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CENTURIES GALORE
AT BEECHGROVE
The late Roy Torrens had no doubt how his beloved Brigade Cricket Club should celebrate the centenary of its famous Beechgrove ground on Londonderry’s Waterside.
It would be a match like no other with one of the sides totally comprised of players who have each represented Ireland at least 100 times.
The day of many centuries has now been organised for Sunday July 4 - six months after the legendary chairman of the club had fallen victim to the coronavirus.
The internationals paying tribute to the man who managed them for more than a decade will be led by former captain William Porterfield who has played 303 times for Ireland. The team will include the present captain Andrew Balbirnie (143) and current internationals Paul Stirling (292) and George Dockrell (227). Former centurions include Ed Joyce (151), Kyle McCallan (227) and Gary Wilson (292).
John Mooney (182), Andre Botha (142), Niall O’Brien (216) and Peter Gillespie (124) complete a line-up that includes seven of the 10 most capped players in the history of Irish cricket.
The big hitting T20 match will be against a Brigade Select X1 side featuring North West players. Before the 2pm start a pavilion clock will be unveiled in Roy Torrens’ memory on behalf of the Cricket Writers of Ireland.
The Irish players will turn out in specially adapted international shirts donated by O’Neills. “Team Torrens”will be on the front and 507 on the back - Roy’s number on his 30 appearances for Ireland.
Brigade’s events manager and former chairman Bertie Faulkner said it was fitting the match would be one of the most intriguing ever to be staged at Beechgrove.
He said: “The players on parade will make it an unforgettable occasion in the history of the club. It’s wonderful that so many icons of Irish cricket have made themselves available to honour not only Roy but also the club he loved.”
William Porterfield said there was no problem in assembling the team.
He said: “Everyone accepted straightaway. They want to celebrate the life of a true friend they respected and loved as well as play again at one of Ireland’s finest grounds.”
Roy Torrens managed Ireland’s men’s team from 2005 to 2015 and included the final stages of three ODI World Cups and four T20 World Cups. On his retirement he returned to his lifelong Brigade club and was chairman for his last five years.
The Brigade club was founded as Church Lads Brigade in 1906 playing its first games at Brandywell. There was to be a second ground for a year in 1920 on the Waterside area of the city before the club settled in the nearby Beechgrove. The name Brigade was adopted in 1923 and back in 1954 the club bought Beechgrove for just £800.
Down the years Brigade have won the North West Senior League 15 times and the Senior Cup 11 times.
The double came to Beechgrove twice and Roy Torrens was at the centre of both. He played in the side of 1973 and when the two trophies were again won in 2019 he was chairman of the club.
Ends.....,,
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Inter-Provincial Cup fixture date change
The upcoming Inter-Provincial Cup fixture between Northern Knights and Munster Reds has been moved to 30 June 2021.
The match was originally scheduled to be played on Thursday 10 June 2021, however due to the mandatory five-day self-isolation period for the Ireland Men’s squad returning from the Netherlands, it was agreed that the fixture should be rescheduled rather than played without these international players available to play.
The venue for the match will be advised in due course, but will be within the Northern Cricket Union.

Ed I am not a very happy man this morning after a series loss to the Dutch, don't get me wrong they are a good side but they were missing some big players and yet we struggled against them. The bowling was good but let them of the hook in match one and left it to late yesterday in match three. The batting should have been much braver but the players went in to a shell possibly afraid of what a negative outcome would be and at the end of the day this is what happened
This side has been on the slide since the T20 qualifiers in Ireland in 2015 losing to PNG and HK within a 3 day period and losing to the Dutch in 2 T20 semis 2015 + 2019 and a pool match in 2016 has been heart breaking to watch, even losses to Hong Kong in 2 T20s losing to Netherlands yet again in 2 T20s and even losing to Oman in a pool match in 2016 and even the UAE aswell has inflicted us with a defeat.
If this was any other Nation the coach would be sacked and a maybe even the Board at CI would resign on mass
The Fords with Greg at Balbriggan and Matt at Malahide, Jeremey Lawlor up in Carrickfergus and some others that have played in Ireland need to be fast tracked into the side now.
I now have more faith in the Womens side of sport at the moment with the 2 soccer sides from Ireland putting up a better showing than there male counterparts and even the Rugby (women have reached a World Cup Semi-Final), Hockey (have reached a European Final and qualified for Tokyo although the Men were unlucky) and even our Cricketers. Golf is the only sport where there is parity with performances
A very sad Cricket supporter singing off now and Ed stay safe

