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still very confused and what a mess! Is an official statement coming any time soon as Rodger said it would yesterday?

Somehow i dont see this being the end of things!

Re Brucie Topping

IS the only reason you want the new league changes brought into effect next year because Laurelvale finished 4th!!! From what i have seen of section two, and that is quite a lot, you were not the 4th best team in that league. If it wasn't for teams playing totally understrength teams towards the end of the season as the games to them were meaningless, you would surely have been in the bottom half. I would bet my mortgage that you will not be concerning any of the top 4 spots next year as your team is not strong enough.

Folks

I'd just like to make a brief statement surrounding the section 2 relegation topic.
Firstly the NCU requested that both Saintfield and Dundrum submitted their books for further analysis as the run rates based on scorecards submitted for both teams were very very close.

Secondly if Dundrum made a mistake in their book / scorecard throughout the season then surely they would be at a disadvantage as they based their fight for survival around an invalid target even if the true target was a few runs less. Against Armagh when we didn't bowl them out below the target that we thought was correct a couple of my teammates wanted me to throw the ball to a few of the younger lads but I chose not too incase the figures turned out to be wrong - which they were.

Moreover, as Saintfield did not play on Sunday the result / relegation was beyond their control and it didn't change the fact that Dundrum were in control of their own destiny.

By no means are we over the moon at seeing Saintfield relegated esepcially in the way that it has happened. We have many friends at Saintfield and enjoy the local derbies and craic off the pitch and if their relegation is confirmed then I think it will be a blow for cricket in south down.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NCU FOR THEIR MOST RECENT COCK UP PUTTING THE ICING ON THE CAKE OF THE WORST SEASON EVER. SAINTFIELD RELEGATED BECAUSE OF A SCOREBOOK ERROR BY SOMEONE ELSE.
AS IVAN SAYS AT WHICH POINT NOW IS A CRICKET SEASON ACTUALLY OVER....DECEMEBER. I'M SURE RIGHT NOW DERRIAGHY WILL BE CHECKING THROUGH THEIR SCOREBOOKS IN ORDER TO TRY AND SAVE THEMSELVES FROM RELEGATION AS WELL.
SO MUCH FOR MICHAEL TAYLOR AND HIS EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF THE RUN RATES.
I FIND THINGS WHOLE THING INCREDIBLE AS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THE 2 CAPTAINS AND UMPIRES SIGN OFF ON THE SCORECARDS AT THE END OF THE GAME. MEANING THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THE RESULT. OR ARE THE NCU GOINA HIT ANOTHER CLUB WITH THIS CAPTAINS RESPONSIBILTY NONSENSE.

RE STUART HEGARTY, THOUGHT YOUR POSTING ABOUT CSNI WAS FOOLISH AND VERY TWO FACED CONSIDERING THAT ONLY TWO YEARS AGO YOU WERE PAYING THREE SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYERS....TO COACH OF COURSE.

RE CHRIS BUSBY, I THINK YOU WILL FIND THE GAP BETWEEN ALL THE LEAGUES IS VAST AS LAST TIME I CHECKED COOKE AND DUNMURRY WERE VERY POOR LAST TIME THEY WERE IN SECTION 2, SINCE THEN THEY HAVE BOTH LOST THIR BEST PLAYER, YET THEY BOTH GOT PROMOTED AGAIN EASILY ENOUGH.

RE: Stuart Heggarty

I wasnt sure how I felt about the whole CSNI / ND situ, but I think I have to agree with Stuart's comments. They were 16 minutes over and were over 3 hours before this season. The rule is there and should be obeyed. Most other teams can manage to get an innings complete within 3 hours so the 3 hour limit is obviously the right amount of time. Harsh on CSNI to lose the league over it but at least it gives us scandal to discuss on the forum!! Throw in Saintfield and Dundrum and we are set for the winter!! So far I dont think the NCU can be blamed for either of this situations. However, Will they be tempted to deduct Dundrum a point for not submiting correct scorecards?!?! (I assume it is Dundrum's error if Saintfield were correct as confirmed by Noel) - what's the rule on that (sorry being mischievous here!!)

saintfield relegated!!! yet another twist in this mad season. Anyone from saintfield want to comment on this, what errors were made? In the games that there were errors was the opposition scorebook also checked?

Im sure the dundrum boys are over the moon

Ivan,
Saintfield's scorebook and result forms for the season were fully completed and correct.
Noel McCarey

Why wait a season to implement the league structures?
Make the changes for next season and avoid meaningless matches.
I dont think the league finishing positions this season would have been any different even if the clubs had known about the proposed changes in advance.

Re Section 2

I'm astonished that it could be the case that Saintfield have now been relegated despite the consensus that they where safe- is this confirmed? Not too sure about the meaningless cricket jibe though Ivan- with only the top 4 qualifying next year (if the proposed changes go through) I would hope that there is enough talent in Section 3 to give these teams a run for their money- the difference between the leagues may not just be as big a jump down as you would like to think!

Armagh CC have their 150th Anniversary season to look forward to in 2009 along with the prospect of our young team getting a bit more experience in Section 3. Promotion may not be an option with the glass ceiling the NCU have chosen to place, but teams still have to strive for the top four if they want to play third tier cricket in 2010, or whatever new fangled name the Union have for it.

I can't play golf anyway.

I have just heard that Saintfield have been relegated. Something to do with scorebooks not being added up properly. Just when are the points/scores considered safe. How many weeks ago did these mistakes take place? What impact over and above the awarding of points does "unplayed" matches have on net run rate. Please correct me but I don't remember all this awarding of points by committees when I was playing.
So what have teams like Armagh and Saintfield to look forward to next season. A summer of meaningless cricket or join a golf club.

To comment on a teams catering arrangements in the same post as commenting on them having the league denied to them on another silly technicality is churlish, childish and fairly pathetic in my humble opinion

Stuart - got your quip about catering. Perhaps next year you guys will do the host team the courtesy of turning up for tea. We played you twice at home this season. In the first one that was rained off 3 people turned up and in the second game the scorer and one of your players turned up.

just a note on how the top of section 1 (sorry, the premier league) finished. CSNI took 3 hours 16 minutes to bowl their overs recently. this is NOT just 1 minute over the allotted time (as many people r saying) but a full 16 minutes over.
i can safely say that any time CSNI had to bowl their full allocation of overs, they ran over the stipulated 3 hours.
its harsh, very harsh in fact, but rules are rules as i know only too well.
when u look back to 2006, a certain team was penalised for playing Ireland's current opening bowler!!! hmmm does that not seem harsh???
but congrats to CSNI, for breaking the strangle hold north down and waringstown had on things here, a shake up was definately needed. but maybe next season they cud allocate, say 5% of players fees towards catering? just a suggestion

first of all, i have to say i am totally in favour of the proposed restructuring of the leagues.

but roger's view tends to glamourise it a bit too much for me. to paraphrase him, "the top 6 sides in section 2 qualify for the NEW premier league format." Really??? or do they just stay in the section 2? my view of it is 4 teams get relegated from section 2 next year, harsh but it is definately needed.

the football leagues in england changed to the PREMIER LEAGUE, the CHAMPIONSHIP and LEAGUES 1 & 2, but we all know its still the same old divisions 1,2,3 & 4. the number of teams in the leagues is what will improve things, not the new names for them.