Forum

FAO Dan Carson.
Templepatrick CC are looking for games for our U20s group if you are interested. We have quite a few who play on our Senior teams and would love to get them opportunities to play together.
Contact me on mccrea.a@sky.com if you are keen.
Regards
Andy McCrea

Great to see the game back im out of this season with surgery but will be back stronger than ever

Might be a long shot but any Junior 1 or 2 sides available/interested in a 20-30 over friendly against Downpatrick next Saturday 8th May? We are happy to travel if needs be. Thanks

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) are delighted to announce the draws for the preliminary round and first round proper of the 2021 Gallagher Challenge Cup.
The preliminary round will see the lowest ranked Section 1 sides play against each other, with the ties as follows: Cliftonville Academy v Bangor and Saintfield v Armagh. These ties will be played on Saturday 12 June.
The first round proper will see the remaining Section 1 clubs and the eight Premier League sides enter the competition. These ties will be contested on Saturday 3 July.
Defending champions CIYMS will entertain Carrickfergus at Belmont in the only all-Premier League tie. Elsewhere, beaten finalists in 2019, Instonians, will face a trip to Eaton Park to take on Ballymena, Lisburn will welcome Donacloney Mill to Wallace Park and Woodvale will host Templepatrick at Ballygomartin Road.
CSNI, North Down and Waringstown will all face a trip to Section 1 clubs in the opening round.
The only all-Section 1 tie will see Muckamore entertain Cregagh at Moylena.
In addition to the draws, insurance broker, Gallagher, has also agreed to sponsor both the men’s and women’s Challenge Cups for a further three years.
Speaking at the draw NCU President Roger Bell said: "We’re glad to have the Gallagher Challenge Cup back again after its hiatus in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year we are hoping to have a full 50-over competition with the preliminary round kicking proceedings off on 12 June.
“We are also delighted to have Gallagher as our sponsor again for the next three years and we look forward to working with them.”
NI Managing Director at Gallagher, Shane Matthews, added: “We’re delighted to be involved again with the Gallagher Challenge Cup in 2021.
“This will be our sixth year involved in cricket within the NCU and we’ve really enjoyed it. We see ourselves as a community broker and we love being involved with the local community in the summer months.”
2021 Gallagher Challenge Cup Draws
Preliminary Round – Saturday 12 June
Cliftonville Academy v Bangor
Saintfield v Armagh
First Round Proper – Saturday 3 July
Saintfield or Armagh v CSNI
Lisburn v Donacloney Mill
Muckamore v Cregagh
Woodvale v Templepatrick
CIYMS v Carrickfergus
Derriaghy v Waringstown
Cliftonville Academy or Bangor v North Down
Ballymena v Instonians

No spectators? What would the situation in venues such as Wallace Park, Lurgan Park or Sandy Bay for example where people can stop on their exercise walks? Another “back of an envelope” decision from the NI Executive!!

Competitive Cricket to begin again in the NCU from 8th May
NCU
The NCU, alongside NWCU and Cricket Ireland, welcomes the opportunity for cricket competitions to begin again in Northern Ireland from 8th May. Following consultations with all of our clubs we are now in a position to begin to outline the proposed schedule and fixtures for the 2021 season. The proposed schedule is based on current guidelines on restrictions and what we know now. It is of course subject to change with the future easing of NI Executive restrictions as we move through the season.
Our plan outlines a phased approach with:
-an initial return to T20 competitions from 8th May.
-an indicative date of 12th June for a return to longer formats of the game.
That indicative date for longer formats is subject to change and is dependent on the progress of easing of government restrictions. If restrictions ease earlier than that date then some competitions, such as the Robinsons Services Senior League Section 1, may revert to a longer format earlier, which has already been discussed with those clubs involved.
Updates regarding spectators and hospitality will be issued once further government guidelines are announced, however clubs are reminded that currently no spectators are permissible at any matches.
We will continue to monitor government announcements and guidelines and communicate with our clubs if we need to make any adjustments to the season schedule. We all look forward to a safe return to cricket in the weeks ahead.
Clubs will be issued with fixtures, as well as the Return to Play protocols soon, to assist with preparation for competitions starting on 8th May

Barry seems to have his ear close to the ground (no pun intended!) about the alleged mismanagement of the pitch preparation down there! I don’t think it’s innuendo for those with the inside track. I share your optimism - maybe in my lifetime too! I’ll buy the 1st round that day!!

