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If our local weather could be likened to the proverbial motorcar, I'd do a Basil Faulty, break a branch of a nearby tree and give the thing a dam good flogging?

August must have been one of the wettest on record, but of course now that the schools are back and the cricket season is almost complete, we get fine, sunny weather, typical?

Ah well, still, it was enjoyable and great fun, good stuff N.C.U. and lets hope Waringstown can put the icing on the cake by bringing the cup home, 'come on the lads ' !!

The Twelfth Man (by Aussie poet Max Fatchen)

I'm ALWAYS twelfth man

though I do what I can
But somehow they never can see
That my spinners have turn
And I'm willing to learn.
It's strange that they never choose me.

I've taken a catch
In a very hard match.
I'm loudest when making appeals.
I think it a shame
As the hope of the game
I'm simply left kicking my heels.

You can always rely
That I'll save the leg bye.
I'm a player as cool as a cat.
Do you know what they DID,
Picked another daft kid,
Because of his quality bat?

So when I'm a star
Where the Test matches are,
The bowlers will tremble and pray,
WHAT, someone has mumps?
Oh bring out the stumps.
Hurray, I'll be playing today!

Well done to Lurgan Ladies on their win v North Down Ladies on Sunday at Pollock Park in Lurgan, a great advert for the Ladies game seeing a Final as tight as it was. Lurgan are now 1 match away from the clean sweep in 2017 and irony of ironys it is v North Down again.

I followed the match online via tweets from David Holmes and some good pictures to of the match on twitter and the Cricket Europe Northern Section

Thanks to the Northern Cricket Union in particular to Wylie McKinty on the updates on the Womens Div 1 matches, it is a shame to see Armagh being removed from the table and fixtures and amount of walkovers is probably down to rain refixes rather than unavailabilty of players on this date.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE-

Please be advised that the date for he Minor (Lindsay) Cup Final is now Sunday 27th August and not Saturday 26th August as stated on the earlier Press Release.

Premier League
CSNI v Carrickfergus AWAY WIN
Muckamore v Instonians AWAY WIN
North Down v CIYMS AWAY WIN
Waringstown v Lisburn HOME WIN

League Section 1
Academy v Downpatrick AWAY WIN
Bangor v Cliftonville HOME WIN
Derriaghy v Donacloney AWAY WIN
Holywood v Armagh AWAY WIN
Lurgan v Woodvale AWAY WIN

Thanks to Wylie McKinty for the info re Womens Cup Final and news about 1st Division will be looking forward to it. Lurgan will be favs but North Down will be cock a hoop after 2 league wins. To all involved on Sunday have a good match and safe travels to all.

Editior I'm not a bookie but like to tip up matches to have a bit of interest

The NCU Minor (Lindsay) Cup Final, sponsored by Cleaver Black, postponed last Saturday takes place between Muckamore Fourths and Laurelvale Seconds, at Ballygomartin Road, Belfast, Woodvale Cricket Club, on Saturday 26th August (12 noon start). This competition is open to teams playing in Junior Leagues 4, 5 and 6 of the Northern Cricket Union.
Philip Black of the cup sponsors said, ‘Cleaver Black are delighted to be involved with this cup, and wish both sides every success in the Final.’
The trophy and ‘Man of the Match’ award will be presented by a Northern Cricket Union official and the sponsor at the conclusion of the game.
The Road to the Minor (Lindsay) Cup Final
Muckamore Fourths, of Junior League 5, had comprehensive victories in the first two rounds of the competition, defeating Lurgan Seconds by 8 wickets and Ballymena Thirds by 9 wickets. In the Third Round Muckamore overcame Instonians Fourth's, before a tense three run victory against North Down Thirds in the semi-final.
After receiving a bye in the First Round Laurelvale Seconds, of Junior League 4, progressed to the final losing only four wickets. They defeated Derriaghy Thirds by 8 wickets in the Second Round, Newforge Seconds by 10 wickets in the Third Round, and Cliftonville Seconds by 8 wickets in the semi-final.
Supporters from the participating clubs, and all other cricket followers from across the Northern Cricket Union and beyond will be warmly welcomed to Woodvale Cricket Club.

