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Muckamore Cc have secured substantial OFMDFM funding for Summer Camps (multi sport inc Cricket) at Moylena. Youths aged 8+ welcome to the camps Mon-Fri 10am-2pm first and last wks of August totally free to all. See http://www.mcltc.com/Cricket/Summer-Camps/summer-camps.html
The club also have Free Friday night coaching funded via local council July and Aug from 6.30pm open to all at Moylena Antrim.

As I said earlier, starring always has raised problems but the increased use of technology should facilitate League Secretaries better in these modern times as opposed my experience in the manual processing of result forms back in the late 70s and early 80s.

Steve in the Penninsla. As someone who attended fixture meeting for 15 years I know just how difficult it is to juggle matches with home grounds etc. I never really found clubs angling for Sunday fixtures to get an advantage of playing I started players . After a few weeks with bad weather and rearrangements for cup runs etc Sunday's get used up as well . I never understand players content to play at a level where it's " easy" for them and I think most players who play want to test themselves against better players. Some clubs are strong and actually have good players down their club. Trying to create a level playing field in any sport is difficult and no one improves playing against teams or players of an equal or lower standard.

Starrings , firstly id like point out we are in the business of trying get people play cricket and more importantly trying get better players to help out in lower teams , Take my club Dundrum last year i couldnt star our best player Gavin Mcnerlin simply because his wife shifts and children meant he miss out on 80% sat games so FAIR PLAY him he played loads games in seconds bringing kids threw yes scored ton and lots average scores for him but the point is his love of the game made him play and he showed seconds exactly what commitment is about . I have other examples another of our good players can only play at home as he got two girls and impossible take too away games so he also helps out bringing juniors up to the standard we all search for if there is not flexibility then we would have lost two superb clubmen . i remember playing againest two the best players ive seen Alan Nelson and Davy Dennison who left Waringstown and dropped two sections play for home club Millpark and i learned more in two games of both gentlemen that i did in season as everyone benefits from playing againest experianced and better players . Yes im sure there is the odd abuse of the system but instead making accusations why not lodge a formal complaint to the club involved and the NCU reg commitee as im my opinion we should be embracing older better senior players that show club commitment to play the game we love .ps i played last three games for seconds 28/15/10 all not outs and wrecked my ligaments but my love of cricket means ill target another game as want get my AVERAGE to its highest in 44 years playing and who knows back in the firsts and STARRED .rant over

Ivan some very good points and I like the idea of only a maximum of 2 players who played for a senior team the day before being able to play on the Sunday. Personally I suggest clubs with only 2 teams opt out of playing Sunday cricket which means the bigger clubs would have no option but for their 3rds/4ths having to play on a saturday

Starrings will never be a perfect science. I think it's up to league secretaries to police it as best they can. However what do you do with someone who has no desire or ambition to play up the club. Stephen Donnelly has been playing regularly for Woodvale 3rds for quite a few years when I know for a fact he would get on the Muckamore 1sts but he hasn't any ambition to play higher and is he not better helping the young players at Woodvale than being told he can't play at all. I heard a rumour of an ex International being refused permission to play 4ths cricket when all he wanted to do was help develop a few younger players. I don't think the same guy wanted to go out and blast hundreds every week.
Playing unstarred players doesn't always guarantee success. I think clubs with more teams than grounds need to use Sunday's just to get games fitted in. Could a restriction be introduced that says a Sunday team can only field a maximum of two players who have played in a more senior team the previous day ? It's a competitive sport so you can't blame a captain for wanting to put out the strongest team he has at his disposal. I certainly wouldn't be in favour of " artificial" rules like " can't bat above five" or stuff like that.

Andy, it's interesting what you find on NCU web results, no clubs mentioned but how can someone who has played for 1sts this year maybe only once or twice be able to play for their 3rd/4th XI and score runs, These clubs should be ashamed of themselves and just not fair on opposition

Stevie - not a "new" problem. I recall playing for a ballymena 4th XI and I thought we shoild have been awarded international caps!! Some clubs are a bit like Randalstown RFC a few years ago - we could field a 5th XV when the 3s and 4s had no game!! As for guys not posting their views on a public forum - my grandson has just inducted me into the finer points of Facebook - mmmm interesting!!!

