?
Money is killing the game and reduced overs and early starts won't change that (indeed the early starts will if anything reduce income for clubs with bar facilities )
The NCU leagues are all reaching the very interesting stage of the season but yet again those determined by run rates are not yet visible to teams. I appreciate this may be dependent on the latest scorecards etc but surely this could be overcome by disclosing the rates relevant up to a certain date. If I am correct we could have the scenario in senior 3 tomorrow of two teams tied on 40 points and no one knows who has won the league! I'm sure both are happy with promotion but surely as an organisation we can do better than this. In section 2 there are 4 teams involved for the 2nd promotion spot Laurelvale, Saintfield, Holywood , Cregagh (that's assuming Armagh don't implode). Section 1 has its running battle between Muckamore, Derriaghy ,Woodvale, Downpatrick and it would be nice to know if any of these teams could in anyway make up/ keep any run rate difference. There are also issues in most leagues with relegation. Lisburn , Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Cliftonville,Donaghcloney, Templepatrick, Victoria, Dundrum. All teams need to win their fixtures but there was a team relegated recently over a couple of runs over the course of a season - just be good to have some idea. If some teams can lose a fixture over not having a D/L printout quick enough - the organisers of the leagues should be up to speed
sorry John I am aware of the cost to run a premier league club. Perhaps then I should say tens of thousands on much of what you have mentioned. I would agree that no section team wants to go up to get hammered most weeks.
Re Derrick
The harsh reality is that most if not all Premier League Clubs need tens of thousands to be able to survive in the Premier League when you take into account pros, fees, and general running costs of the club. Can't see many teams in Section 1 being excited by going up to the Premier League.
Wouldn't it be great to see tens of thousands of pounds still not winning a league! Cricket would be the winner then, although it's not over yet!
On the thoughts off section 1?? I don't watch a lot these days but Derriaghy seem to be doing a great job and from what I remember Lewis was a good player and only getting better from the looks of things and never had a mention to the Knights is there really that's my better in PL. than S1??
