Forum

I would like to pay tribute to Peter Ritchie from Ards CC who sadly passed away at the weekend at the age of 24. He was a talented young top order batsman who I am certain would have had a bright cricketing future in front of him. A year ago on Saturday past I played against Peter for our 2s and in fact ran him out for a score of around 20. Hard to believe that I won't play against him again. My thoughts and indeed all at Academy CC are with his family and everyone at Ards CC at this difficult time.

We are sure we speak for everyone associated with the Ulster Cricketer when we say how tragic it was to learn about Peter Ritchie's death. It puts everything into perspective in our busy lives. We offer our sincere sympathy to Peter's family and to the Ards Cricket Club members who must be devastated.
Clarence Hiles
Peter Shields

the tragic death of Peter Ritchie is all the more poignant as we all travel all over the NCU "area" for matches. Is it appropriate for me to suggest a minute silence at the start of all NCU games this weekend as a token of respect to a fellow cricketer?

The Northern Cricket Union website today highlights the passing of Ards Cricket Club player Peter Ritchie. This was in a road accident on his way to Clogher for a league game. Very sad news and our thoughts will be with his family and all at Ards CC.

So very saddened to hear of the death of Peter Ritchie of Ards CC. The thoughts of the players and member of Dundrum Cricket CLub are with his family and friends at this very, very sad time.

Played on the mall today and something happened at the interval that you need to know about.

They produced a magnifent warm bacon and chilli pasta salad.

bst tea I have had this season (away from home!!)

Less said about the cricket the better

Great game of cricket at our place today against saintfield really enjoyed it I have to say enjoyed the banter during and after the game with the lads seems im now famous haha

Congrats to lurgan on winning the league also and well done to tha cloney another few wins and you could stay up well done to keith and the lads hope you do it!!! Unlucky derriaghy you pushed lurgan hard all year youve a great young side there!!!

Just like to congratulate Lurgan under 11's on winning their league final last week - I'm sure this was a very popular victory not just with myself but with all u11 coaches throughout the NCU ! Glad there was also an official umpire in attendance to ensure there were no controversial decisions ! - on a big day for the boys it is vital that they are afforded this luxury !
Also nice to see sons of Lurgan stalwarts to the fore (Maxwells and Hunters)

Congrats again to the Lurgan boys who were undoubtedly the best u11 team in the NCU this year.

just back from a great day out in Dublin - great to see Kamal Merchant and Angus Dunlop and his lovely family. Unfortunately Jonny Tourette was having great problems finding his way back to the North Down coach! Also learned that maybe Vic Johns should be changing his name to "Snowy" Johns!! Everything was going well until we fell among some Clontarf rugby thieves who took our money & sold us too many Kilbeggan summer cocktails. But the "star" comment was Goose asking Andrew White about popcorn - you had to be there! I just hope that Malahide is as good a venue but as long as there is enough room for the "blazers on the balcony" everything will probably be OK!!

Who was the irish supporter on Radio 4 LW a few moments ago, complaining that England are poaching their better players? Bit rich coming from him when his country fills the squad with foreigners!

I don't think the current rules regarding 2nd XI rearragements can be right especially the rule that there is only 1 chance to rearrange the game as a T20. If the rearraged game is washed out then the fixture is void. Academy 2nds played 3 such T20 rearrangements w/c 15th August and won them all to win Junior 3. Had it rained that week we would have had 3 void matches and probably not won the league. Our season has finished on 21st August and I'm looking forward to lovely sunny Saturdays in September were these 3 games could have been arranged over the normal 40 overs.

The 2011 White Stick Trophy Challenge between NIACUS and our counterparts from Leinster will take place on Saturday 17th September 2011 at Saintfield Cricket Club. Any member of NIACUS who wishes to be considered for selection should contact Noel McCarey. You are all invited to support your local umpires in this fixture and also have a good day out.

RE Jason Maxwell/Steven c

Jason - or better still go and buy yourselves two top class players who will win you matches week in week out !! That seems to be working for some clubs at the moment !!

Re Wylie
"I agree with your thinking on allowing teams that want to play 50 overs instead of 20 overs for a re-arranged game played on a Sunday (or free Saturday).
However, I cannot agree on allowing teams to re-arrange games for any time in the season.
A little scenario: If a match is called off in May or June then it might appear okay to let this match be re-arranged for a Sunday (or free Saturday) in July or August (respectively).
What happens though to games postponed in July or August? A problem arises as you now have no free Sundays to play these games.
Hence the introduction of the 22/29 day rule to make sure re-arranged games are played as soon as possible after the original game and so allowing some free Sundays for later on the season.
Does this make sense?"

Yes it makes sence, but I would argue that if the clubs were allowed to re-arrange their games, they would decide that longer journeys would be re-arranged for saturdays (or if both clubs play on the Sabbath, sunday), while more local games, if called off can be more easily accomodated in midweek.
There is only one side in the NCU at present that doesnt have a few local games, and that would be Clogher, who are willing and able to travel and host games on either saturday or sunday.
Obviously with PR down the leagues this willchange season by season, but it is preferable to travel 30+ miles on a saturday or sunday than trying to get a side to leave work early, get to the ground and change straight into whites and take the field.
Not perfect, but surely worth a thought leading up to the AGM.
As for teas, I feel that there should be some sort of food laid on at every weekend game, though for midweek T0 games the aforementioned problems would make this well nigh impossible, and no club should be denigrated if they are unble to offer a cup of tea at a ground other than their home ground (i.e. away from where there clubs first eleven normally plays home games).
The season ends on the last saturday of September, so why have so many T20 re-arrangements?

Jason, I fear you are in a state of self pity. If you have lost a lot of players, that's your own issue to sort out and proactively recruit.
As far as whingeing about 2nd XI players playing, this is the only way to improve--play with and against those better than you.
Verbals are part of the game, it just hurts more when you lose.
You ought to focus your energies on coaching and recruitment rather than crying on a Forum and embarrass yourself.
What a shame the boys didn't top the 400!!!!--
Your motivation should now be to improve, come back another year and make a game of it.