Forum

RE: Paul Tate

Paul, I can only comment on what I saw and what many other supporters saw (some home supporters too) and always give my honest opinion.

The fact that a team mate of yours, and one of the most respected and longest serving playing members in your team walked off the pitch tells its own tale. If Stephen Ferguson says that the ball deflected off his gloves and onto the stumps then that is up to him and you got to take his word for it but from where I and many others were standing it was obvious that the ball deflected away from the stumps and then his gloves came round and broke them in a different movement. It wasn't even a close call.

In terms of making a joke about Downpatricks demise, you are sadly mistaken as I am again giving my honest opinion on the club over the past 25 years and how it has changed. By no means do I wish a club of that stature to be struggling, in fact I would like to see them back at the top of the NCU again however sometimes the truth needs to be told in order for playing standards etc to improve.

I did not come on here to post negativity about clubs or personnell within clubs but I thought that the two incidents yesterday were worthy of a discussion.

With regards the run out, I didn't see it but a lot of people have said it was a close call. In my opinion if it is a close call then the umpire should give the batsman the benefit of the doubt. The scenario about breaking the stumps though is a different scenario as the captain of the team has the power to call the batsman back even though the umpire gave him out...at least thats what I'm led to believe.

If you reply back I will not be replying as I'm not on this forum to have a slanging match. As far as I'm concerned this is my final post on this matter.

Interested observer: its amazing how you and so many others seemed to have a clear view of the incident 50 yards away, stephen ferguson is an honest cricketer and swears that the ball bounced of his glove on to the stumps and no stage did he break the stumps with his gloves.

Also why do we have umpires? to make the decisions i think . Does every batsman walk when they know they have edged it? no i dont think so.

And you saw yesterday a shocker for a run out on our side who was past the stumps. You have to get on with these things its part and parcel of cricket.

To be making statements about its a sign of downpatricks demise is an absolute joke. We are an honest bunch of cricketers as you said and especially since it was JT who remains a good friend of all of us if the stupms had been broken i have no doubt we would have called him back.

jeff i am saying nothing about paul, but from the run out perspective, fergy says 100% he did not break the stumps with his gloves. the ball rebounded off his gloves and hit the stumps.

yeah you arent down and out yet, a convincing win against lurgan might see you ok.

i have never in my life seen four catches dropped in four balls, it was crazy.

Hi

Just like to say what a wonderful derby it was on Sunday at Downpatrick v Dundrum. As usual there was the normal controversy but two things I seen, I have never seen before. In amoungst Dundrum dropping 11 catches, they managed to drop 4 in 4 balls. Has anyone ever seen this done before? They were not difficult chances either. Secondly, Downpatrick's Paul Lenihan walked off the pitch in disgust at one of the decisions that went FOR his team. A dundrum player was adjudged to have been run out by the umpire who was on the blind side of the batsman and wicket keeper. The keeper spilled the ball that rolled away from the wicket but his motion took him through and he broke the stumps with his gloves. This was obvious to the whole side of the ground who couldnt believe it when the batsman was given out. Linehan had a good view of the incident and, to his CREDIT, he shouted over to his captain and team mates that in fact the ball didn't hit the stumps. To his teammates and in particular his captains DISCREDIT they told him where to go and proceeded to send the batsman on his way. Again has anyone seen this done before? I think although Linehan should have discussed this with his teammates in the changing room after the game it is sad sign of how far Downpatrick have slipped in recent years. Many people were surprised that a team with so many geniuine people in past years opted to send the batsman on his way when it was obvious it wasnt out.

Even had the batsman been given out Downpatrick would still have won the match as they were the better team on the day as Dundrum's fielding and general attitude was quite poor considering they were fighting relegation.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable game and one of the best derbies I've seen in over 25 years of watching local cricket.

