Forum

As the season draws to a close, young men’s ( and ladies ) hearts may look to greener pastures, yet it’s a vital time for the local game with so much still to play for, league championships, promotion, avoid the dreaded drop or even mid-table solidarity with a view to pushing on next season in hope of just rewards?
That said, let’s remember our past and present heroes of the game, be him an idolised, pioneering batsman, bowler or wicket keeper, yep, we all have our personal favourites, the current English international Johnny Bairstow is my pick, what an amazing talent, yet those like myself of a certain vintage, may recall his father, David, equally prodigious, yet after such a glittering career, he threw it all away, why? Well one can only speculate, but after all, there’s much more to life after we eventually hang up our whites....
Things look real in mirrored isolation

Too old to love, too young to die
mournful widower in dismay,
empty days, restless, fitful nights
melancholy, holds daily sway

Long years alone, mind blighted
dark enchantress invited,
assuaged, chastened loneliness
his faint heart, vanquished

Late hours in bedroom, manifest
her shapely form, ingest,
black eyes, contrast, pearly white
engorged, seductive bite

Though his body, thinning, gaunt
primal urges, tease, taunt,
each early dawn, blissful sleep
night, her soul, his to keep

Until in stillness, an unholy hour
reality revealed, insofar,
vampiric demon, mirrored reflection
mad ravings of exsanguination

In solitude, a vacant heart will die
insanity imbues, intensifies,
machinations, mindless masterplan
the devil haunts a lonely man

Local Cricketers Organise Cancer Charity Match
Local cricketers Trevor Britton (CIYMS) and Ryan Haire (North Down CC) are hosting a 10 over Charity Cricket match at North Down Cricket Club (Castle Lane Comber) on Friday the 16th August and would like everyone to get involved. Trevor who has had support of late from Macmillan and Ryan whos wife Claire works for Marie Curie decided to put something back into both charities and acknowledge the fantastic work that they do in providing support services for cancer suffers locally. Speaking of the event Ryan said “ after chatting to Trevor recently who is receiving support from Macmillan and after helping Claire fundraise for her Marie Curie charity cycle I thought that local cricket could and should support the great work of both charities by organising an event across clubs. Our charity match will have kids activities and food alongside top professionals and club captains from across the NCU and weather permitting should be a great occasion hopefully raising lots of much needed funds for the charities.” Both Marie Curie and Macmillan who are delighted at the support to be given from the event noted that at the moment they simply cannot support the growing number of people who need cancer care without the continued support of public fundraising and commenting on the event Gavin McGucken Marie Curie said ““On behalf of Marie Curie, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Ryan, Trevor and North Down Cricket Club for all of your hard work in organising your upcoming charity cricket match. We are delighted to be involved and for your ongoing support. All of the money raised from the event will be used by Marie Curie to help people living with a terminal illness and their families across Northern Ireland”
The match will commence at 6pm and with professionals playing such as North Downs Ruhan Pretorius alongside Carricks Jaques Synman and Waringstowns Hazeeb Hazam to name but a few there should be plenty of action on the pitch in the first local T10 game staged. No less than 12 clubs have players representing them on the night and the players have been fundraising for the event by selling ballots for some great prizes. The organisers are also thankful for business sponsors and would like to thanks everyone to date who has got involved in fundraising efforts. Ryan would also like to thank his home club North Down for hosting the event and raising over £300 at a recent home game towards the event. If you would like to pledge money towards the great cause and cannot make the match on Friday the 16th August at 6pm the JustGiving page for event donations is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/crickett10. Ballot tickets can also be pledged by contacting Ryan Haire on 07988937391. Trevor and Ryan would like to thanks everyone in advance for their fantastic support.

Several posts have been received in the last 10 days where the identity is not true. When the actual person was made known it has been removed.
These are sad people who hide behind identity and even worse, they have stolen identity from decent people who enjoy cricket.
Let’s stop this nonsense or I’ll report it to the proper Authority. It is a crime to use false names.
Clarence Hiles
Joint Editor

CSNI and Instonians will contest the 2019 final of the NCU Under 11 Quoile Cup Final sponsored by Gribben and Watt Financial Planning Ltd.
The match will be played on Thursday 8th August at Queensway, home of Derriaghy CC starting at 6pm.
All support will be very welcome.
David Skelton
Competition secretary?

On the subject of cricket summer schemes.
Our club (Taverners) doesn't even have a junior section, but our coaches have already delivered cricket sessions to a local junior summer youth club, and this week a disabled group have been enjoying cricket as well.
These kids are from different schools and backgrounds 8 to 12 age group and what was clear is that they hadn't been introduced to cricket at all before last week.
Some of them might ask their Parents to bring them to a club now.

