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That time of year again.

For what it's worth this is my Section 2 select side:

C McCrum (Dunmurry)
M Shields (Academy)
N Gelston (Drumaness)
C Russell (Armagh)
D Greenlees (Academy)
R Smith (Templepatrick)
R Johnston (Cooke Collegians)
A Maguinness (Laurelvale)
C Busby (Templepatrick)
M Burns (Laurelvale)
J Irons (Academy

P Edwards - the season ends the last Saturday or Sunday of September, whichever be the latest. So Sunday 25th it is.

Due to the heavy rain on Friday the White Stick Trophy had to be postponed. I would like to apologise for anyone who may have turned up at Saintfield but alas I was unable to make publish a notice informing people of the cancellation.

RE; Jim

I'm sure I read somewhere that it ends the last Sunday in September...?

I think the season officially ends on 30th September!

Can someone please confirm...

Does the Season officially end this Sunday the 25th Sept...?

DK, Check the wicket-takers down the years and you'll be amazed at how many wickets Ian Harrison took and that's what the comment was about. He has a great track record. Remember Waringstown won virtually everything in Ian's day and he was the principal wicket-taker with a brilliant fielding team and superb stumper in Bushy. He was also a bowling sub for Ireland numerous times. He's up there with the best at club level.
Ed

Ed, no disrespect and we'll 'agree to disagree' - to mention Ian Harrison in the same sentence as Monteith & Corlett? - come on, you should know better than that.................

Great quote from Declan Kidney after Ireland's win today-"Forwards win matches and the backs decide by how much."
Could we say in cricket bowlers win matches and the batsmen decide by how much?"
It took a rugby man to put it in words!
Neil, most of what you say is correct, but down the years some good cricket was played in September. A lot of indifferent cricket as well I agree. One concern is that we have almost abdicated September to winter sports. The real challenge may come when football etc switches to summer. The option remains to play in September, but clubs can still finish their season earlier if they want. September gives some flexibility.

Take that hat off, Neil. Today is one of the few this year when it would have been nice to sit in the sun watching a game of cricket !

Regarding playing fixtures in September

First of all with my groundsman hat on:

Its quite simple, the earlier you put your square to bed the better. In doing the work in early Septemebr it means there is still heat in the ground and it means seed germinates earlier thus resulting in a much better sward of grass which means at the beginning of the next season, your square is in great order

With my own thoughts about playing in September:

With schools starting back and insisting their pupils are available for rugby, generally in the second week in September and with the football season starting in early to mid August I think it is imperative that the cricket season ends at the latest on the first (and as a last resort the second weekend)in September

For those people who think its ok to play to the last weekend in Septemeber
its time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Whether we like it or not, cricket is a minority sport and I think if all players knew that the season ended on
the first weekend in September, then it would mean that most players (youth and adult) could play a full season

Re -unfulfilled fixtures

For the record, the only reason I had to cancel our ballymena away match was that the only day available was midweek ( no Saturday's free and ballymena don't play Sunday's ) and start time 4.30pm. Meant leaving Belfast very early and with schools back we simply couldn't put a team
together. First time we have conceded a match in years. The purists need to be realistic and realise that there Is no point in bringing eleven 12 year olds somewhere to get stuffed. That does more damage than good. Sometimes the best option for all is to concede.

The 2011 White Stick Trophy between NIACUS and Leinster Umpires will take place on Saturday 17th September 2011 at Saintfield Cricket Club. Play due to commence at 1.30pm. A warm welcome to all those who are baffled each week by the decisions made by our local umpires and you can have laugh at what they can do with a bat or ball. The match will also be umpired by our local cricket sage Ian Callender so you will be entertained! I would appeal for a huge turnout from players and supporters of our local game for Noel McCarey as he has been an excellent Chairman for our Association and has brought us forward with his hard work and ideas.

Clearly the only way 3rd and 4th team cricket becomes beneficial for youngsters is if they are playing with experienced players who have played at a very high level. Playing at that level it is clear that the teams that succeed the most generally do have these older hands dropping down.

In terms of fixtures not being fulfilled it is my view that at the higher levels the season is over when you fulfil all your fixtures not when you realise there is no hope of promotion or of avoiding relegation etc. Looking at Junior League One it appears two matches have been scrubbed because both Waringstown and CIYMS couldn't field teams. Funnily enough neither team had anything to play for. Just fulfil the fixtures as clubs of that size are quite clearly able to do.

well said ivan some first eleven players think they are too good to play at a lower level so called egos and the older ones have seen plenty of them standing about when they could have helped out the lower teams they have no interest and now with some games still to be played getting a no to every call or text some help would be nice