Forum

Ivan
The game is already administered nationally for the betterment of the national team, and they don’t ‘give a toss’ about local provincial cricket, which is why it is dying on its feet, with the exception at senior level of half a dozen clubs.
Clubs will have to learn to help themselves or they are going to go by the wayside.

Michael / John
Agree that the play off idea might be beeter than automatic two up two down.

Staffy
Is it always a case with you of no original thought just the opposite view to someone else. A year or so ago when a few of us on here were proposing an Ulster League you were shooting it down on the grounds of too much travelling. Now that you have rediscovered the Glenshane Pass you think travelling isn't an issue even allowing for a massive hike in fuel prices. However I agree that your proposed UPL 1 and 2 would bring for better more competitive games. This season I haven't found myself tempted to travel to watch a game apart from the NW Cup Final , the ISC Final and a few internationals. There are too many meaningless, predictable games but I fear that this will never get off the ground as the "turkey's voting for Christmas " mindset will take over. I think we need a Howard Wells type character to railroad through a few changes and not give a toss who gets annoyed as long as it's for the best of the game locally, nationally and internationally.

Would 2 up 2 down be too much for an 8 team league? Granted it has created brilliant competition for 10 team leagues, but I'm not sure it would work for 8 team leagues. Interesting to see how the pro 40 has been set-up. Maybe we could adapt it to having a play off say between the team that finishes in 7th in section 1 against the team that finished in 2nd of section 2?

2 up 2 down in a 8 team league wouldn't work for me. Much better for 1 up 1 down and a playoff for the teams finishing 2nd bottom & runner up.

With only 14 games to play the league could finish mid August and it would still give time to organise a play off game before the end of the season. Could possibly be a two innings match over a weekend on a neutral ground which would determine the better team instead of a one off 50 over game.

50% turnover in leagues doesn't give a lot of room for midtable mediocrity, it could lead to some very exciting cricket. Hopefully future summers will allow it to be played in sunny Saturdays!

Roger and Robin

Thanks for that little bit of info. 8 team leagues will help get the best v best, but I really like the fact that there are still plenty of decisions to be made on the pitch at this stage of the season. There are very few games, even now, that are irrelevant and that should only serve to spur teams on! I have defo been a supporter of 2 up 2 down and will be sorry to see it go - if the proposals get through the AGM.

Re Robin Haire

Robin is quite right if the propsals go through at this year's AGM leagues will be reduced to 8 teams from 2010, but it's still likely to be 2 up 2 down in the nw set-up.

paul ballynahinch

paul i think next years premier league will be the last time u will see a 10 team league for the forseeable future 2010 will see an 8 team league so in 2009 2 teams will be relegated and no one promoted. after that it will be 1 up 1down.

Michael, just saying it will take me a while to get to you to buy you a pint.

Thanks Interested Observer. Keeping a low profile with all those people looking for me.
PS
Whatever happened to free speech?

Re Paul Stafford

Any chance of any constructive feedback or is it just veiled threats ?

True Stuart - I am sure it is sqeaky bum time at the Aghy. Just exciting for the neutral!! The only positive is that there is 2 up next year so if you dont manage to avoid the drop you will have a fair cahance to get back up (although, I think Lurgan, Muckamore and whoever else comes down ill have something to say about it!). At least you can look back at the end of the season and say you done your best to get games played and tried your best.

If so many people are upset about September cricket in one way or another, why do the rules say the season ends at the end of the September, why not propose it ends at the end of August.
That way, there will be even more time to kill over the winter being dragged around shopping or some other exciting task.
Its a long winter, so why are so many anti-cricket?!!!

Unfulfilling fixtures?
This is the time of year when clubs are often cajoled into fulfilling fixtures not necessarily for their own benefit but for the sake of the opposition.
Sides going for the titles will always get their best XIs out while the opposition are emotionally blackmailed into fulfilling the fixture with whoever they can muster so as not to upset their opponents title bid.
September has always had more than its fair share of 'meaningless'(to one side) matches where easy points have been picked up. A couple of the sides well represented on the forum have over the years have regularly 'saved their skins' in the relegation stakes with wins which would have been unthinkable on a sunny June Saturday.
It may seem great that there is still something to play for in September but I'm not sure that the play itself is that great however.