Forum

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.

Re: Junior Cup Final
Great news to see that the Junior Cup final will be played at CIYMS Belmont. I had suggested on this forum that it would be nice to see finals at new grounds.
With the senior cup being played at a club with such long history as Lisburn - its a nice balance to that the junior cup is played at a fairly new club with a short history.
Good luck to both Lisburn and CI for their big games!

Would I be right in saying that the junior task force have now changed their mind as I see on the ncu website that all teams in junior leagues 1,2 and 3 can now only play 2 games on a Sunday??? I thought and asked on here before and was told that this only applied if the club had more than 2 teams I THINK out of junior leagues 1,2 and 3 that only ourselves (Millpark) and donaghadee have 2 teams .

Q. What do you call an Aussie with a bottle of champagne?
A. A waiter
Q. What do you call an Aussie who can hold a catch?
A. A fisherman
Q. Why can no one drink wine in Australia at the moment?
A. They don't have any openers
Q. What's the difference between Cinderella and the Aussies?
A. Cinderella knew when to leave the ball
Q. What do you call a world class Australian cricketer?
A. Retired
Ring Ring.....
Hello - Australian team dressing room
Hello mate...Can I speak to Ricky Ponting please.
Sorry mate - he's just gone out to bat
It's OK - I'll hold.
Where do you find an Australian cricketer with runs?
Trap 2
A bloke walks into a brothel and says: "I'm a bit k.nky, how much for total humiliation?"
The madam replies $60.
"Wow, what do I get for that," he says.
She says: "A baggy green cap and an Australia cricket shirt”.
Last pommie to bring back ashes from Australia was Paula Yates

NCU Junior League Structure

The NCU Competitions Directorate met last night and approved the structure for the new Junior Leagues
I have placed a link on the NCU home page giving details of the various sections and updated each of the Junior League Section pages.
I have also added the draws for the Intermediate, Minor (Lindsay) and Minor Qualifying Cups
Just in case any one has forgotten the NCU's home page link it is www.northerncricketunion.org

No problem Wylie. Bet that rain delay helped a bit......

They did drag it on a bit I have to say though Siddle did show a bit more than the rest of the Aussie tail which started with Shane Watson.

Some exciting draws alright in the Challenge-Cup, the highlight for me would be the second round, a local derby (if both teams get through rnd.1)
Lurgan-v-Donaghcloney... should get plenty of punters through the gates of whichever club has home draw.

And well played England on their convincing Ashes series win, praise especially should go to Broad & Finn's replacements Tremlett & Bresslin who were outstanding and more than justified their inclusion in the 1st team.

Re. Jim.

Not sure about why there was a lack of champagne when the Aussie squad has Bollinger in it!

Cook did get the Compton/Miller medal about half an hour later, Tubby Taylor was just a fairly shambolic host for the presentation. I'm sure it will mean more than the perspex Vodafone bat!

Neal

Thanks for letting me know (you were not the only one!).
I hope you’ll let me off this time as I did it last night while watching the end of the Ashes and was probably a bit distracted!
It is now fixed on the NCU site
The other senior cup draws should be on the site as the day progesses

Are the Aussie Cricketing authorities poor losers? No champers for the winners and no medal for Cooke. Disgraceful.

Just seen the draws for the Challenge Cup and Junior Cup and there are a few interesting ties in there.

On the Junior Cup front I take it the Third Round should be L v M, N v O etc... instead of the way it is currently on the NCU homepage ( just means if clubs work it out now they won't be playing who they think if they reach that round ).

Potential in there for Academy v Waringstown 2s if both teams win their 1st two games. If that does happen it will be the 4th year in a row they will have faces each other.

home to North Down ...... thats a nice easy draw for us lol

am goin to have to ask around our club dont think the 2 clubs have ever played before???