Forum

re Steven Crothers

Nice excuse but I think you should re-read your original message. Perhaps what you wrote was just a reaction but you'll note that the East Belfast Master Race representative even thought it was arrogant. Hence the reaction from others and can you comment on the difference of approach between the NCU and Leinster. Perhaps there is no equivalent of the Master Race or Blazer Brigade in Leinster.

Billy - just to clarify that with all the road improvements between Belfast & Dublin, the journey now can be done comfortably in one and a half to two hours. The "postponed" game was to take place at Moylena and this would add significant time to the journey!!

Just back from the ground.....saturated field
Before debate/arguments start on what is playable/who won`t travel to another playable ground etc etc and teams get into good/bad situations what about forgetting about promotion/relegation this year.
Just play the season out as best we can and present trophy to top team even if only a low percentage of games are played. No team will be worse off than they were at end of April and it might,just might, help relationships between players.umpires,and those trying to administer leagues.

MAY YOUR GREEK GOD OR OTHER OF YOUR CHOICE GO WITH YOU

I assumed Instonians couldn’t play on Sunday past because their international players would not be allowed to play but this it would seem wasn’t the case as the southern based internationals played for their clubs. I’m sure the Inst guys could have travelled to Dublin after the game.
In this season of mass postponements it seems ludicrous to not use an available date!

sorry Pete - what clan? Interesting to read of the reaction, as reported, to the T/20 defeat. I wonder what the sponsor's reaction would be?

Andy Kennedy
Andy With respect, my original posting was in response to comments from Frank Brannigan referring to "master race" and ncu " blazer brigade".

Re andy - are you part of the clan?

to Mr. Crothers. The comments about Instonians only began after your posting! My original posting was purely about the decision of the Emergency Committee. And I suppose it has taken the spotlight off CIYMS for a while! And speaking of CI - I was really impressed by John Matchett on the NCU U15 side. Looks to be the real deal both batting & bowling - and a nice guy into the bargain. Definitely one for the future.

If a club have invested in the progress of their young players so that they are good enough to represent Ireland on an international stage, why then should that club be penalised?
I can understand that the ruling was changed for the reasons it was changed, but I am long enough in the game to remember when Muckamore were one of the best youth sides in the country (alongside Lisburn), and I can imagine how these clubs would have felt if they had been told to play minus their best players as they were representing us all.
The sub-committee are all elected at the AGM, if you feel strongly enough about it, then actions speak louder than words.

I think that both clubs in this debate about the date of the Challenge Cup semi final are taking unnecessary stick. It's the disregarding of a ruling agreed at an AGM by a committee who meets in Emergencies . Who decides what's an Emergency? Are clubs aware of how to convene this committee? Why does this committee have no right of appeal? .
Did Waringstown not think of calling for the Emergency Committee asking for a ruling ( that's not in the rules) that said if a ground isn't playable on the reserve date but an alternative ground is then that the match be played on that alternative ground. Maybe if Moylena isnt playable on Sunday morning of the 15th they could convene and make such a decision.
Maybe the fact that for the past few years most of the proposals put forward at the NCU AGM's have come from the Union needs to be changed and clubs start taking a lot more interest on issues that are important.
Relationships between Muckamore and Instonians have always been very competitive on the field and very friendly off the field and I am sure next Sunday will be no different.

Well said sub-ed!! What's the point in the Clubs voting to get rid of a rule if the NCU can simply form a subcommittee and in essence reintroduce it.

Re. Mr Crother's comments, the less said the better. In a one off CUP match anything can happen, that's the whole point of the Cup in my opinion.

Dear Sub-Ed, What clubs voted for was the AUTOMATIC right of clubs to postpone any league match due to international call-ups. Since then the NCU has consistantly agreed to any request from a club which 1.Is a Challege Cup match 2.Involves 2 or more players.
Up to now we have had absolutely no problems with this. In my opinion it is only right that a club should not be disadvantaged when a player has been given the honour of selection for his country, an honour both for club and Union. Surely all fair minded people would agree? Most NEUTRAL cricket supporters I have spoken to over the last day or two at the Ireland match do.

End of my comments on this matter!

re:my "outrageous posting"
Frank/Andy,
What I was saying was that at this stage of the Comp with 1 semi to be played, I feel Inst VS North Down would be a better game. To conclude that I only want the Top 4 Teams in the Cup is a ludicrous assumption!!
North Down have scored over 300 or above twice this season against better sides than Muckamore.
The debate may rage on but the reality is that the decision has been made.
Whoever wins the semi will face a massive task to beat North Down(favourites in my eyes) at the Green.
Hopefully Instonians can do their talking on the pitch to silence the mumblings off it.

Can someone please tell me what rule was broken here? The point is this subject is not mentioned in the rules, so each request is dealt with on its merits. The Union has always been sympathetic to clubs who have a Challenge Cup match scheduled when two or more players are away representing their country. There are a number of precedents for this in recent years, some of which are mentioned in an earlier post by Wylie. I don't remember us having this sort of controversy on those previous occasions. Let's now hope that the weather improves and that the semi final can be settled on the field next Sunday.

I have read the debates re cup semi with interest. First and foremost the Senior Cup is special and will always be special. Some of my best memories of cricket are cup games over years. Some great moments of joy at Woodvale and North/quins/CSN and some moments of despair when losing. That is when you learn about yourself, your teammates and the opposition and is the joy of cricket. There is no better feeling than winning as an underdog and the cup should be played on the pitch, best fit xi vs best fit xi. Bowl outs are a cop out if you can play a game anywhere and that is a spirit of cricket comment.

All that said, rules are rules. look at the rules applied over the last 10 years or so.

North Down lost a league due to peter connellgate. CSN lost a league as they got a point deducted for being 1 minute over time. There were reasons for both but very quickly the rules were pointed at based on what was in the book and north down and csn suffered.

The rules are voted on by the clubs, upheld by the NCU and that should be done consistently and transparently. if the rules are not right, change them at next agm. this selective amendment is nonsense and i can see why it leads to so much frustration.