Totally agree with Terry, the starrings within the NCU is a fiasco and it is the smaller clubs in the lower junior leagues who suffer when the bigger clubs who have 4 teams who benefit. I believe the only solution would be go back to the old days where cricket was only played on a Saturday thus all teams play the same day. I am fed up with certain clubs just wanting to play Sunday's in order that they can strengthen their 3rds/4ths

keep the posts coming andy this a public forum and you are only stating what other people are thinking and are far too sensitive/pc to state what is going on and if they do post its with a false name anyway my bearbug this week is rearrangements and the game of chess between clubs in organising the t20 replays i believe it is 28 days to get it sorted or the league secretary will get involved i no for a fact it doesnt take that long to get players starred or destarred so it is left wide open for manipulation so the original 3rd eleven you where going to play are now half of the seconds it would be very interesting to see the ncu ask for team sheets for all matches cancelled or called off and to compare it with the rearrangement eleven i know certain clubs who will pointblank refuse to play if a team is playing there seconds on the same day even if offered a free saturday a week is sufficient in this day and age of emails sms mobile phones to sort this fiasco there is no need to name and shame because we all know who is involved in this practise

Well Said Andy

I think it's fair to say a lot will agree with you

Stephen - Here's a serious question and I hope it gets published and I hope you answer.

If and when the Money at CI dries up - where do you see your club ?

Despite Stephen's assertion that he feels that he "finally" felt moved to reply I'm not totally convinced that this is his first posting. The difference is that I have never hidden behind a nom-de-plume so while he knows who I am, he has me at an advantage in that I don't know who he is and I respect his wish for anonymity. As he rightly says, I have been critical of many aspects of the state of cricket. Some time ago I was involved in the NCU Divisional Committee for a few years. There were many stalwart guys involved at that time - Bob Law, Jimmy Boyce, Jim Barry, Jim McMorran and many more earned the respect of all who knew them. I had the opportunity to voice opinions that were strongly held but these views were not always shared by everyone but that's what democracy is all about. So one could say I've had my day but I can assure anyone who knows me that there is no bitterness in anything that I write. I do have a deep love for our game and I try in my postings focus minds on the declining standards in playing numbers, facilities and playing standards in NCU cricket. If some guys can't take this on the chin well maybe they need to look to themselves. I started playing cricket over 7 decades ago and I suppose certain health issues over the past 4 years have made me either more grumpier (Mr. Angry would say that I always was grumpy!) or more aware of how things have declined. The fact that my postings usually evoke a reaction indicates to me that others may possibly agree with me others may feel otherwise. I can make no comments about how others express themselves. I would set Stephen's mind at rest that there was no "tongue in cheek" - I was pleased to see the new screens and scoreboard in operation at Belmont with lots of spectators enjoying a pint on a pleasant day - my Dublin colleagues were really impressed - a good advert for the local game. Agh well, maybe its time for me to forget about the computer and spend more time listening to the wireless with Flossie!!

Dundrum cricket club summer draw is not only to help run tours to Ayr and Dublin but to help run the club as it takes over 5000£ just keep going yearly so can all parents juniors and members try sell tickets as its your club and your children we are trying to benefit .
. If anyone would like buy raffle ticket in aid of the club and u-11/13 Dublin /17 Ayr tours be much appreciated .2£ ticket
prizes
1st Slieve donard stay for two
2nd Bucks Head voucher
3rd Mourne Seafood voucher
4th Dundrum Inn voucher.
if anyone would like to support this cheqs made payable to dundrum cc 8 church avenue bt330nb , many thanks

Andy, of course I will be defensive about my club, however, as it is you, and you have continually been negative about many clubs, including CI, for numerous years publicly on this channel, I feel I have to finally say something!!

Even your so called compliments come across very much tongue in cheek...

My major issue is that you are a NIACUS umpire, and you have your official channels to make your negative points about clubs facilities through, yet you feel that you have to make your feelings known on a public forum!

I don't see the likes of Alan Neill, Jareth McCready et al on a public forum slagging off clubs!!

Not slagging off - paying a compliment about the sightscreens Stephen. Perhaps you're being a wee bit defensive!!