Forum

Interpros

I heard there is 100k if funding for the Knights.

Why not invest more into the club's in the premier league. Also more Incentives to win and obtain promotion.

Make the premier league a more professional competition.

More chance of increasing support at club matches than meaningless mid week interpros.

Neil / John - inter pros.

Guys the inter pros may not be perfect but they are a step up from club cricket and we need something to guage those with Ireland aspirations.
As I see it you have under age inter pro cricket , under age international cricket , club cricket , inter pros and hopefully next season an Irish XI in the county championship as the pathway to the Irish team. That seems ok because every step up a few will drop off and every year or two we may unearth an international cricketer.
And remember less than six months ago we beat three Test nations at the World Cup.
What alternatives do you suggest ?

John.... couldn't agree more.
Yet there are some in this country who believe we should be invited into the Test ranks. Unbelievable!
Ireland are to Test cricket what King Herod was to babysitting...

Have wasted 3 days of my life watching the Northern Knights v Leinster Lightening. What a dreadful advert for Irish cricket. No imagination shown by either captain to win the game and a poor spectacle for fans (all 8 of us). Goodness knows what John Bracewell thinks!!

Have to agree with my mate Burnsy about the excellent teas provided by Hollywood, and would also add Carrick, chicken chips and a side salad. Superb (just a pity we were hammered in both games).

The teas r always the best at Belmont. I think Gordon Ramsey has a consulting gig there lol.

But generally teas are much worse around the NCU than when I 1st started supporting CIYMS.

Ref Tommy/Andy Kennedy

With reference to teas provided by opposition can i just say that our tea on Saturday at Holywood was the best we have had all year - Hot Pizza/Hot Sausage Rolls/Fresh Cream Buns and Swiss Rolls/Apple Tarts/and a superb selection of Sandwiches. Sure you would have enjoyed it Andy !

Glad we weren't fielding second !!

Bit of a storm on Facebook following the cancellation of a game yesterday and some of the comments, if repeated elsewhere, could be decidedly actionable. And coming from some guys for whom I had respect makes it more objectionable. To try to bring a modicum of common-sense I would remind everyone of Law 7:2 -"the umpires shall be the sole judges of the fitness of the pitch.....". See Law 3:8 (a-c) for "Fitness to play". No mention of "having played in worse, etc." Umpires' opinions will vary so to qoute what has happened in the past "butters no parsnips". But there is a point that I feel has been missed in the correspondence. There are clubs (and note I refer to clubs plural) that, for various reasons, have limited drying facilities, especially where grounds are known to be "wet". An example would be Woodvale, that a few years ago suffered from wet conditions. Remedial work has resolved that situation and credit must go to all involved in that process. However if clubs don't have the equipment then they must accept that the weather conditions in which we live in Northern Ireland will create problems - end of story. And a footnote on teas - gammon & egg sarnies at Belmont yesterday as Flossie would say "to die for".

How many wickets does it take for Trevor Brittain to get selected for the Knights? Form bowler...

Do all the Premier league matches start at 11am now?

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Much credit must go to north down for hosting the cup final. The ground staff work tirelessly in extremely difficult circumstances to ensure the match was completed. An excellent crowd enjoyed a thrilling finish in the "second" game.
Having had the pleasure of playing in a two day final (the last one) and a one day final there is no comparison. The two day final was unique and made getting there that bit more special. The day it was voted out we lost a great tradition.

also - to pick up on bumperdale's comments - I recall the discussion at an AGM a few years ago when the change of moving the Challenge Cup from a 2-day event was proposed. If my memory is correct, one of the points made was that the sponsors would have preferred a 1-day event and after much debate, the proposal was passed.

Tommy - you make a very valid point. The standard of teas is, in some instances, diabolical - especially from clubs where perhaps better could be expected. But then again its interesting to pick up on some of the general chat round the table where there are"good" teas. Heard a wee whisper over the last week about a situation that if correct, raises a lot of questions. The scenario that I heard arose when a less "fashionable" club put a wee lad forward for one of the coaching courses. It was suggested to the wee lad, at the course, by one of the coaches that if he wished to progress then he had to move to one of the more fashionable clubs - funnily enough a club of which the coach is a member. End result is that the wee lad moves clubs and ends up playing less cricket than if he had stayed at his - to use an expression from another organisation - "mother" club. Now I realise that these coaches put in a lot of effort and I have no axe to grind, but having had a few conversations round clubs, I do get the feeling that there is a view out there that while we are all equal, some are more equal than others! As I say, it is interesting what one hears round the club houses having a pint after the match! (and then home early Hiler - how times have changed!!) But to get back to the subject of teas - I haven't had the pleasure of being at Lisburn this year but I have great memories of their spreads last year. Ulster Rugby have an award, presented at the Annual Dinner for the most hospitable club based on referees' assessments - perhaps NIACUS could introduce something similar.