Forum

Rumours reaching Buckna from South Down about a certain leading umpire who had illusions of making a come-back with the bat only to be ‘triggered’ by a young lad. At this stage I would say that these are rumours but perhaps Jeff Maguire could check the veracity of the rumours! Whether it was going down leg-side, wouldn’t have hit another set of stumps and there might have been an inside edge is unimportant. Watch this space!!

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced its Women's squad to play the North West Women, on Sunday 15th July (12 Noon), at Burndennett Cricket Club, in a 40 over contest.
Staci Maxwell (Captain) North Down
Amy Benson North Down
Laura Campbell North Down
Alison Cowan (Wicket Keeper) CSNI
Alex Craig Lurgan
Becky Hall Muckamore
Abbi Leckey CSNI
Suzi McCollum Lurgan
Beth McCrea Templepatrick
Molly Mathers Donaghcloney Mill
Naomi Matthews Waringstown
Suzi Morrison Muckamore
Nikki Niblock Muckamore
Sam Todd Lurgan
Burndennett Cricket Club is located at Drumenny Rd, Strabane.
Coach Alex Haggan said, 'the NCU Women have trained hard over the winter and are looking forward to commencing their summer match programme. Amy Hunter, Cara Murray and Jennifer Hannah are unavailable due to Ireland Under 19 selection, while captain Hannah Grieve and Jane Kilpatrick are away with Irish Hockey in Belgium'.

Sorry to learn of Hubert’s death. I met him in Belfast a couple of years ago at a bus stop and we had a good chat about the ‘old days’ and the characters around the Divisional Committee at the time. Names like Jim McMorran, Bob Law, Jim Barry, Frank Thompson, etc. Funny that I can remember those days as if it was yesterday but who was that I WAS talking to yesterday - or was it Wednesday? Another gentleman indeed.

Hubert Cranston
We are sad to hear the news that NCU and Collegians stalwart Hubert Cranston has passed away this morning. He gave sterling service and in recognition he was an NCU Honorary Life Member.
More details will follow.

Northern Cricket Union Under 17 Girl's in T20 Action
The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced an Under 17 Girl's Squad to play the North West Under 17 Girl's, on Thursday 5th July, at Stormont, in two Twenty20 fixtures (Noon Start).
NCU Under 17 Girl's Squad
Abbi Leckey (Captain) - CSNI
Nadia Bell - North Down
Katie Glass - Muckamore
Jennifer Hanna - Donaghcloney Mill
Rachel Hanna - Donaghcloney Mill
Amy Hunter - Instonians
Zoe Kilpatrick (Wicket Keeper) - Lurgan
Lois Lyttle - Donaghcloney Mill
Beth McCrea - Templepatrick
Emily Mathers - Donaghcloney Mill
Molly Mathers - Donaghcloney Mill
Sarah Sandford - Waringstown
Sam Todd - Lurgan
Coach Alex Haggan says, 'the NCU under 17 Girl's have trained hard over the winter and are looking forward to commencing their summer schedule. If last year is anything to go by, Thursday will be a tough and exciting day. The NCU will be captained by Abbi Leckey of CSNI, and we wish her and the side all the very best'.

Front page cricket grounds,

1 Dundrum
2 The lawn
3 Mallusk
4 Lurgan Park

Can you name those NCU grounds in the Home page?

Andy pleasure as always and bumper is 104

Great to enjoy the company of a few North Down ‘veterans’ at Ballymena on Thursday evening especially Bumperdale. Just proves that there still a bit of craic to be enjoyed in the local game.

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced a PwC sponsored Under 14 squad to take part in the prestigious West Cricket Festival, at Kings College Taunton, England, from Sunday 22nd July to Friday 27th July.
NCU Under 14 Squad
* Mohammed Aahil
* Sam Allister
* Mathew Daly
* Harry Dyer
* Rory Ellerby
* Matthew Halliday
* David Kane
* Adam Kennedy
* Finn Lutton* Adam Ly (Wicket Keeper)
* Stuart McCollum
* Carson McCullough
* James Rose
* Sam Topping (Wicket Keeper)
NB: Captain is to be selected.
Fixtures
* Monday 23rd July, NCU Under 14's v Cornwall, 10:30am
* Tuesday 24th July, NCU Under 14's v Cheshire, 10:00am
* Wednesday 25th July, NCU Under 14's V Northamptonshire, 10:00am
* Thursday 26th July, Fixtures to be confirmed
* Friday 27th July, Fixtures to be confirmed
NCU Under 14 Head Coach Callum Atkinson commented, 'We are once again pleased to have been invited to play in the West Cricket Festival at Kings College, Taunton. Over the past couple of years both our Under 11 and Under 14 squads have benefited from playing against the English counties and minor counties, as well as teams from outside the UK such as Trinidad & Tobago. The NCU would like to express our congratulations to the boys who have been selected to travel to Taunton. We have selected an exciting squad of players who provide much needed
balance over five days of challenging cricket against strong opposition at Kings College. As always, our boys are eager to test themselves against some of the best cricketers in the UK and from further afield, in the Under 14 age group'.