Barry Chambers refers to.the radio interview with the head of CI - I too heard the interview and I was delighted to learn that we will have a national stadium “soon”! No other info so it reminds me of the mantra we hear that “we are following the data” but we never hear what the data indicates. I understand that the Abbottsford project may be tied up in legal proceedings so sounds like serious problems!,

The late Duke and the Queen herself, indeed the greater royal family circle, always enjoyed watching and still do the game of cricket when their busy schedules permitted, here's my tribute to HRH the late Duke in remembrance and of course, the great lady herself who remains a fan ..
The secret of her success ..

In the year of our Lord 1926, 21st April, a baby princess, born
into an everchanging, unforgiving world,
salutations, adulations, adorations, celebrations, indifference
privileged upbringing, yet, modesty unfurled

Through bloody war, ever stoic, loyal to King, country, throne
nation of evacuees consolidated, fortified,
morale-boosting address, 'let's not relinquish, accede to duress'
teenage valour, united, emboldened, dignified

A noble suiter, Prince Philip, consummate couple, married 1947
no clandestine wedding, in attendance the press,
though a country, economically defaulted, its citizens exalted
royal bride traded coupons, buy material for dress

Heir presumptive, coronation glory, somewhat premature, 1953
upon coiffed, auburn locks, royal, jewelled crown,
highest office of kingdom, air, land and sea, 25yr old Queen
steadfast by her side, Prince Philip, consort renown

Befitting of love, four, fine children, nature's blessed gift
monarch and mother, who balanced the scales,
weighed equal, demands of nobility, maternal devotion
if she felt lowly, loving hubby, steadied her sails

Years passed as do people, time waits not even for Queens
trails, tribulations, tempered by happy times,
despite castles and titles, life, not a manicured, bed of roses
she weathered every storm, held tight her lines

Fast forward 2021, grandmother-great, a proud patriot
who rightfully, still remains on the throne,
silver, golden, diamond, sapphire jubilees, 73 yrs married
now her Prince passed on, monarch alone..

solemn words to the nation, his death; " left a huge void in my life"
though his legacy, his loving spirit, evergreen,
her wish to be judged, traits of loving husband, with humour, gentleness, understanding; Elizabeth II..
" God save the Queen! "

One of the targets in the Strategic Plan is to "improve facilities at the National Sports Complex". If I read between the lines of Barry Chambers' postings on the "other" site correctly, there appears to be a considerable amount of expensive and time consuming remedial work required. Is anybody going to put their hand up over this apparent mis-management?

DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland has today released a revised fixture schedule for the men’s Inter-Provincial Series 2021.
While all matches are subject to approval from sporting and health authorities on both sides of the border, approval has been given from both Sport Ireland and Sport NI to restart training at the inter-provincial level (under strict protocols), and it is anticipated that on-field action will proceed as scheduled below.
Speaking about the revised schedule, Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director for Cricket Ireland, said:
“With no competitive club cricket expected in the Republic in the short term due to COVID-19 government directives, we have made several revisions to the 2021 Inter-Provincial Series to ensure our men’s national players are as prepared as possible before the World Cup Super League matches in early June.”
“This new schedule maximises playing time for our players that will be heading to The Netherlands for the those key matches, and we sincerely appreciate the support of those clubs who have been able to accommodate these changes.”
START
01/05/2021
IP50
Leinster Lightning vs North West Warriors
Pembroke
10:45
04/05/2021
IP50
Leinster Lightning vs Northern Knights
Pembroke
10:45
06/05/2021
IP50
North West Warriors vs Munster Reds
Eglinton
10:45
16/05/2021
IP50
Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning
The Green, Comber
10:45
18/05/2021
IP50
Northern Knights vs North West Warriors
Stormont
10:45
20/05/2021
IP50
Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds
Pembroke
10:45
21/05/2021
IP50
North West Warriors vs Northern Knights
Bready
10:45
22/05/2021
IP50
Munster Reds vs Leinster Lightning
MCU Region
10:45
25/05/2021
IP50
North West Warriors vs Leinster Lightning
Eglinton
10:45
27/05/2021
IP50
Munster Reds vs Northern Knights
MCU Region
10:45
10/06/2021
IP50
Northern Knights vs Munster Reds
Stormont
10:45
15/06/2021
IP50
Munster Reds vs North West Warriors
MCU Region
10:45
18/06/2021
IP20
Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds
Pembroke
18/06/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs North West Warriors
Pembroke
19/06/2021
IP20
Leinster Lightning vs Northern Knights
Pembroke
19/06/2021
IP20
Munster Reds vs North West Warriors
Pembroke
20/06/2021
IP20
Leinster Lightning vs North West Warriors
Pembroke
20/06/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs Munster Reds
Pembroke
25/06/2021
IP20
North West Warriors vs Northern Knights
Ready
25/06/2021
IP20
Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds
Bready
26/06/2021
IP20
North West Warriors vs Munster Reds
Bready
26/06/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning
Bready
27/06/2021
IP20
North West Warriors vs Leinster Lightning
Bready
27/06/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs Munster Reds
Bready
17/09/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs North West Warriors
NCU Region
-
17/09/2021
IP20
Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds
NCU Region
18/09/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning
NCU Region
18/09/2021
IP20
North West Warriors vs Munster Reds
NCU Region
19/09/2021
IP20
Northern Knights vs Munster Reds
NCU Region
19/09/2021
IP20
Leinster Lightning vs North West Warriors
NCU Region

DUBLIN – A new three-year Strategic Plan released today by Cricket Ireland aims to strengthen Irish cricket from grassroots to international levels – with a particular focus on supporting the club game, increasing opportunities for women and girls, and introducing new mass participation programmes to position the sport for a period of growth across Ireland.
The Plan, titled: “Creating a Cricket Island” sets out a staged approach to growing the game of cricket across Ireland. The next three years will see a consolidation of the sport’s achievements over the last decade, strengthening the foundations of the sport, and positioning cricket for a planned period of growth from 2024-2031.
Amongst the key headlines of the Strategic Plan, Cricket Ireland will aim to:
Roll out three new national participation programmes to engage kids and provide schools with resources, training and access to advocates for the game;
Significantly increase opportunities for women and girls to play cricket - including new programmes, club supports and increasing the visibility of the women’s game;
Invest in the performance pathway and further support men’s and women’s international squads to seek on-field success and regular world cup qualification;
Work with Provincial Unions to ensure every club across Ireland has a development plan that reflects the needs and capacity of the club;
Implement a sustained investment in coaching to increase the number and skills of those involved;
Deliver proactive programmes that further increase diversity and inclusion – aiming to make cricket one of the most welcoming sports in Ireland; and
Improving training facilities within Provincial Unions and to progress the National Stadium project at the National Sports Campus in Dublin.

Sad to see on the list of recent transfers that 6 players are exiting Downpatrick .
What is the current situation?
A once great club and I loved playing at Downpatrick and some epic encounters are in my memory bank.
Hope things improve at Strangford Avenue.

Incredibly sad news about the tragic death of David Edwards - an absolute gentleman and a fine ambassador for Derriaghy. Condolences to his family in particular and the wider cricket community at Queensway

Interesting to read on the CI site £130k for car leasing! Barry makes some interesting points!!