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) are delighted to announce that they will again host a four team Under 16 festival, based at Campbell College from 11th to 14th August 2019.
Cornwall Cricket Board and Yorkshire Schools Cricket Association are making a welcome return and whilst it is disappointing that St Josephs from Ipswich are not returning, Southern Kings, who originate from Cork Harlequins Cricket Club are making up the fourth team. Games will be hosted at Campbell College and Woodvale Cricket Club.
Chairman of the NCU Alan Waite speaking about the forthcoming festival said, "The NCU are delighted that our participants from 2018, Cornwall and Yorkshire Schools Cricket Associa­tion have accepted our invitation to return to this year's festival. Whilst it is disappointing that St Joseph's School from Ipswich are not able to return, it's great that The Southern Kings are taking up our offer. We are also grateful to Agile Communications for their sponsorship of this festival which the NCU see as an integral part of our summer programme and the NCU are grateful to Woodvale Cricket Club for hosting games during the festival."
The festival is being sponsored by local company, Agile Communications. Alan Duncan, Managing Director of Agile Communications, when asked about their involvwment, stated: "On behalf of Agile Communications we are delighted to be involved with the forthcoming Cricket Festival. Our core vision is one of helping businesses share their great stories, building their brands through public relations and communications, in a transparent and ethical way, adding value to those business and to the wider community."
"It's our first time to be involved with the NCU, having first met up at the Corporate Golf Day in April 2019,and were impressed with the visions and values of the NCU and in particular their ethos around young people in sport, which is all very much in keeping with our own values.
The NCU are very keen to develop further commercial partnerships and Agile."
"Communications see this as an excellent opportunity to foster meaningful relationships and to support this festival, which brings young people together from all over the UK and Ireland."
Andrew Cowden is leading the NCU side said "Following the U15 and U17 Interpros, we have selected a squad of 14 to participate in the NCU's U16 festival, hosted by Campbell College. The players who are eligible but have been selected by Ireland at U15 or U17 Level, have not been selected for this festival. Instead, we see this as a great development opportunity for others to be exposed to representative tournament cricket. It also gives James Cameron-Dow and myself the opportunity to work with and see a greater pool of players performing ahead of selecting the U17 winter performance squad."
NCU squad
Luke Allison (Donacloney Mill)
Tom Campbell (Instonians)
Ashton Clark (Carrickfergus)
Scott Gardner (Carrickfergus)
Ethan Hanna (Saintfield)
James Lambert (Instonians)
Adam Ly (Instonians)
Hugh Minford (CSNI)
Carson McCullough (CIYMS)
Arnold Oduvelil (Muckamore)
Chris Pyper (Bangor)
Zak Solomon (CIYMS)
Michael Waite (Waringstown)
Ewan Wilson (Templepatrick)

In response to Andy’s post about NCU support of school coaching , although I can’t speak for Larne or North Down , Wayne Hughes has been very pro active and accommodating in helping Donacloney with their school programme of cricket in their area .
We usually find that if you ask the NCU for assistance they are more than willing to send coaches to help
We run a very successful summer scheme for 8 weeks and have had Simon Johnston, Callum Atkinson and Wayne Hughes in attendance to assist to help cover holidays
My advice to any club , if you want assistance just ask

Border league final is set for this Wednesday (7th Aug) evening at Clogher .
Monaghan and Clogher will contest the shield.
Clogher have been in the final once before, Monaghan are frequent finalists.
Best of luck to both teams and fingers crossed for some decent cricket weather for the game.

The following squad of players has been selected to represent the Ulster Schools on the annual tour to the Glasgow area from 5th to 8th August:
Josh Cowan (Ballyclare High School)
Michael Glass (Friends' School Lisburn)
Daniel Humphreys (Methodist College Belfast)
Matthew Hutchinson (Coleraine Grammar School)
Stuart Kennedy (Limavady Grammar School)
Cameron Knight (Foyle College)
James Lambert (RBAI)
Max Lyttle (Methodist College Belfast)
Robbie Millar (Limavady Grammar School)
Robbie Moffett (Belfast Royal Academy)
Tommy Orr (Limavady Grammar School)
Matthew Peak (RBAI)
Adam Reid (Methodist College Belfast)
Adam Simmonite (Bangor Grammar School)
A number of players were unavailable in consequence of Irish U17 and U19 commitments.
The fixtures are:
Monday 5th August – 40-over match against Western Warriors Development XI at Shawholm (Poloc CC)
Tuesday 6th August – 45-over match against Western Districts Cricket Union U21 Select at Hamilton Crescent (West of Scotland CC)
Wednesday 7th August – T20 matches against Eastern Knights Development XI, Caledonian Highlanders Development XI and Western Warriors Development XI at New Williamfield, Stirling (Stirling County CC)
Thursday 8th August – 50-over match against Western Warriors U17 at Titwood (Clydesdale CC)
Dr EM Power
Chairman, Schools Committee