George Orr
I am researching the late George Orr, our former NCU Hon. Sec, Chairman and President. He was a lovely man and played at YMCA CC. Unfortunately, we don't know much about his background (family/Church/education/funeral etc.)
If you can help me with the blanks please email me at
jamesclarencehiles@gmail.com
Thanks,
Clarence

About 40 years ago a local cricket club was fighting its corner in Section 5 or 6 of the NCU . They played on the local council playing fields and weren't really viewed as a club that would ever be a major force at the top level.
Around that time the club committee made a truly ground -breaking decision to raise money to buy land, develop a cricket ground and build a club-house. Some of us in the NCU at the time scratched our heads and wondered if they weren't being a touch over-ambitious.
But we were proved wrong - because that club was Carrickfergus C.C.
And surely yesterday's memorable T20 cup win ( their first major senior trophy) is a fitting culmination to the plans of those far-sighted committee men and all the hard work since.
Congratulations Carrick - you;ve shown other smaller clubs just what is possible with imaginative planning and hard work

I would like to offer my most sincere sympathy upon the passing of Reggie McNally. He was an excellent umpire and very friendly at all times, indeed he had a great knowledge and approach that will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very sad time.

I would like to offer my services as a Scorer for any club in the NCU for the 2021 season. I am a qualified scorer 25 years experience at local, interprovincial and international levels and am available to score anywhere and travelling is not an issue. If you are interested please contact me on 07719382199 or email me at jonathan.lyttle@nihe.gov.uk

Dear Ed
My laptop had been not dowloading some pages fully that is why I sent you that message.
On to the Finals over the weekend and what a weekend with every match having everything. Drummanes Superkings win over Victoria was thrilling by the posts so far as no updates to be had anywhere whilst Waringstown II had a bit of a stutter in replying to Muckamore II but they got there in the end
The main Final over the weekend at The Lawn was the most entertaining I have followed in the NCU for years and well done to Carrickfergus on their win. Major credit should go to Jacques Snyman for his all-round performance and Jeremy Lawlor in the Carrick side, whilst Luke Georgeson and Neil Rock in the CSNI side. Waringstown ground staff should be praised here for getting 2 pitches ready for the weekends play
And it was nice to see pictures from various sites of all the matches over the weekend with a crowd in attendance hopefully the dark days of only players, staff and officials being at a ground of any description is behind us.
May I also congratulate the grounds staff at Stormont for making it look immaculate for the recent Ireland Women vs. Scotland Women series. I knew we would win the series but I thought it would be a clean sweep bar 10 overs of match one it so nearly was but the batting especially with the form of Shauna Kavanagh and Gaby Lewis if these two got scores then we would win and well done to Cara Murray along side Lara Maritz in the bowling area. And all this without Mary Waldron and Eimear Richardson Nice to see Amy Hunter in the squad and there was a nice picture of her and Cara with Mary Peters promoting her Charity Day.
Scotland Women rely to much on the Bryce sisters and occasionally Abatha Maqsood because without Olivia Rae (a surprise as she had played for Surrey in the matches) in the side you knew once these went it was match over. Samantha Haggo and Abbi Aitken-Drummond didn't perform and this was another reason to.
Stay safe Ed and all at Ulster Cricketer

if not in body, in willing spirt
every ball a challenge,
either from hand or willow,
ratify, the flesh may grow weak
father time alludes,
compounds, creaking hinge

yet, to seize, give way, like a
lamb without choice,
grim-reaper, loves to acquiesce..
Begone his grimace, his covetous
pledge, have one's soul,
if not, sap life's juice from inner core..

where there is joy, kindred bond
fellowship, competitive spirit,
past friends, past players, speak loud,
let not your heart be bowed, sorrowed,
a hallowed turf awaits ye of faith, entrust
passion for life..

a five for or fifty plus, the crowd rejoice
never doubt, refute that challenge,
inspired, spearheaded ,
remember them with grace!

Just home after watching Drumaness Superkings win the T20 bowl.
Congratulations to them on the victory, but huge congratulations to both sides for the game,the groundstaff for the preparation of the pitch, the officials for umpiring the game, the barstaff and the hospitality shown to ourselves after the game.
Cricket how it should be, feisty at times? Maybe, fiery possibly, but two sides giving it their all on the field, and sharing a pint after.

