Forum

Re the runner.

I'm not sure that the decision to not allow a runner is against the spirit of cricket, in fact it surely wouldn't be allowed by the umpires given that although it hurts really badly (as if I have ever batted long enough to get it), I would doubt it could be classed as an injury gained in the match. Perhaps Graham could steer clear of the 'braai' and give himself a better chance of getting through the innings!

interesting result in the ICC tonight. Can't wait to see the Daily Mail in the morning!! It was a poor wicket but the NZ openers didn't seem to have any problems.
Also has anyone any thoughts on the spat in the S.A. -v- England game when Smith wasn't allowed a runner - "spirit of cricket"?

Great to see my oldest mate in cricket Brian 'B.A.' Anderson make his seasonal debut on the last day of the season after his horrific arm break.
Helped Cliftonville 2's avoid relegation by chipping in with a couple of wickets in a 9 wicket win over Downpatrick. Welcome back 'Ginge'

frank smith. i belive if csni had not played so bad in the 1st half of the season they would have blown away every other team in the league!

The 2010 cricket season has come early to Saintfield - for those who may be playing there next season please view www.ellistonsport.com/saintfieldcc.

AN EARLY TEA WILL BE TAKEN FOLLOWED BY AN UMPIRES INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF PLAY IS POSSIBLE BEFORE SEPTEMBER

Bumperdale...

It's an interesting point you make, to me the premier league could have been won by anybody this year from the top 3 or 4 clubs!

If you look at the results...

north down beat waringstown twice..
i.e. north down better side?

instonians beat north down league and cup... i.e instonians better side?

waringstown beat instonians twice comfortably... i.e waringstown better side?? lol

then throw in CSNI who beat north down and waringstown!!

outcome.. title shared between instonians and waringstown!!

I suspect the winter/transfer season to throw up a few things. who knows who will be where come april 2010!!

interesting...

Back to cricket!
What an incredible year for the mighty Instonians. Here is a team with real backbone, several star players and a youth system which will continue to deliver quality players.
In 2000 I played in the Cup final with N.Down and boldly predicted that they would dominate NCU for at least the next decade.
Didn't play in the 2009 final (sore point) but who is to say that Instonians will not dominate the second decade.
I'm sure that will bring a few comments. If not Inst then who????

steven, cant see even credit cruch that they be going mad get too PRIMARK for shoe bargains . Someone said too me a local pro is what we need as they have FREE caravan for wives an summer holiday down at dundrum bay an the mourne mountains might be enough too get PREMIER player but i do agree scorer ,umpires , groundsmen and club stalwarts money cant replace and hope they never will. ps anyone think the ncu dinner is far too close too club dinners and overpriced at 25£ ??,my idea would be ncu dinner 1st week in november possible 10£ roast beef/ham salad hot cold buffet (top table invited speakers different menu/ meal) but get back too basics with 90% would rather have longer too talk too other clubs players an have the craic than wasting half the night with 3/4 course meal ?pps will everyone miss staffy ? i hope he still posts as he talks a good bit sense most the time!

Jeff :

Judith has cost me a fortune in Smirnoff Ice's!!!

Unfortunately Judith has decided to hang up her coloured pens, she will be a big loss, as scoring along with umpiring is a thankless task.

However Jeff, I think her retirement will cost me even more money as she will more than likely be dragging my better half out with her shoe shopping!!!

Mr. Catterson raises a well-made point and it hasn't only been in the past 3 years that the situation existed although the weather has highlighted the problem. There was always the scenario that the league was decided after the pros left in early September and the vital games were "us against them". Slightly changed now by the number of friends of friends of etc. who stay a wee while longer. (Of course they don't leave!) The 8 team league is the answer but a turkey isn't gonna vote for Christmas. On a separate issue Mr. Hiles - listening to Daniel O' Doodle? And Jimmy Boyce -I am reliably informed by Flossie - & Hazel spotted at the Cliff Richard concert! I always thought you guys were older than me - now I know! And Boyce is a closet Engelbert fan as well. By the way, if this is the same Mr. Catterson I was really pleased to see Bob at Gibson Park last Sunday and looking so well.

The recent comments about docking points off teams that do not fulfill fixtures is, I believe, trying to treat the symptom and not the cause of the problem.

Some clubs including my own ,Cregagh, are trying to play one quarter or more of their season in 3 weeks in September which is a challenge for any club (at any time of the year).The number of forfeits ,including an increasing number of 2nd XIs in both 2/1 and 2/2, is a concern and has lead to some promotion and relegation issues being settled because of them. This cannot be right.

I believe that it highlights two issues.First that we do not have enough senior players in the NCU for the number of teams/games that we are trying to play hence the number of players who have to double up across more than one team each weekend to get a side out.Take a look at the increasing number of scheduled Sunday games in the fixture book as clubs try to choreograph their resources. This manifests itself in September when players move to school/winter sports.Second,the number of scheduled league games and current re-arrangement rules below Divsion 1 Section 1 need to change. My and my clubs view ,in our recent response to the NCU questionaire, is that we need to move to 8 team leagues as a means of dealing with these problems.With the weather over the past three seasons and the social changes over the past 20 years (where career and family commitments mean that some players will not commit to c 20 games per season)the reduced number of games will hopefully remove this end of season mess, retain/attract senior players and increase the chance of scheduled games and re-arrangements being completed by early September.

Hi folks,
I was listening to Daniel O'Donnell and reading through some old press cuttings about the senior cup 100 years ago and thought I'd breeze into the UC website before I went to bed. I wish I hadn't!
Let's end the forum baiting if that's what is happening. "Crossing the line' obviously means different things to different people but we don't want postings to be personal. Forums generate open debate and some straight talking and believe it or not quite often some of the anonymous postings are accurate even if the information is not palatable in some quarters.
Time to go to bed for the winter.

roger etc. i am not sure of final league table in junior one. the main point i make is that teams should be docked points for not turning out. i know it is hard at the end of the season with football, rugby, hockey, schools and uni back and interest maybe gone but with the season we have had there are a lot of fixtures to be played and teams should make the effort to play. if there was a 4 point deduction could carrick have got relegated by not fielding a team based on last years performance? i know that is hypothetical as lurgan would have been docked 4 the week before but i think if there was a risk like that then just perhaps a few people might have kept the whites out of the roofspace for one weekend longer?

first transfer news dundrum have been tapping up CIYMS j hewitt & before hughsey gets cross its JUDITH NOT JOHNNY we after as the word is shes retiring from marking the book .she bound be cheaper than ted as he is sponsored by BUSHMILLS .

Vic

A Paul Stafford return would be more popular with opposing Premier league batsmen than with me.

Lurgan couldn't win at the Mallusk Oval this year against our poor shawdow of Cliftonville's past,so unless they start a major recruitment drive we'll be seeing them again pretty soon.

The gulf between the top two sections is widening year on year. Some clubs need two or three good Pros just to survive.