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I don't know any of the issues behind the Downpatrick situation but I remember playing against clubs that folded such as Crossbows, Cloughfern, Crossgar & YMCA to name a few. Players will move clubs to play with their mates but some, to be honest, will move because of an over-inflated opinion of their ability. However the decline appears to me to be more pronounced in recent times. I used to post about the lessons to be learned from the decline in club rugby and others used to moan about my negativity. What is happening in NCU cricket is mirroring Ulster rugby with Leinster players on Ulster & the Northern Knights. Why is there such a gulf between Leinster at all levels and the rest? I watched the Emerging Knights against Leinster this year and there is a wide gulf between the two. I used to read about the number of youngsters at coaching nights. What has happened to them. Another organisation to which I belong is looking at "recruitment & retention". Sadly I think it is too late and the decline will continue. A lot of players during the truncated season just past expressed their preference for the 20 overs games so it might be difficult to enthuse them about a return to 50 over matches. I recall some fantastic days at Strangford Road and one in particular was meeting Colin Cowdrey during the Touche Ross sponsorship of the Senior Cup. Another was the day of the conversation between Ian Houston & Flossie in 1974 that he still reminds me of! Yes it is sad to see how things have turned - but I wish DCC well.

RE: Downpatrick
Having been following Section 1 cricket for a number of years - the demise of cricket in Downpatrick has been a long time coming. The side had a core group of players - The Boultwood brothers, Yeates, Smyth to name a few.. However there hasn't been like previous years of any home grown talent through the youth set up since Thomas Magowan (who hasn't played the last 2 years). I also heard that Smyth during the summer had announced he had played his last game for Downpatrick (reasons unknown). You get to look at why. The club has not had any youth sides - how can you expect to maintain as a club never mind grow. The players mentioned above all came from other clubs. You get to wonder where the club may be now if those players did not sign for Downpatrick when they did. From an outsiders view they gave Downpatrick good years of their playing careers. One can understand the want to move on due to the clubs lack of future. My view is that this demise is not due to the above departures but a lack of Youth for the last 5 or so years.
I hope the club can bounce back from this as it is a fantastic club and one of the best venues in Northern Ireland for cricket. A place I have always loved visiting!

Downpatrick CC
What is happening at Downpatrick?
We understand a number of senior players have left the club, and the NCU has been asked, and agreed, to drop to another level. The club has also said, a 2nd XI will not be fielded in 2021, as the club is struggling to field the 1st XI.
We are not acquainted with the details, but obviously something is wrong at the Meadow. Very sad for a variety of reasons, as the club had recent success, and a shame that the Strangford Road ground might fold. And a shame that former stalwarts Alfie Linehan, Noel Ferguson, Bob Law, George Lennon, Dr Billy Ritchie, Eddie Malone, Hugh Linehan and many others, have built this club to the pinnacle of Irish cricket. And what a beautiful clubhouse and ground that hosted many international matches and Senior Cup finals?
Thankfully the NCU has been helpful during this crisis, but we appeal to former players and officials to answer the call.
Downpatrick need help or the town's cricket might be lost forever!

Cyril Venn ard.
There was a time when the most eagerly anticipated fixture was the North Down v Laurel Vale game.
Not because they were the top teams but the after match entertainment.
Players often did not return home until Sunday afternoon.
Cyril was a fierce competitor on the field and then the heart and soul of the fun afterwards.
I loved meeting up with when he umpired our games.
A few years ago I had a plum lbw and Cyril raised the finger. The batsman, one of those I'm never out guys , delayed, gave both of us dirty looks before trudging off .
We both looked at each other agreeing he was out before Cyril said
Let's put that one down to the bowlers union
RIP my friend

All we seem to hear is about deaths in the wider cricket community but it is with real shock that I learned of the death of a real doyen of cricket - Lexie Millar. I first got to know Lexie while working in the North-West in the late 70s and it wasn't long before we established our mutual love of cricket. He has given a life-time of service in the NW, especially in the Mid-Week League and I am really saddened by his passing. My sincere sympathy goes to his son and family circle.

Sorry to hear about the passing of Cyril Vennard. Also the passing of former Lurgan player. Victor Malcomson

Really saddened to learn of the death of Cyril Vennard - a feisty character in his playing days - and not the only one back in those days! Stories from his umpiring days are equally legendary. His passing is particularly poignant as we move into Remembrance weekend. Deepest sympathy to his family and wider family circle at this time.

And another big hand-out to sport by the Southern Government announced yesterday!!

According to the news, the NI Executive is making millions available to Sport NI so will be CI be in there bidding for support for the NCU & NWCU?

First class match at Bready yesterday and players fielding in beanie hats no wonder we get laughed at over here what's next if it's cold players wearing coats and scarfs what a joke yesterday

On behalf of Clarence and myself I would like to pass on our condolences to International umpire Mark Hawthorne and his brother Gavin, a former Woodvale player, on the death of their father "Herbie" at the age of 90. A lovely man who will be missed by the family.

RIP "Herbie"

JCH & JK

3 days of sunshine and temperatures in the 20+ and no cricket at Bready! Makes one wonder if there has really been any significant improvement in the infrastructure by CI?

Been asked by a few people what I meant by the comments about Cregagh celebrations - my reading of the regs “THE RESULT - 22 (b) if the scores are tied, the winner shall be the team losing the fewer wickets”. Saintfield lost fewer wickets & Cregagh win after OOPSE, referred to as a “super over”. Interesting!

Re: Davy - Weather Watching.
The pitches produced at the Lawn got the various games - 2 finals and an inter pro were frankly superb and a credit to ground staff who had gone way beyond the call of duty.
Unfortunately the boundary straight at the Waring end was waterlogged at the bottom of the slope. This allowed for a boundary of approximately 45 meters. Clearly far too short for the men’s final. Of course far too short for today’s interpro.
For the avoidance of doubt this was the problem end that the umpires on Saturday indicated was unplayable and was even then a major concern for Sunday.
North Down stepped in at the last minute for both men’s games which meant they had to put in considerable work.
The women’s game was just about accommodated and with few alternative venues and few spare dates this was to some extent a compromise with the straight boundary.
A later start was considered but a clash of timings for the two finals was not considered a good idea.

Difficult balance was struck and frankly successfully so. Two excellent games of cricket.

Want to sincerely recognise the efforts of all clubs involved in putting on the amount of cricket we have had this year and not just the showpieces.

On behalf of Derriaghy CC can I say a massive thanks to everyone who donated to our centenary charity partner Emerge Counselling Services via bucket collections at the 2 LVS T20 finals at Saintfield and Comber today. It was great to see large crowds at both grounds.
I also want to thank the NCU Management Board for giving their permission to undertake the collections, the various media sources who promoted the collections and the 2 host clubs for their support.