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Maybe see you in there today Greg at Pollock Pk.

I was filling in my player profile questionnaire last nite for our web-site,the bit about nick-names was interesting?

Mine is pretty obvious but what's yours?

Let me help you! 'The trundler', 'The very slow bowler', any of those would do,but what about; "King of the Ducks".

You certainly rule the pond when it comes to them boy!!!!

Strange everyone would talk up Saintfields youth after signing up the 'evergreen' Bumper Dale!

re Gareth.

You should put your concerns to BCC and you will get an official response Im sure.

Yes Vic, certainly something happening @ Pollock Park this Sat. The square is cut ,summer seats are out,side screens are in position yes looks like there going to be some cricket this weekend or maybe someone is just signing autographs ?? who knows !!! and BTW Lurgan Park isn't looking to bad either !!!

Lurgan v Ballymena is on at Pollock Park tomorrow starting at 2pm

Pre-season games.

I believe Lurgan are playing at home to Ballymena tomorrow starting around 2pm,maybe Neil or someone from either club could confirm?

Would'nt mind getting in to see that match as the weather is to be pretty warm! (At last!!)

assistant Ed. - I understand Muckamore are heading to Eglinton on Sunday. Floosie's away to the city to get the sunblock!

re Gareth Evans - I posted on this subject a couple of years ago and others recalled the number of Council pitches that existed in and around Belfast in the 70s & 80s e.g Cherryvale & Inverary Avenue to mention two. I was attending a dinner in the Ballygomartin area when the subject was raised with a local councillor and his comment at the time was that there was not the demand for cricket pitches vis-a-vis other sports.

With the recent comments about Mallusk, I would like to know what BCC are doing about increasing the number of Council pitches in the Belfast/Greater Belfast area. BCC are supposed to be laying an artificial wicket at the Grove playing fields but there is still no sign of it.BCC pitches are the lifeblood of club 3rd and 4th XIs and we need more of them pronto!

Re Jay

I would like to back Neil Hunter is respect of the ground / cricket square at Mallusk. BCC have been investing in its maintenance and there maybe further investment shortly! I have seen some shocking council grounds yet this is not one.

It would be good if we could get details of pre-season matches arranged for this weekend, I'll start...

Sat North Down v Bready
Sun North Down v Brigade

Re Jay's comments on Mallusk

Jay,

I chair the NCU's grounds committee. Unless you can substantiate your claims regarding Mallusk dont put them in print.

I have all the umpires reports last year on Mallusk and I can assure you that the ground and the work that Belfast Council and Cliftonville have done on it has brought the standard of this ground to a high level.

I was actually on the ground yesterday with Tom Flintoff, who is an ex county groundsman of Durham and who the NCU bring over to inspect grounds.

He was pleased with what he saw at Mallusk, especailly as it is a council ground.

So please dont print utter rubbish about what I can only assume is something you have no knowledge about.

after reading a comment the other day i would like to post an opinion on section 1 league this year

1)Bangor came down will be hard to beat

2)Muckamore will go up but could be hindered by playing first few games away from home.

3)Woodvale may just mis out due to muckamore signing players

4)Derriaghy could push but will probably miss out could be higher depending on how good pro is.

5)Saintfield lovely ground good youth as stated before should be mid table

6)Cliftonville definately will stay up getting pro and new facilities should nto go down

7)Holywood will not be relegated far from it but dont see them challenging for league

8-9)Armagh i think will have enough batting in their line up not to sure if their bowling is up to much. Dundrum missing players at start of season will be difficult season may prove a few wrong

10) Laurelvale after losing wayne pearson to psni and bruce topping to lisburn who i believe quote if wrong scored majority of runs last year batting will be a hard battle all year bowling fine but on a batting track at the vale any team with a batting professional should enjoy a gr8 batting track.

only my opinion no offence. any1 else have predictions

Re Mallusk

I was at Mallusk a few times last year and was very impressed with the ground and pitches as a whole apart from 1 occasion which was more to do with the bad weather than lack of preparation. Cliftonville should be given some credit regarding all the work they've done to the ground, it can't be easy for them after what they've went through the last couple of years

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