Forum

Gerry,
Here Here, glad someone agrees with me! Apparrantly Rick Ponting didn't want to win the Ashes 'cos the pictures of his face spread all over the cricketing world with cold sores would shatter his hard man image....

REF:VIC JONS
Have to disagree with you England were brilliant in the last test and the Aussies did take one hell of a beating [they did,t like it !]
and they should beat Ireland quite easily on thursday , Broad is turning into the next Beefy Botham , Well done England

ok robin bet on + you will get unlike taito. + see you some wher on sat have too mark book but looking for early start + finish then pop over too see finish + instonians lift cup + my 20£, ps EDITOR with all the rain + more to come what happens if off sat ? possible switch comber or anywher? anyone for stormont thurs WAYNE think might have few tips so look out for me

Now Vic, there's no point in bringing back bad memories for us. We've just got over that 2007 tour. Anyway, next time you're visiting a ground in NCU where the teas and hospitality are so good, you may find something alien in your sarnies......lol. I hope Ireland do well against England for the sake of local cricket and show those North-Westers or is it (Sour)westers, with rain forecast, that we have real cricket grounds in this part of Norn Iron and not just bowling greens.

Ref English Contin'ent NCU
Yes it was good to see England win back the ashes,but I don't think it was a "hell of a beating" as you suggest!
Lets see if they can retain them when both teams meet in the return fixture out in Australia.
Reminds me of 2005 but the following year in Australia, poor old England did take a "hell of a beating" !

And with a bit of good luck, we will spoil their party on Thursday @ Stormount.
Hope the drainage is good down there as it gives a pile of rain for Tues.nite/Wed.morning,although Thursday is to be dry. Come on Ireland.

jeff

bet struck even 20 on ndcc see you on saturday hopefully

Andy - it is great to see nipper out playing and helping out the youngsters at Woodvale. They will learn a lot from him

re Wayne Horwood & Alan Rutherford - the wee man was still at it on Saturday i the Minor Cup final helping a very young Woodvale (apart from Les Irwin & himself!) to a fine win - a determined performance from the whole team. And Ballymena contributed to a really enjoyable game.

i think there is no doubt that the top 4 in the NCU and the nor west are fairly similar in standard. North west sides have a better record recently in the irish senior cup and donemana on their day can beat anyone especially at home. I have to think tough that the premier league in general in the NCU is stronger than the north west senior league. The bottom half on the north west league would be nowhere near as strong as the bottom half of the NCu premier league.

I would also like to say we were well beaten by cooke collegians yesterday, the better side on the day won, no excuses and i would like to wish them all the best for the rest of the season and next year. There certainly is some promise there and as a few of their guys said to me yesterday they finally got a bit of luck.

promotion isnt over yet but it would be nice to know just in case what the net run rates are in our league

Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Dennis Lillie, Donald Bradman, John Howard, Greg Norman, Ian Thorpe, Rolf Harris, Jason, Kylie, Ned Kelly and Crocodile Dundee - your boys took one hell of a beating....

Staffy I read your article on the other channel and I actually agree with most of it! It is hard in a one off cup comp to measure the relative strengths of respective leagues. What is clear though is the NCU is getting stronger albeit the only way that can truely be evidenced is performances in the Irish Cup and certainly there is more emphasis on that cup now.
Some form of new league needs formed incorporating a champions league type scenario so the top clubs in each union get a higher standard of cricket. This can only help Ireland albeit it does risk making strong clubs stronger and weakening other clubs. An 8 team league would facilitate the playing of another comp potentially in this sort of format. We do need a new climate though!!

I played a match yesterday for CSN 2s against N Down 2s and realised that I had played through a number of generations of very good cricketers. Over the last 12-15 years I thought I would pick a team from the NCU that I would regard as the toughest players to play against and some of the best to watch

Andrew White - I first played against Whitey when he was a young lad in Ards. In the early part of the 2000s when Whitey played a lot more club cricket in the NCU he was truly destructive. 1000 runs and 35 wickets in a season in 2003 says it all.