The current 2019 exiting and expanding border league tournament has been somewhat stymied by our typical, inclement summer weather, and while all eyes maybe presently focusing on the premier league run in or the highly anticipated first match of Ashes series, down at Dungannon Pk. the hosts entertained an eclectic mix of club cricketers from Victoria, and on a quite pleasant, balmy Wednesday evening, what a cracking match ensued!
It was a very well prepared batting strip, as hosts Dungannon had no hesitation, winning the toss, electing to make first use of the crease, yet despite seeing off the lively opening pace attack of Walsh & Boomer, their batsmen had no answer to the the guile and spin of Victoria stalwart Greg Mullin, who simply lobbed up the ball on a good length, finding the opposition batsmen in a quandary, either hit out or get out, the latter scenario proving to be their demise, all out for as little as 78 in their allotted 20 overs.

Quick turnaround, and seasoned campaigners, Black & Adair had little trouble acclimatising, together building a match winning platform with the younger incoming Victoria batsmen proving equal to the task, duly seeing the visitors over the winning line.
That said, it was a spirited effort by the Tyrone bowlers, defending a low total as the match went to the penultimate over, yet ultimately the result was not the joy of the occasion, with all participants enjoying a fabulous evening of cricket fun, and just who says the local game is shrivelling on the vine?
Most definitely not the case as social cricket is very much thriving in the competitive, Co Armagh, Tyrone and Monaghan border league tournament!

Apologies.
1/4 final. Still of the same view.

I know this will get the comments of "well we know that's the way it is before we started the season" but to have an ISC semi final decided by a bowl out in July is complete lunacy in my opinion. I don't give a toss who was involved or who beat who. It is a complete farce and needs to be rectified in some shape or form. The clubs need to get together and sort it out.
Just a thought. Rant over.

Ref Andy Kennedy & Ken,
I'm not so sure it's as bleak as both Ken and yourself postulate, yes, a few seasons ago I may have agreed with your sentiments, e.g. the Ulster Rugby debacle, privatisation by sponsors etc. Though I reckon the NCU have quietly took such sporting inconsistencies onboard and are accordingly positively in regards to the local game and that the proverbial worm is not only turning but adding a fresh new segment of growth to its length in these modern, trying and testing times?
Umpiring senior matches, perhaps you are not seeing the bright bloom proliferating underneath your feet at lower levels of the game where I play my weekly cricket?
For instance, take a look below at that NCU ladies team posted by Richard White, how many girls were playing competitive club cricket when you were in your pomp, I suspect none, let alone fielding sides, playing against eachother in leagues and even playing in the men's second, third eleven etc?
I have been fortunate enough to play against some of these talented girls within their respective club's junior teams, and every one of them are very capable and just as good as their male counterparts, who themselves are fine young prospects and look certain to progress to much higher pinnacles within the NCU and beyond!
Secondly, I don't know much about the hierarchy at Cricket Ireland but they must be applauded for their tireless and ultimately successful campaign, overseeing our national side's eventual rise to the very top table in cricket? We are now a recognised and legitimate Test playing nation, just who could of foreseen last week's quite brilliant effort and that we would be well ahead in most of the sessions in the match against England in their own rather ornate and lavish 'backyard? ' It went right to wire on the final day, and despite losing it was a monumental and dramatic test match that has certainly put us on the map as worthy contenders in the global picture of world cricket!
Thirdly, yes indeed, recent times have seen one or two clubs sadly folding yet the shoots of recovery are already budding, the obvious success of DonecloneyMill, vibrant and very much flourishing over at the factory ground, look at Lurgan too, back in good form and heading in right direction, then there's the border league, an exciting avenue for newbies, and those maybe not available Saturday yet are keen to take up the game, Dungannon, Clogher, Monaghan, Waringston, Portadown ourselves etc, all open and buzzing to play midweek cricket though it must be said the weather has been very unkind, something none of us have control or power over.
And what about Muckamore, a club I know you're familiar with?
Truly exceptional young talent coming through there and I'm looking forward to next Saturday's return encounter against their fifths at Lurgan Pk.
Nope, when all's said & done, to tweak a well worn, consumer cliche....' the future's bright, the future's cricket'

North Down has certainly turned things around and Larne has taken a pro-active stance in approaching the local schools. My question is as to the amount of support that these clubs have received from the NCU Development Officers?

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!!