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I think the NCU could make things easier with a review of the grounds grading system.
As Wylie states, both Lisburn and CIYMS are Premier League grounds so they have therefore passed a stringent set of guidelines.
Firstly, there are plenty observers out there who think the criteria should be much tougher and secondly, should it not be the case that for the biggest matches there should be another band of grounds above Grade 1?
I actually think that part of the problem is that grounds have to be Grade 1 to be in the Premier League.
The NCU has graded a lot of lesser grounds ‘1’ to enable them to play in the PL and then has to give similar grounds also a ‘1’.
I think it is nonsense to suggest that there are about 15 Grade 1 grounds all of the same standard across the union! (ie The Lawn, Waringstown is just the same as Eaton Park, Ballymena)
Surely a system of rating from maybe 1-10 would be better with a grading of 1, 2, 3 or 4 eligible for the PL. What you can do then however is say that the Junior Cup final should be played at a Grade 2 ground or above, and the Challenge Cup Final should be at a Grade 1 ground etc…

Interesting debate re Cup Final Venues and I can see both sides of the argument (for once).
I think that if Lisburn wanted to host the Challenge Cup Final in their 175th year then they should have made it clear to the NCU a couple of years ago and made the necessary improvements in the intervening period. I mean, the covers they have don’t even fully cover the pitch…
Statistics can usually be manipulated to argue any case but would it be fair to say that for the last few seasons the scores at Wallace Park have REGULARLY been quite low?
Would the ECB take their showpiece final from Lord’s to Derby just because of a landmark? I think not.
What Lisburn has bucket loads of is character which will hopefully save the day if the pitch is a slow green top!
CIYMS may not be the finished article but they have shown great ambition and should be applauded for that. They still need to work very hard on the pitch and outfield however, and it has to be said that Mr McMillan playing there last year may have had something to do with some of the high scores.
Best of luck to both clubs who I’m sure will do their best come the time.

Re: Paul
Sorry you think that its was a silly retort but your original comments have upset a large number of people, especially from someone who no longer plays. Both Lisburn and CI finished in the top 4 of the league in 2010, so their wickets can't be that bad! Please check the NCU records for the top scoring grounds during 2010 and you will see Belmont figuring quite highly. I believe that each and every club has the right to apply for a cup final, so why shouldn't the big days shared round?

Interesting debate on cup final venues.
25 years ago the NCU and Lisburn CC celebrated their 100 and 150 years milestones respectively with a heavy program of events. Both were huge organizational challenges and at the helm was Lisburn guru Cecil Walker. We now have similar milestones and the NCU quite rightly has honoured the Lisburn members for a one-off celebration. Nobody is saying Lisburn has the best ground these days but over the years we have all enjoyed splendid facilities and great hospitality at the Park. I know Mr Cricket is 25 years older (like us all) but when I spoke to him a few months ago he was so enthusiastic about the cup final and the plans ahead so I have no doubt the Lisburn members will not be found wanting. Venue is only one aspect of the final. The cup needs a sponsor, more publicity, corporate entertaining, a dedicated organizational committee and a much bigger buzz on the day. However, as far as venue this year is concerned, sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture and remember this is only a game.

Paul,

Obviously you don't play, as Waringstown and Downpatrick are certainly not ROADS, but North Down certainly is!

Alan,

Very silly retort. I am now a casual follower of cricket but i still keep up to date on various websites, old playing mates and papers to do with all the scores/grounds and who is doing what etc.

I am making reference to the perceived standard of the wickets and the fact that there has been a general trend in scores of the low variety at Wallace park over the past few seasons. I accept that weather has not been overly kind the past few years but i still see some incredible scores around other parts of the Union.

My point is more that the NCU should pick the best venue, that has the best wickets and is conducive to the best chance of playing good cricket at their showpiece event, from the clubs that have put themselves forward to host the competition. Surely this is common sense?

As i said in my previous post, i have no idea what clubs put their names forward to host the 2011 Senior Cup Final, maybe Wylie McKinty can enlighten us all?

Re: Paul
Sorry to hear your comments about the venues for this years Cup Finals.
I take it that if the team you play for or support get to one of these finals, you will refuse to play or attend to support, due to the sub standard conditions available??

Michael-

My point regarding the wickets is based on the continuing low scores generally associated with Wallace Park over the past lot of years. Are you declaring that your wickets are roads? SURELY NOT!

Regarding your outfield, it has been mentioned that on a quite a few occasions the length of grass has been more conducive to rugby rather than cricket?!

As i said in my previous post, i used to watch a lot of cricket at your great club in the 80's and what a fantastic wicket and facility it was. Superb wickets and as remains the case, i believe, superb hospitality.