Just in after attending an excellent Lagan Valley Steels T20 Bowl final, congrats to winners Drumaness Super- Kings on both their cup win and hosting an entertaining finals day.
Encouraging to see such a large crowd watching, engrossed in the match, indeed with both the local press and NCU hierarchy in attendance, overall it must be said, a superb day, cricket very much alive & well and long may the game continue to prosper especially so after emerging from such a restrictive, country/community crippling pandemic!
Ps.. Both umpires 10/10, on a personal note only one criticism, I couldn't be part of the team on field, ( past it now) but I sure made up for that yelling my little heart out with every boundary and wicket..
Kudos & cheers NCU !!

Hi Ed
You must not have received the other posting I sent re Womens Cricket situ if not please let me know as I have a copy of it ready to be sent and not Monaghan, Clogherhead beside the sea

Sorry to learn of the passing of Reggie McNALLY (umpire) and also donacloney past player Nigel Clarke sympathy to both families at this sad time

Dear Ed
With the 50 over Interprovincial Title going to Leinster for the 8th year in a row it seems the balancing by Cricket Ireland to send players to other sides seems not to have worked at all but only show that Leinster could field 2 sides and still win in some cases.
I have been impressed by the form of Andy Balbirnie, George Dockrell and Barry McCarthy for Leinster and Paul Stirling, Jeremy Lawlor and Luke Georgensen for Northern Knights and Andy McBrine, Graham Hume and a rejuvenated Stuart Thompson and for Munster Murray Commins, Greg Ford and Tyrone Kane.
So with the 50 overs now wrapped up will the T20s head to Malahide aswell but as a Leinster fan I would say yes. But that is all to come as their is still 3 50 over matches and a World Cup Super League 3 match series away to Netherlands between now and then
Onto the Season so far in the NCU and CSNI seems to be favourites for the T20 Cup but CIYMS will be hot on their heels. I cant see Carrickfergus and North Down keeping up the pace but stranger things have happened in sport whilst the others have been inconsistent, Woodvale seem to be the whipping boys of the comp and the longer format to come seems it will be the same in every aspect.
The NWCU region difficult to say as its the T20 comp and with some of the big names in the quarter finals then we will judge who is going to rule the roost but a word of sympathy goes to St Johnston based in Co. Donegal not being able to play until the 7th of June (a completed embarrassment on behalf of my Government and this has rarely been said out of my mouth since its inception in 1998 but the Northern Executive has got it right with their vaccine roll out programme) a shame for the region but maybe fresh legs will suit them as the 50 over League and Cup starts on 12th June.
To all at UlsterCricketer Forum stay safe and to all get the vaccine it will save your life and you and all of us will see better days ahead even Ireland winning a Test Match and a World Cup someday. And enjoy the spectating again with a glass of cold beer of like me a non drinker a cup of tea with a slice of cake.

MTB NORTHERN KNIGHTS NAME 13-MAN SQUAD FOR INTER-PROVINCIAL CUP CLASH AGAINST MUNSTER REDS
MTB Northern Knights Head Coach Simon Johnston has named a 13-man squad to face Munster Reds in Dublin on Thursday.
There is one change from the washed-out match against North West Warriors at Bready last Friday. Seamer Matthew Foster returns, replacing Carl Robinson.
Harry Tector will captain the side and be joined by fellow Irish internationals Mark Adair, Graeme McCarter and Paul Stirling. The quartet have been named in Ireland’s squad to play the Netherlands in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League in Utrecht next month.
Thursday’s match has been switched from The Mardyke, Cork to Pembroke Cricket Club, Dublin due to unforeseen weather conditions.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s match against Munster Reds, Johnston said: “The upcoming game is huge for us – there’s no doubt about that.
“Munster Reds have a lot of talented players who can pose a threat with both bat and ball. We’ll definitely have to be at our best if we are to win the match.
“It’s great to have Matthew Foster back in the side after missing the last match. He will bolster our seam attack and bring something extra to the team.”
MTB NORTHERN KNIGHTS SQUAD TO FACE MUNSTER REDS:
Harry Tector (c), Mark Adair, Matthew Foster, Luke Georgeson, Matthew Humphreys, Jeremy Lawlor, John Matchett, Graeme McCarter, James McCollum, Ruhan Pretorius, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling, Ben White