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It will come as no surprise that I agree with Ken’s comments. From my experience this season, standards continue to decline both in the quality of. cricket been played and in the number of participants. Regular reports of ‘walk overs’ are surely an indication that all is not well. The Editor comments that the NCU AGM is the forum for change but turkeys don’t vote for Christmas! Yet the Deutrom appears on tv claiming that the game is growing! I’d love to see his evidence because it ain’t happening in the NCU. In the past I referred to the story of ‘the empreor’s new clothes’! Not much has changed!!
Ed...
First and foremost I'd like to hear from the NCU. We have the evidence so let's share it. It starts from U9 and reaches adult and representative level. Yes, a few clubs have problems but again, clubs like Larne and North Down have recovered. Yes, North Down. At one stage a few years ago we could barely stage 2 teams. Now we have U9 to Colts level, 4 adults in competition and 2 ladies. The NCU needs to promote this information and not be a banged around. And yes, the NCU is the fourm for debate.
Cricket Ireland can also provide the information so why not?
Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has a lead on someone who might be interested in an Australian season this coming summer. We are located in North East Victoria.
I have used other exchange websites but it's hard to make a call on what you're getting.
Having spent a summer at Holywood ten years ago I feel I'm better equipped to make a call on NCU players.
Posted a message on here several years ago and signed Jason Van De Merwe for a season. He was terrific.
Cheers in advance.
Mark Butters
NCU Women to play North West Women
Following on from a two match series at Laurelvale Cricket Club in late June, the Northern Cricket Union Women have their return fixtures against North West Women, at Coleraine Cricket Club, on Wednesday 31st July 2019. There will be two T20 fixtures, starting at 11am, and 3pm.
NCU Women's Squad
Amy Benson
Amy Caulfield
Alison Cowan
Hannah Grieve
Jennifer Hanna
Charlotte Lyons
Naomi Matthews
Staci Maxwell
Susi Morrison-Keates
Cara Murray
Nikki Niblock
Abbi Leckey
Hannah Thompson
It won't be through the work of the NCU that cricket Ireland have gotten to where they are. Changing league structures to suit the big club sides has created a them and us division in local cricket. Small clubs are dying, and will continue to do so, unless the proper structures are setup. The NCU are custodians for local cricket and need to push to have people playing cricket every every area they cover. They need to help local clubs to do this. Changing leagues around to suit clubs with 4th and 5th teams to play a higher standard is okay, but not the the detriment of small village sides with one or two teams. Some of which has youngsters able to play to a higher level, but are loyal to their 'family' club.
Ed...
Ken, the NCU is open to discussion vis the AGM or directly during the year from the League secretary. You have the power to change as long as the other teams agree. We want teams to play cricket and be happy with it.
Whatever the result at Lords, Ireland have played fabulously well considering their recent full-member status.
And with England winning the ODI World Cup captained by Eoin Morgan, our local game has gotta magnificent shot in the arm, this will surely encourage the younger generation to get more involved, and want to emulate our guys on the international, world stage?
The Northern Cricket Union U14 (sponsored by PwC) got their festival off to a lively start with a narrow 2 wicket defeat to Northants at Wyvern. The U14 West Festival has grown to 12 teams this year across 2 groups and with Kings College 'only' having 5 cricket squares, Wyvern, home of St Andrews CC, plays host to the additional game each day. The NCU were greeted with a fresh wicket, prepared by Denis Breakwell, the former Somerset left arm spinner. There was great support for the NCU boys from the travelling parents and siblings.
Asked to bat first, the NCU got a few starts, Topping (16), Clark (29) and McCullough (34), but were teetering at 134 for 6 in the 32nd over. Then captain, Rory Ellerby (82) and Mohammed Aahil (38 not out) put on 109 for the 7th wicket and the NCU ended on a very respectable 254 for 8 from their allotted 50 overs. This is the highest score put together in four years at the festival. Ranganathan was the pick of the Northants bowlers with 3 for 27 off 7 overs.
Northants reply got off to a flying start with some early nerves from the NCU bowlers and were 81 for 2 in the 15th over. Harry Dyer (3 for 39 off 10 overs) and David Kane (1 for 35 off 8 overs) put the brakes on and Northants had slumped to 155/7 in 32nd over. However, Ford with 51 off 43 balls and Melley with 39 not out off 45 balls saw Northants home by 2 wickets, and with more than 3 overs to spare.
The NCU boys were disappointed that they lost such a close game but can take great heart from their batting recovery and running Northants so close on the day, as well as picking up 9 bonus points.
Remaining Fixtures
Tuesday 23rd July: NCU Under 14 v California
Wednesday 24th July: NCU Under 14 v Cornwall
Thursday 25th July: NCU Under 14 v Cheshire
Friday 26th July: NCU Under 14 v Barbados
Not harsh at all. The point about volunteers is taken as cricket wouldn’t survive without them - and I believe that one of the factors in the decline of the club game is the dearth of such people but are you telling me that there is no-one on the ‘paid’ entourage who couldn’t take this on for a week??
Ed...
