Forum

Re Davy Menaul.

No rumour about Ralph Coetzee joining Muckamore. It's fact. He and Bryan Baguley have been friends since High School days back in Cape Town and had always vowed to play together in Northern Ireland. Also his best friend here in cricket is Wayne Horwood so the opportunity to play with his two best mates greatly influenced his decision to join us.

Although I think it would be fair to say that he was also influenced by the reports he was getting from Wayne and now Bryan about the enthusiasm and ability of the young players at Moylena.

He has also played with David Cardwell at Woodvale and knows of the quality of Brian Dunlop, Neil Gill, Jason Vde Merwe and Kamy our professional.

Despite recruiting three Premier League quality cricketers no one at Muckamore is shouting the odds on promotion. Leagues are won on the pitch not on paper or Forums as Wayne keeps reminding us. We have a plan to further develop the young talent with more intensified coaching, summer schools and a full programme of Secondary and Primary school coaching. The three new players will greatly help in making better players of the young players.

We have a hard working cricket committee headed by Andy Clement and a 1sts skipper in Andy McCulloch who will use his experience gained in the Lancashire Leagues to help develop a five year playing strategy.

These new players help strengthen all the teams in the club and as captain of the 3rds I can feel an increasing pressure to deliver some silverware.( from Mr Clement ). But it's better than being retired in what is 40 years since I joined Muckamore as a twelve year old. It is also 40 years since Muckamore shared the Senior League title with Waringstown under John McCormick's captaincy. John still plays an active hands on roll in coaching at the club and has been an inspiration to every player at the club for about half a century.

just put a posting on the "other" site about the Ulster Shield and I was looking forward to the bus run to Kesh for the 1st round only to discover that Nth. Fermanagh may have withdrawn. But really looking forward to the new season when the "serious" postings will start e.g. standard of pitches-v- money spent on "coaches", etc. Always remembering that this is a "forum" and the views posted are totally personal!

Sorry skipper, got carried away again!

Hope both Gerald & I get selected for the fixture at 'the lawn', he was telling me he only got 9 wkts.against Waringstown that 'day' in 1973 in the Creamline-cup!

Some guy called 'Harrison' was the only survivor that day and rumour has it he may be coming out of 'retirement' to renew aquaintences with Gerald, 37 yrs later!!!

And Gerald wants all 10 wkts this time!

Did i not see a post on the forum earlier grom Gilly saying Ralph has joined the Antrim men?

Was it a hoax Gilly?

Vic,you need to calm down do you not think there will be enough Captains on the 3rd team ?? with Mr Johnston and all ,i hope he behaves himself the day that he returns to The Lawn !! if selected of course
As for Ireland beating Scotland big deal they are not really world beaters now are they ?????

With all due respect Neil, I think there is a general acceptance that half the teams in the Premier League wouldn't be described as 'good' so I don't know how there are any in Section 1?

Ireland have just blew away 'auld enemy' Scotland and have qualified for the super 4, 20/20's.

Destroyers in chief, fast bowlers Peter Connell and Trent Jonston ! ! !

Not forgetting Andrew White joint top scorer with the bat, brilliant stuff!

"Whose the daddy" Did some-one say the name, 'Vic Jons' ?????

Your rite Lurgan Scout?? But I'm too much of a 'maverick'! They would'nt even give me the captainacy of our new third team!!!!

I dont make my comments lightly about the start of Irelands demise.....McCallan, Bray and Langford Smith, Morgan gone, TJ and Botha cant go on forever. Coupled with the injuries to West and the continued injury problems suffered by Rankin.

Hopefully im proved wrong!

Rodney did i see your name in the local rag in regards to your football abilities? Rumour has it that you attended training twice in one week in Newcastle which in total added up to more attendances than at Dundrum CC for the whole season.

Apologies folks, I actually didn't realise that about Cronje. He's the first name that sprang to mind regarding the old book making.

Gordy, glad to see you are keeping a keen eye on the forums! Not too long before the season starts, competition for places hotting up. If we signed enough players that meant I had to play second team cricket then that can only improve the club. After all, there's no I in team.

R

Vic maybe you should take over as captain of Ireland and forget about that Victorian blood running through your veins.

Ireland just crushed U.S.A. there in the 20/20, and who did the damage ? Peter Connell 4 for 20 opening quick bowler,brought back in for the game.

Like I say, "There ain't too much I don't know about cricket,particularly the bowling"!!

And well done Andrew White 4 overs for only a few as well. Great stuff.

We're back on track!!!

Would'nt say that just yet, now Ryan!

Don't want to sound like a 'big-head',but I know a thing or two about bowling and Ireland will struggle without their quick bowlers,especially in the shortest form of the game.

I'm on record as saying they may get beat, until Boyd & Co. are available again, but as I've said, I know a thing or two about cricket,and certainly about bowling, that's for sure!

rodney i might be no jonty rhodes but my hands are as good as the majority of the 1st team as you would see if you attended practise.as for mr cronje i dont like to speak ill of the dead.if the club does sign any new players you could be playing in the 2nds for me and if you get another duck like the last time you played for us i will put you in at no.8 and see how you go from there.

Another shock defeat for Ireland at the hands of the Afgans....

Are we seeing the beginning of the demise of Ireland as the leading associate nation?