Taito, its only 40£ & you dont really want dont too be known as someone who CHEATS on a BET? think if we hadnt dropped so many (11) four in four balls most ever seen!think you have very good bowling attack.whether its strangford road or the meadow it is a fantastic ground too play on with undoubted atmosphere. has too be said it was strange too see paul linehan walk off but you have too somewhat ADMIRE his stance but think he might reget letting his club down .really hope we can get out off jail & its a very competive & enjoyable section with great grounds & craic.we hope too play lurgan at yours on sat so might get chance too lift our little wager?

jeff, you wouldnt really take that money off me now would you. I am not sure about the long run up either jeff, seems a long way to run to float it out at 60 miles an hour lol.
yeah it was good craic, if you had taken the catches early on it might have been a different story.

Well forumites, no doubt now that Civil Service are the top team in the NCU in 2008, North Down looked out of sorts yesterday and were well beaten.
What is in doubt however, is the pitch at Stormont, which nearly made a farce out of the biggest game of the season. I'm led to believe it was one of the international pitches that was used but to be honest it played more like a council ground, until the sun helped it a bit later in the day!
Or was it tactics to prepare it for seamers Thompson, Jones, Coulter and Costain, and bank on winning the toss?

Tayto, cant believe that you STUFFED us & left quicker than LENNY, but as they say some you win some you lose, TELL you this from what i hear your club is not struggling & now taytos talk is CHEAP but fair play too the BIG LAD( not sure bout LONG RUN UP?) but he PAID SOME HIS DUES AS HE DID BAT &BOWL WELL. (AND HIS TEAM MATES SAID WISH HE OWED A FEW MORE AS HE WAS quickish!!!!!) yus there was the usual bit off craic but from my dundrum view the BEST SIDE WON EASILY( as they say catches win or loses games)& have too say downpatrick have without doubt the BEST GROUND IN SECTION TWO( MAYBE IN NORTH???)

Excuses for not being available to play cricket.
This has been some season, with obvious reasons why teams have been unable to fulfill fixtures due to the inclement weather. We are also at that stage of the season where weakened sides are being put out in an effort to finish the season.

Whilst there are genuine reasons for some players being absent at this stage of the season(e.g. soccer & rugby have started again,and schools are back), at times some of the excuses for individual non availability are incredulous. This applies at any stage of the season, and whilst I was talking to Ricky Finlay and Peter Wood today at Comber a number of classics were mentioned (I will omit the names of those who declared themselves unavailable):
Lisburn: 17 year old schoolboy is asked to play on a Saturday - says he is unavailable because he is judging a Sheep contest!
Cooke Collegians: schoolboy (during holidays) is asked to play on a Saturday but responds that he is unavailable because he is having his hair cut!
North of Ireland: early 90's we had a guy (in his early 30's and living away from his parents) who declared himself unavailable twice during the same season. First reason for unavailability was that he was spending Saturday moving his fridge - where he was moving it to I do not know as he was not moving house! Second cry off was that he was spending Saturday tidying his bedroom!
There must be plenty more classics, so come on Captains, let us hear them.

some tips for today never trust the weather, eway ALFATHAA 455 newbury, CULLYBACKEY 410catterick, confucias 330ayr,mutajared,440ayr,nansbest545.WIN DANEHILL DESTINY.220.ps taito you can cancel sun BET as it aint started? .pps it suit me as we missing 5 from the last win???????????????

saturdays game between ciyms and north down has been switched to comber start 11-30

Dundrums game versus Holywood at Drumaness was called off the day by the Down district council. And before the forum SLAGGERS(you no who u are) start blaming ME or Dundrum i tried newforge saintfield north down & ciyms and have EAR INFECTION from mobile trying & yes the team have too live with not giving up home advantage when their was always the risk that it could be a no result but at least they made it not me.

o right me not being a betting man has just figured that one out, i see what you mean jeff.

well since we never shook on it and all that ......

lol

jeff that wasnt my take on the bet, i thought it was two separate bets £20 at 3-1, so if we won on saturday we would be all square.

but yeah a beer after the game for sure win lose or draw. i would say good luck tomorrow but im not sure i woulod mean it. its getting a bit close for that lol

taito, even i no in betting you gave me 3 1 at home & away so win lose or draw sunday im up £ . but hope too see you sunday for a pint no matter who wins as theirs no point playing cricket if you cant sit down & have bit craic afterwards?