Dundrum and Cooke Collegians attain The Northern Cricket Union Emerging Accreditation Scheme

On the back of the Cricket Ireland (CI) Clubmark Accrediation Scheme that all sporting clubs seek to achieve around Northern Ireland, the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) have designed an Emerging Accreditation Scheme which enables cricket clubs within the NCU to have a clear plan in achieving the CI Clubmark Accreditation Scheme. The Emerging Accreditation Scheme ensures that cricket clubs create and live by the appropriate documents (such as Club Constitution, Safeguarding, Risk Assessment etc) necessary to function as a progressive cricket club.

Dundrum Cricket Club and Cooke Collegians Cricket Club are inspiring examples of clubs in the NCU who have attained the Emerging Accreditation Scheme and are now aspiring to achieve the Cricket Ireland Clubmark Accrediation Scheme.

Dundrum Cricket Club is doing great work around the South Down area promoting the game in primary schools and working alongside the NCU staff in making their club safer and more attractive to new junior and senior members. Stephen Calvert and his committee have worked hard during the spring months to complete the Emerging Accreditation Scheme. Stephen said,’The biggest challenge in completing the Emerging Accreditation was taking the first step. We formed a small sub group of three from our committee with each person taking responsibility for a number of the set criteria. We had two preparation meetings at which we reviewed our progress and then met with one of the NCU Development Staff, our very helpful nominated NCU contact, to get feedback on our application. This proved to be very useful along with the templates available from the NCU website. We kept our main committee informed throughout the process and now look forward to embarking on the Cricket Ireland Clubmark Accreditation Scheme. The plan is to work on this during the long winter months’.

Another club that have faced challenges during the past winter is Cooke Collegians, however they have reacted in a positive fashion and harbour greater ambitions to continue to improve their club. Cooke Collegians have recently moved from Shaw’s Bridge to Fullerton Park in Dunmurry. Cooke Collegians Chairman, Trevor Lennon said, ‘Having found ourselves without a 'home base' last winter the opportunity to undertake the 'Emerging' Accreditation Scheme came at a perfect time for us. It has helped us to re-evaluate and refocus who we are as a club and where we want to go and, at the same time, put correct structures, policies and systems in place. In doing so, it has re-energised our committee and demonstrated to us the importance of collective responsibly. We are extremely proud to have achieved this.’

Any cricket clubs interested in Emerging Accreditation Scheme, are invited to contact:
Nigel Jones, Cricket Ireland’s Regional Development Officer in the Northern Cricket Union on (M) 078 7941 6121 (e)

Keith

AJG Women's Challenge Cup Final between Lurgan and North Down takes place this Sunday 27th August at Pollock Park, Lurgan starting at 12noon.

Not much information sent to me about Division 1 of the Women's league.

Premier League
19th August
CIYMS v Lisburn Home Win
CSNI v Muckamore Away Win
Instonians v North Down Away Win
Waringstown v Carrickfergus Home Win

20th August
CIYMS v North Down and CSNI v Instonians will predict matches after Saturdays encounters

League Section 1
19th August
Academy v Derriaghy Away Win
Armagh v Donacloney Mill Home Win
Downpatrick v Woodvale Away Win
Holywood v Bangor Home Win
Lurgan v Cliftonville Home Win

My commiserations to Carrickfergus 2nds on the losing of the Cup Final due to a player iregularity therfore handing the Cup to Donacloney Mill 2nds, a hard pill to swallow. 2 good sides in the region and praise to both on how the situation was handled.

Also does anyone know when the Ladies Cup Final between Lurgan and North Down will be played and looking at Ladies Lge Div 1 Armagh still has not played a match will they or have they withdrawn thanks

There's an odd ground here where the trees or foliage overhang the boundary, Lurgan Park an example, though none comparable to Kent C.C. and their ground St. Lawrence. As there until recently, a two hundred year old lime tree grew in which the playing are was originally built around.

It has since in recent times been removed as it developed 'heart rot' a fungal disease that caused it eventual demise, point is though, they never cut it down or attempted to remove it in all that time previous!

I wonder why not?

