Forum

Dundrum v Holywood

I see there's quite an interesting relegation battle this sunday at Dundrum - How's the Ground looking Jeff, forecast looks decent all week ?

Jeff/Taito

As we won Section 1/Division 1 in 2009, 2011 & 2012 I would have thought we would have had some players in your respective sides...as you say the league position does not lie.

On another note regading a charity match, could a match between the NCU's best take on the NCU professionals with all funds raised from the game going to fund and support the NCU youth sides?

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Jekyll and Hyde could not confide
Neither agrees, nor abides
Not two men, but one of a kind
Each lived within the other’s mind

Jekyll a doctor and gentleman
Do for you and me all that he can,
But Mr. Hyde is not so nice
Opens his mouth, not thinking twice

One did enjoy a game of cricket
Though did not last long at the wicket
He made a potion.... a kind of tonic,
To help him stay there, turn bionic

From the bottle he took a swig
No time to use a guinea pig,
Thus Hyde was born, the story goes
Hairy eyebrows, crooked nose.

He dare not wait, had to play
Off to the pitch, he raced away
Out in the middle, pads, gloves and bat
Took his guard, then coughed and spat

All did not go according to plan
For this rude, obnoxious man
He swung and missed at each ball
Always to the Umpire, “Wide!” did call

The bowler bounced one in short
Again to the umpire, Hyde did retort
“Call no ball, it is a disgrace
He clearly meant to hit my face!”

Next ball was fast, full and true
Hit his pad, LBW and he knew
The appeal was loud, regarding Mr Hyde
Though he gauldered, “pitched past leg side!”

The effects of the brew then disappeared
Back Dr. Jekyll, so revered
Observing still, the pointing finger
About the crease he did not linger

As he departed, those poignant blue eyes
Looked to the umpire, to apologise,
Then made his way with refrain
To pour the tonic, down the drain
And thank goodness, Mr Hyde never appeared again!!!

'In dedication to all umpires, in the hope their family will once again be fruitful and that all dissenters shall be cleansed' !

Amen

Umpires...
Clubs should be made to get clubmark accreditation which should have by now introduced mandatory umpiring no.s based on size of club and a host of other grounds requirements to increase playing standards.

Good luck Ireland. Another great adventure is about to begin and we are there on merit and totally respected by our peers. That hasn't happened by chance so credit all round and let's give total support win or lose. If we win one match that is progress at this level.

Hi Andy,
More a case of discussion points rather than whinges. I have no time for whingers including the oracle Mr. Nolan. It costs nothing to talk and every topic doesn't need to be tested by a vote. I'd like to think it is progressive, transparent and engaging for the people involved. We love our cricket and we should always strive to make it better. The article is a catalyst to help stimulate thought.
Agreed on Muckamore and thoroughly deserved.

I am somewhat bereft reading the litany of problems rehearsed in your "features" blog. It certainly is a long list. The reduction in club's teams means that there will be less delegates attending the AGM and my experience - admittedly not all that recent - was of a degree of partisan voting so I'm not sure such a meeting is the catalyst for change. But the opportunity for discussion should not be missed. On the subject of the "forum", we live in an increasingly whinging society. One example is the Nolan Show where views can be expressed in the safe knowledge that responsibility for improvement lies somewhere else. I'm surprised that no-one has been taking a swipe on the forum at CI. I'm sure we all recall the bile that Derriaghy caused a few years ago but this year nothing. Perhaps the editor has taken action or perhaps we have all become a wee bit more mature in our thinking. On a partisan note - a great year for Muckamore and congratulations to all concerned. I wonder if we'll be able to see JRW behind all those trophies at the club dinner - we'll certainly hear him!

Paul.... I played all season in section 1 and i couldnt agree more. The standard is nowhere even close to the PL league. Even more so now the PL is an 8 team league. Section 1 clubs will more and more struggle to hold on to the best players too. It just shows you how poor the standard is that i can open the batting......

I watched Lurgan V Bangor end of July this year and was really shocked by the standard in section 1- Top & Bottom
Pro did get 100 that day but not much else on offer to threaten at a higher level

Clarence... Similar to Jeff the reason i didnt include anyone was that other people from other clubs made better individual contributions to their team than the lurgan players i could think of. I dont know the exact stats but guys that were close to making my team were Grieve, Chambers and Johnston, but at a guess the guys i picked either scored more runs or took more wickets than these boys.

I have been wrong before.

yes id say next season is only possibilty but no reason when losing as as charity will be winner. CONGRATULATIONS CIYMS ten years ago below us in section three = if CARLSBERG do dreams theres hope for everyone and great year for Muckamore winning lots trophies . ps Clarence my late dad told me that first sentence quite possible he was passing the CLASSIC line on as it just about covers everything , id love see lots forumites post there teams up in all sections?

Thanks Jeff. That first sentence just about sums it up!
Moving on a charity match is always good idea but I suspect too late this year and the start of season is never safe because of the weather. Match is a bit of all to lose for premier team and it would be quite a shock if they lost given the quality of team they could field. But then if it was all predictable the favourites would win every race.

Clarence OPINIONS are like ar$eholes everyone has to have ONE. The reason o didnt include any lurgan players was we played them in 50/20 games and no one impressed me enough (yes they beat us both games and the SUPERB nirjan godpole was out early both games ninja was supposed to score 1200 runs there next best 350) thats not a DIG by the way as every club would love have him . They won the league (congrats)but imo they wernt the best team i seen this year but leagues dont LIE! I will say this i picked my team as a team that i also think could give the premier side a DECENT game as imo this game will take place next year as a FUND RAISER for charity ?

Love to add my 5 cents worth to the PL team of the season (Irish qualified players only).

1. Jeremy Bray (CIYMS)
2. Chris Dougherty (CIYMS)
3. Ryan Haire (North Down)
4. James Shannon (Instonians)
5. Nigel Jones (CSNI)
6. Kyle McCallan (Waringstown) (C)
7. Taimur Khan (CIYMS)
8. Corin Goodall (CSNI) WK
9. Zach Rushe (Instonians)
10. Eugene Moleon (Instonians)
11. Stephen Hughes (CIYMS)

Love to see a match between this team and the Section 1 lads...

Michael Foster
I put my name forward to Ian Houston and was given three games to umpire. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would encourage others still playing to give it a go on your " days off". I'm surprised others didn't get a call when available. I had Alan Neill , George Gillespie and Sam Alexander as my partners and it was obvious from all three that they got real enjoyment from being in the middle.
When Cyril gave me out LBW off the middle of my bat last Sunday I must admit my reaction was different than it would have been if I hadn't been an umpire this season. It is certainly easier being an official umpire than it is umpiring your own batsmen. In those matches players just assume that you are cheating.