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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!!

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.

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??