Stephen Warke - I am a bit biased as I had the pleasure of playing with Stephen for a couple of years at Woodvale albeit near the end of his career. Sheer class and as much time to play a ball as anyone I have seen. A legend at Woodvale and just ask anyone about the 98 cup final and you will hear about Warkey’s ton.

David Kennedy - took Ballymena to an amazing league win in 98. Every time I seemed to play against him he scored runs and in 5 or 6 years at the Green he probably scored a few thousand runs averaging about 50. The 2004 cup final with a ton and a fifty against Harlequins was an awesome display. As Raymond Moreland keeps reminding me he can also turn the arm over.

Andy Patterson - What an awesome player in full flight. Moving his feet and hitting the ball straight, pulling, elegant cover drives. Genuinely class player. I did not play a lot of league cricket against him but saw quite a bit of him in Irish Unis/Irish Development games.

Ryan Haire - his sheer weight of runs over the last 10 years make leaving him out impossible. A man for the big occasssion and has probably scored more 100s against CSN/Quins/North than any other club. Takes games away from you.

Derek Heasley - He just seems to get better and better. Fantastic eye, hard hitting and scored a 146 not out against Harlequins in 2004 that was probably the best hundreds ever played in the league. Chasing 214 Derek got the winning runs off the last ball with 2 wickets in hand. Next highest score 11. Awesome! Always took wickets and bowled well at the death.

Kyle McCallan - There is nothing I can say about Kyle that has not been said already. I have played against him since Under 15s and his drive and determination are a fantastic example for all kids nowadays. Smartest cricketer of his generation with bat and ball and you know you are in a game playing against him.

Allen Rutherford - this was a tight call. Again played with him and against him. As tough a cricketer as there was You would want him in your side in a tough battle and could win matches standing up as a keeper. Some awesome stumpings (particularly leg side) and never gave his wicket away. Played a couple of outstanding innings. None more so than against North Down at Comber in the quarter final of the cup in 1999.

Ryan Eagleson - Like Kyle I have played against him since Under 15s. Has tormented me for 20 years now and is without a doubt the best swing bowler the NCU has seen in the last 15 years. Has held Carrick together with bat and ball and it is a shame back injuries hindered his stint in England.

Mark Patterson - the third of the Cliftonville brigade of the 90s. Would run through walls to get a wicket and as fierce a competitor as there was. Bowled with real venom and attitude. Played a game with him last year for the MCC and still a top bowler.

Michael McCord - with 2 spinners in already this was a real toss up and depends on conditions. My other choice was Adrian McCoubrey who bowled with real heat and again was a tough competitor. Banty is a legend though in Bangor and his 35 wickets in 2004 helped Bangor to an amazing league win. Could still take 35-40 wickets a year and a massive loss to Bangor.
There were a number of players I could slot into that team comfortably. Jim Patterson, Garfield Harrison, Uel Graham, Peter Shields, Johnny Bushe, Ross McCollum, Robin Haire.

There are some other top club players (Non internationals) that over the years have been fantastic competitors that could make a good side. Gareth Morrison, Michael Scott, John Stevenson, Mark Hutchinson (1 cap I think), Geoffrey Ferguson, Simon Harrison, Richard Warnock, Jeremy Stewart, Gary Hunter, Marty Moreland, Billy Adams, Johnny Hewitt and yes, I have to say it, Bumper Dale.

Certainly some good players and I have probably missed a few. You will note I have left out non NI born players such as Eugene, Coops, Westy etc.

Seem to recall Waringstown bringing a Barrister to the NCU meeting to decide the league over Connellgate.

Hey James - how do you know when you're on a plane full of Derry wans - the engines switch off and you can still hear the whining!! Funny enough the Ulster Shield final was between 2 NCU sides - maybe the problem arises when the majority of North-West sides have to play on the big grounds in the NCU!

Great stuff James. I thought you were a nutcase but you're not. You are a comedian!
Only one part of your act that needs adjusted. No NCU leagues have been decided in the law courts. Otherwise the rest of your material is hilarious.
Dare I say entertaining?