Andy, I'm not party to 'paid' info, but Wylie's role would never compensate him week in week out. I know there was great difficulty in getting social media after the sad passing of David Holmes so there isn't a list of volunteers re websites. I wouldn't take it for a pension. Come to think of it, the UC website has operated as a loss for years so I'm a volunteer too!
NCU website updates are done voluntarily (I believe). Everybody is entitled to take a well deserved break and we should all be very grateful for the fantastic job Wylie does (and has done over many years) keeping us all updated.
Thank you Wylie and anybody else who volunteers to promote our sport - keep up the great work.
Ed...
Wylie does need a break as the season is long and tedious! Also, I like to hear where he's holidaying!
I assume the sub was while he was absent.
A bit harsh Andy?
Middle of the season and the NCU site ‘reduces’ its coverage for a week! Is this the best way to keep people informed?
Re Ken Nicholl.
Not the first time and i suspect not the last time that the behaviour of a certain individual brings a great club like Hollywood into question. And I can talk from personal experience.
Perhaps its time as a club they took this matter seriously instead of what now appears now to have been a meaningless response to previously reported circumstances.
NCU Girls Performance Squad Announced for Representative Games
After what has been a long, but worthwhile winter for the NCU girls programme, the performance squad (sponsered by PWC) will be kicking of their representative games this Sunday, 14th July at Bready. They will be playing their North West counterparts in two games. The squad boasts a wealth of talent which represents no less than 7 different clubs, this is an encouraging step forward for the domestic aspect of the ladies game within the NCU.
The girls have trained hard, which is already evident given some stand out performances within club cricket. The increased standard expected on Sunday should allow the players to test themselves both individually and also collectively. All support for the girls is welcomed from 10am at Bready.
Staci Maxwell, one of the Girl's coaches added "These games have been long coming for the girls. Winter training began in November and they will continue training the whole way through the summer. This added contact time has brought the squad closer together, which is apparent in the atmosphere in training. As a coaching team we hope this positive attitude and atmosphere sets the tone for all the upcoming matches."
NCU Girls Performance Squad
Rebekah Evans
Katie Glass
Sophie Hinds
Amy Hunter
Abi Leckey
Emily Mathers
Mollie Mathers
Beth McCrea
Lucy McMahon Beattie
Emma McMurray
Emma Scott
Sam Todd
Condolences to Waringstown & the Allen family on the passing of legend Paddy Allen who always made me laugh no matter what occasion was he will be sadly missed but i can imagine him and David Holmes betting who's next . May they both rest in peace. Gone but never forgotten
Jeffs cricket games retirement fund raiser Sunday 4th August Noon trying raise 1500£ towards new electric scoreboard their will be Barbeque refreshments two T20 games noon Dundrum v Jeffs golden oldies team , 245pm NCU Presidents select v Jeff 11 to include players that all played at Dundrum followed by raffle and music in Dundrum Inn 630pm The Just Giving page also means anyone who donates gets entered in the raffle for great prizes tickets cost 2£ ( 3 for 5£ or 7 for 10£ )
1st Slieve Donard resort & spa overnight stay two
2nd B3 Cricket bat
3rd Richard Croft painting
4th Two tickets to Man City Premiership home football match
5th Brunels meal for two
6th Anchor meal for two
7th Afternoon tea for two in Burrendale Hotel
8th Ardglass golf fourball
9th 40£ Voucher for Hair by Laura Salon Spa
10th Breakfast for two Blu Bay cafe
Superb prizes and will be running Just giving page anyone one that kindly donates will be entered into the raffle . please feel free to share this post as its my last ever fund raiser and want to give something to the sport of cricket and Dundrum cricket club that has gave me life long friends after 46 years playing cricket and no doubt my second love outside my family
for any details contactJeff 07730334479 or Facebook by PM . many thanks to all the sponsors and anyone who supports this challenge .
RE Holywood vs Woodvale:
Thanks for clearing that up Chris. It's always good to hear another perspective on what actually happened.
When i was umpiring i went on an exchange to Dublin and stood at a match at Malahide. I thought the way they handled a lost ball to be worth considering. They allowed no extra time as the fielding side had to supply spare balls to be used until the lost one was found. this saved any 'Frustration' being vented towards the officials.
In response to Ronnie I can give a perspective from a Holywood point of view in explaining the frustration from last Saturday. With the match being 40 overs the Woodvale innings started at around 3:20pm, therefore with no breaks the 40th over should have been ready to be bowled before 6:00pm.
At just before 6pm we were ready about to bowl the 39th over with Woodvale, chasing 233 to win, on 223-6. At this point it was deemed that we were two overs behind and therefore Woodvale were warded 12 penalties runs and winning the game at that point. There were a number of instances that we believed extra time should have been accounted for. Notably no consideration for a drinks break that took longer than 5 minutes, another instance was a batsman having to go off for a toilet break mid innings and a couple of times searching for the ball when it had been hit into the bushes near the train tracks.
At the point of the game Woodvale were still massive favourites to win the game as they’d batted extremely well in their chase. There was obvious frustration that a game was to finish in this way.
Anyway, credit is to go to Woodvale on the win and I hope that clears things up.
