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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??

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.

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