The Fairy Tree

Alone it stood in midst of field
legend goes, since days of yore,
a hawthorne tree, where fairies,
dance in symphony,
according to local folklore

But there came a day, sad to say
the old Squire passed away,
and with his demise,
town council's advise,
the tree must be go, it's in the way

As John DeLorean had factory plans
to build upon the land,
but against such folly, O' by golly
in life, the Squire had fought,
to stall and scupper his master plan

The wheels of industry plundered on
as is oft the case,
and heavy plant, did supplant
the airy fairy's hawthorne tree,
despatched without trace

But what Mr DeLorean didn't know
unlike the Squire himself,
bad luck for life, trouble and strife
to uproot the Fairy's sacred tree,
and so they summoned up a vengeful elf

Who cast a nasty spell upon tycoon and car
their future it went back,
no hurry in Dunmurry, ten years passed
before production, aoon bankruptcy
and later arrest for trafficking 'crack'

So, if e'er you come across the hawthorne
be mindful of its mystical aura,
cut yourself a stick, careful, don't get a prick
then please, leave well alone,
for it is sacrosanct and sacred to fauna and flora!

http://www.yourirish.com/folklore/irish-fairy-trees

Interested to see that a premier league club has announced recruitment of a player and that it will provide a "hugh moral boost to the club"!

Let's limit the damage to a Whistle Blower!
We know what is fair and not fair and Donaghcloney Mill has already said it has little merit in the circumstances as Carrick won in a fair and sporting game. Why don't they return the trophy to Carrick and shame the whistle blower?
OK, rules are there, but in this instance they are pedantic and serve to real purpose. There have been similar examples in the past, but each has to be carefully assessed. The NCU rules make this difficult, but it is not impossible if all the parties agree.

Northern Cricket Union 2017 - Minor (Lindsay) Cup Final
The NCU Minor (Lindsay) Cup Final, sponsored by Cleaver Black, takes place between Muckamore Fourths and Laurelvale Seconds, at Ballygomartin Road, Belfast, Woodvale Cricket Club, on Saturday 19th August (12 noon start). This competition is open to teams playing in Junior Leagues 4, 5 and 6 of the Northern Cricket Union.
Philip Black of the cup sponsors said, ‘Cleaver Black are delighted to be involved with this cup, and wish both sides every success in the Final.’
The trophy and ‘Man of the Match’ award will be presented by a Northern Cricket Union official and the sponsor at the conclusion of the game.
The Road to the Minor (Lindsay) Cup Final
Muckamore Fourths, of Junior League 5, had comprehensive victories in the first two rounds of the competition, defeating Lurgan Seconds by 8 wickets and Ballymena Thirds by 9 wickets. In the Third Round Muckamore overcame Instonians Fourth's, before a tense three run victory against North Down Thirds in the semi-final.
After receiving a bye in the First Round Laurelvale Seconds, of Junior League 4, progressed to the final losing only four wickets. They defeated Derriaghy Thirds by 8 wickets in the Second Round, Newforge Seconds by 10 wickets in the Third Round, and Cliftonville Seconds by 8 wickets in the semi-final.
Supporters from the participating clubs, and all other cricket followers from across the Northern Cricket Union and beyond will be warmly welcomed to Woodvale Cricket Club.

Northern Cricket Union 2017 - Minor Qualifying Cup Final
The NCU Minor Qualifying Cup Final takes place between Donaghcloney Mill Thirds and Laurelvale Thirds, at Laurelvale Cricket Club, on Saturday 19th August (12 noon start). This competition is open to teams playing in Junior Leagues 7 and 8 of the Northern Cricket Union.
The trophy and ‘Man of the Match’ award will be presented by a Northern Cricket Union official at the conclusion of the game.
The Road to the Minor Qualifying Cup Final
Both teams received byes in the first round of the competition.
Donaghcloney Mill, of Junior League 7, defeated Saintfield Thirds by 9 wickets in the Second Round, and received a walkover against Ards Seconds in the Third Round. A convincing 60 run win over Lisburn Fourths followed in the semi-final.
Laurelvale Thirds, of Junior League 7, defeated Instonians Fifth's by 15 runs in the Second Round, followed by comprehensive victories over North Down Fourths (by 10 wickets), and CIYMS Fifth's (by 9 wickets).
Supporters from the participating clubs, and all other cricket followers from across the Northern Cricket Union and beyond will be warmly welcomed to Laurelvale Cricket Club.

So I got the North Down result wrong but knew that Waringstown would win the day. Looking at the 2 semi-finals this Sunday it looks like Waringstown and Clontarf will contest the Final as you just dont know what Bready will turn up and Cork County dominate Munster but a whole differant story outside of Munster.

PS thanks to Mr C Boomer on his comments, my mam read the comment and said not to give me a bigger head than it is. Will post my tips for Satuday soon

I accept entirely that the rule was contravened. I also remember a similar situation at Derriaghy a few seasons ago that led to relegation.