I am sure all at your club will do everything to ensure a great day is had by both participating clubs in the Senior cup final, my own opinion is that the Final should be played on the best wickets to produce the best cricket. This means that clubs such as Waringstown, North Down, Downpatrick should be the choices available to the NCU in my opinion. I am not aware if any of these clubs put themselves forward for nomination but i would be surprised if at least one of them hasnt.

I can't imagine why it should be a problem for any club with a suitable venue to accommodate any cricket cup final, as it's good publicity and would generate revenue at the gate and at the bar for the hosting club .

On a seperate note, I must say that the coverage of the Ashes and alot of other international cricket matches on Sky T.V. has been very good.
Although while I settled down last nite to watch England against an Australian Prime-minister's eleven, I got the shock of my life when I flicked over to sky-sports one and guess who were playing their little hearts out in the teaming rain ?

For all the world to see ??

No, not Manchester Utd, Liverpool or Chelsea........... none other than Glenavon F.C. playing down at Seaview against Crusaders. Could'nt believe it!

Anyway I quickly flicked back over to the cricket, but I did double check later on just incase I'd imagined it, but sure enough it was them alright !

What next I wonder, Victoria 3rds-v-Academy 3rds 2nd round Minor Cup. Pay-per-view!! Sky-box office!!!

Roger

As our 2nds capt it doesnt really make any odds to me just as id asked before and got the response that more sunday games could be played then seeing on the website that leagues 1,2 & 3 could only play 2 games i thought i would ask, i know they arent in the same league as us anymore but in recent seasons we would have played victoria and donacloney in 2 night matches during the week in early summer so this would have been out the window also as that would be 4 games, but as i say this is irrelevant now as they arent in our league.

Hear hear Wylie!

Paul - Lisburn hosted the Junior Cup Final last year. 220 odd for Academy batting first, they won the game off the last ball by one run in what everyone present considered to be a fantastically exciting game of cricket.

Doesnt really suggest incapability for hosting a cup final, does it? Our groundsman, who is reasonably well known around local clubs, has faced extremely challenging conditions in recent years which have led to some of the wickets not being absolutely ideal for batting on occasion, but its the same for both sides. But a half decent summer last season (and it was only half decent) showed that our wickets are decent when the conditions do not conspire to make our job much harder. Any team coming to us after early May would hopefully agree.

Not sure what your concern is with the Lisburn outfield, apart from when it is really wet it is fine. Throw in unrivalled hospitality/teas from our revered ladies committee coupled with a desire throughout the club (it being our 175 year) to have a senior cup final to remember, and I would be more than hopeful that the finalists who make their way through to the showpiece at the end of July will have little cause for concern in relation to the facilities, and can concentrate on playing their best cricket.

If 220 plays 219 in a last ball thriller, I doubt you will hear many complaints, eh?

Paul/Grounds for Cup Finals

As chairman of the NCU Competitions Directorate that recommends to the NCU Management Board the grounds on which cup finals should be played it would be nice to be able to choose from the 30+ grounds that are used in the NCU Area. Sadly this is not the case and we rely on clubs offering to host cup finals or agreeing to do so after an approach by this Directorate.
Very few clubs these days offer up their grounds for cup finals for a variety of reasons and the NCU are always extremely grateful to clubs that do offer to host finals.
I would also point out that as CIYMS play in the NCU Premier League their ground does have to have passed certain stringent ground criteria for cricket to be played there at that level.
If we also use Paul’s logic as regards “proper” cricket grounds then the Ireland cricket team would not be allowed to play ODI or International matches at Stormont as I’m pretty sure they play rugby there for more months than cricket is played!

RE: Jason
Yes, you are correct, as we pointed out before, the very small number of clubs (maybe only Millpark II) playing in Junior 3 or above who only have 2 teams may play more than 2 matches on days other than a Saturday if they wish to do so.

Paul,

Where do you think these finals should be played? Where do you class as a good wicket? Should clubs like CI not be encouraged to host cup finals?

Re Roy Young:

Finals should be played at the best cricketing venue available ie:
1-Good wickets (lisburn and CI-Negative)
2-Good outfield (lisburn and CI-Negative)
3-Finals should be played at a proper cricket club (Lisburn-Positive CI-Negative as its a rugby club turned kinda into a cricket club during a few months of the summer)

Best of luck to Lisburn in their 175th year, a fantastic achievement. Im just not at all convinced that their ground is fit for a senior cup final venue, i genuinely hope im proved wrong. Wallace Park was one of the most beautiful grounds to play at during the 80's and early 90's, great wickets and superb outfield etc but sadly this is not the case any longer.