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Re Wayne Horwood
While you are sunning yourself and probably trying to decide wether the 6's you hit on Saturday were really worth 10 or even 12 don't give up on the NCU. Things will change, new blood and new ideas will come through and people like you have a lot to offer. Yes it can be frustrating but as we know " change is challenging " and we all have heavy demands on our time these days.
I agree not having our major cup competition sponsored is a poor show and I know there are companies not currently involved in cricket that may get involved but why the secrecy.
On the topic of cricket at lower league level a Task Force has been set up by the NCU to look at this and I have been invited to be part of that. We are having our first meeting tomorrow night and any ideas on league structures, playing times, etc etc any one has are welcome. Email me your thoughts as again the more voices that are heard the better. Club cricket and the hours of work being put in at schools and underage level is and always will be the lifeblood of the sport.
Interestingly I spent the weekend at two club games in England and they have similar issues.
selective umpiring "down the leagues" has been going on for years. I recall a game in which the captain of a 4th XI railed at a 15 year old for giving a 2nd LBW in the innings with the remark "you've already given one". Made himself look a complete plonker! Players at that level should not be putting wee lads under pressure but should be helping them by walking, etc. As for the game dying - see my past postings on the marked reduction in the number of teams playing cricket in NCU. I'm old enough to remember a 4th Division so please don't tell me about these 100s of wee lads who are turning up at practices - they are not staying in the game as they get older & no-one seems to be asking why.
I think plenty of people are asking why Andy, the problem is nobody seems to have the answer, and therfore a solution!
Unfortunately as you say Jason, it can and does happen at junior cricket 2nd level and below, although it should'nt be the case, no matter what the standard, especially as alot of younger players start off playing lower down the leagues and first impressions can be hard to forget, as the saying goes !
However, encouraging reading about the great enthusiasm shown by clubs and their innovative and hard working members, bringing the game to local schools and developing youth teams and strenghtening not only their own teams and set-up, but the game of cricket as well.
As the last poster says, their effort and contributions are invaluable and every club needs these type of people for cricket to thrive & prosper.
The real unsung hero's of our sport !
Challenge Cup Sponsorship. I honestly am not sure if the ncu want sponsorship. I made contact with 2 very senior ncu officials when Down Democratic stated they were not renewing.
I was doing a lot of work with a large financial institution who wanted exposure to NI at a modest price.
The only response I got was we have it under control.
Well the fact there is no sponsor and I have not had any more contact says it all in my book.
Closed shop, no interest in new thoughts, new ideas. Crack on lads in raising sponsors but if you try to help you may get the door closed.
You can rest assured I will not be offering my assistance again.
Re Cricket Dying
I tend to agree with Stevie Maxwell on this one. I think there are definately kids out there who would play cricket if introduced to it but the problem is that clubs have to go out and get them and this takes dedication, committment and effort from personnell within the club. I think part of the problem is that clubs do not have an abudance of people with these characteristics and that is harming cricket at youth level. With so many other influences out there cricket could be seen as the last thing kids would want to do, but in actual fact we have seen evidence of kids enjoying it when having been introduced to it.
I guess it's like everything, if you or your club don't put the effort in to drive youth forward then the results won't be so good and numbers will die.
I get a bit perplexed when I read that cricket is dying at a rapid pace. The work involved to even remain at the current level is tremendous. In Dundrum we have a lot of kids practising on a Monday evening, upwards of 50 at one session! We (I should say Jeff Maguire) have introduced cricket into 4 schools in our area, 3 in Newcastle and 1 in Clough. To do this takes a whole lot of work, ringing PE Teachers, head Masters/Mistresses, liasing with parents, etc. We have now had 2 of the schools playing each other in a friendly. A summer scheme has been provisionally set up for children of all ages for the July Fortnight too. To get the results, you need to put in the effort. Jeff and his Youth Committee are doing that in Dundrum and are focussed on the future. Jeff is non-relenting in the prssure he exerts unto the schools and it is now paying off. This is only the beginning of the hard work but we are confident that there will be talented cricketers once again emerging from South Down area - hopefully plentiful amounts of them!
Clarence/ editor surely someone in the NCU can post a ball park figure as too how much the senior challenge cup costs aprox too sponsor ? Then id gamble that their be a few interested as if NCU do answer even at this late stage how much too sponsor cup final day as depending on how much i no a few would be up for covering it if the price is right . ps my £ is on the underdogs CIYMS but not with TAYTO and by the way its a DISGRACE that its not on a sat an a blank day in the NCU as then we all get a chance too partake in the showpiece, and id say quite a few clubs would try too support the day.
Sam, I believe the wee lad gave up golf after becomming disillusioned with the game when he had to give 30 shots away to a duffer and lost by a couple of shots at Hilton.
There's a guy who drives up the Ballygowan Road in a Lamborghini who looks like him though.
Alrite Vic?? Just disagree with you on one part of your post regarding the cheating ive played most games for our 2nd eleven this year and one part of 2nd eleven cricket is the inconsistency in the umpiring now im not talking lbws here im talking about getting wided harshley and on more than one instance run outs given not out when the batsmans been out a couple of feet or more, to edges behind not given ive witnessed three times (all the same team) a batsman edging it behind and starting to walk having a look up to see if the umpires given it which in this case there was no finger up and the batsman turned and walked back into his crease now keep in mind here that the umpires a member of his own team ...... is this cheating???
CI Supporter, why not post your name, there was nothing controversial in your comments? As a North Down man, and past NDCC committee member, I hope we win the Cup, but I am pleased that CI have reached the final. In the past I was a member of the excellent CIYMS Golf Society and they are a great bunch of lads. What ever happened to that curly haired 10 year old kid who played in the Society, I think his name was McIlroy? Is he still playing golf?
Totally correct, location doesnt in anyway represent club allegances! Just giving my opinion that cricket in this country is dying at a rapid pace.
Sure as long as the Premier League has clubs with 3-4 overpaid stars no one seems to care.
"CI supporter" says one thing. Paul McCormick & Sam Magill say something else. I s'pose the truth the truth is somewhere in between.
As club secretary at Lisburn I would be interested to know who we are paying exactly. I seriously doubt "Davy" is a Lisburn Cc person, the problem with the way this website is set up is that it asks you for a nominal location. If I write Stormont when I am posting during my lunchbreak, it doesnt mean I am a CSNI person.
No problem with ciyms and their policy from LCC, good luck to them, but we are happy with the way our youth is being developed under yasas tillakaratne and the future should be bright enough at Wallace Park.
I reckon of all the great high profile sporting events, cricket must surely be commended for being at the forefront in using technology, (albeit just the desired amount); in keeping with the fast changing pace of popular demand, but not allowing the laws or the continuity of the game to be broken up or changed too much !
Hope it stays that way and the antics and cheating that goes on in other sports, never creep into Cricket.
Harper, could you not spell that 'wee' six letter word that links Best & Higgins ?
Don't worry I'll help you out...... GENUIS !
Re: Saturday
I am a CI supporter and was at the game on Saturday. Firstly, well done to the lads getting to the Final, should be quite a game in a few weeks.
In terms of the game on Saturday, all who were there would I'm sure agree that it was played in a wonderful spirit. Both Clubs have formed a fantastic relationship since the Final back in 2006 and there is genuine warm and friendship between players & supporters alike.
In terms of the comments regarding Craigs ton, any Waringstown supporter I seen was very appreciative of the knock as were the oppostion players, so I'm not sure where some of these comments come from (particularly as I don't recognise any of the names as being CI supporters)