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced three squads, captained by James Shannon, for the upcoming Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial fixtures, at Stormont, Comber and Dublin, across all three formats of the game.
Sunday 1st July, Inter-Provincial 50 Series (IP50), Northern Knights v Leinster Lighting, at Stormont, Belfast, 11 am Start
* James Shannon (Captain)* Mark Adair
* Adam Dennison
* Marc Ellison
* Shane Getkate
* Gary Kidd* Graeme McCarter
* James McCollum
* Neil Rock (Wicket Keeper)
* Alistair Shields
* Harry Tector
* Greg Thompson
Robert McKinley, Nathan Smith, and Nikolai Smith were not considered due to injury.
Monday 2nd July to Wednesday 4th July, Inter-Provincial Championship (IPC), Northern Knights v North West Warriors, at North Down Cricket Club, Comber, 10:45 am Start
* James Shannon (Captain)
* Mark Adair
* James Cameron Dow
* Chris Dougherty
* Phil Eaglestone
* Marc Ellison
* Shane Getkate
* John Matchett
* Gary Kidd
* James McCollum
* Neil Rock (Wicket Keeper)
* Harry Tector
Adam Dennison, Graeme McCarter, Robert McKinley, Alistair Shields, Nathan Smith, Nikolai Smith, and Greg Thompson were not considered because of injury or availability.
Friday 6th to Sunday 8th July, Inter-Provincial 20 Series (IP20), at Pembroke Cricket Club (Sydney Parade), Dublin
The concluding fixtures in the IP20 Series will be played at Pembroke Cricket Club over three days. The Northern Knights fixtures are:
Friday 6th: Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights (4 pm)
Saturday 7th: Munster Reds v Northern Knights (11 am)
Sunday 8th: North West Warriors v Northern Knights (11 am)
* James Shannon (Captain)
* Mark Adair
* Adam Dennison
* Marc Ellison
* Shane Getkate
* Nigel Jones
* Gary Kidd
* James McCollum
* Robert McKinley
* Jacob Mulder
* Neil Rock (Wicket Keeper)
* Harry Tector
* Greg Thompson
All requests for interviews should be made through the Angela Platt, NCU General Manager (028 90 522664 / 07713512315)

Congratulations Ulster Schools.
Terrific performance against Southern Schools at Osborne Park. Special mention for Jay Hunter century in the 1st innings and another rousing performance to reach the target. Also, great performance from the bowlers and the other batsmen especially Matthew Foster.

Lovely to have the N.C.U. President join us on Monday evening down at Lurgan Park for our home game (Victoria) against Donaghadee.
And no drop in hello & goodbye visit, Mr Hiles stayed with us for the full 50 overs chatting cricket, meeting players, supporters and his welcome presence certainly brought us good luck, we won the match!!
Thank you Clarence, your visit, support and generosity was very much appreciated my all at our club, and of course you know there'll always be a cuppa for you anytime down at our pavillion!

We are trying raise £750 take MINIBUS and 12 boys and girls to Dumfries so anyone looking raffle tickets simply pm me or pay direct to J Maguire Ulster bank account number 20505280 sort code 98 04 20. And then I get writing your name on raffle tickets 4 super prizes .

Robinson Services Premier League 23rd June
Armagh v CSNI. Away Win.
Carrickfergus v North Down. Home Win.
CIYMS v Muckamore. Home Win.
Robinson Services League Section 1 23rd June
Cregagh v Laurelvale. Home Win
Downpatrick v Derriaghy. Home Win
Holywood v Bangor. Away Win
Lurgan v Lisburn. Away Win
Woodvale v Donacloney Mill. Home Win
There is a thing on Cricket Leinster TV where they would have 2-3 cameras at a
match and call it 'Game of the Day' if the NCU did something the same I would suggest the Middle Road for Carrick v North Down would be the destination for such an event. Hope they do this for the T20 Final and Challenge Cup final borrow 2 cameras and place them at the pavillion and other end to show of the skill in the NCU
Also to the Carrickfergus club my sympathies on the passing of Gordon Browne another one of the good people on this earth to leave us. It was a shock when I heard the reports he had collapsed on the field v Muckamore so sad
Anyway to everyone playing water well and to spectators water well and have the factor 50 ready as it is supposed to be scorchio weather andd safe travels to all. Some 3 months of the 2018 season so far with single figure abandonments/washouts in the league proper