Forum

James, perhaps a dozen games a year isnt too bad! I see there are teams this year who have only played 5 or 6 games. They pay the same fees as those players from the same clubs who play 18+ games.

From my recollection, Dundrums ground was flooded last year as well. Armagh, Waringstown, Downpatrick and several other clubs suffered the same problem this season. Perhaps with a no result, 2 points each should be awarded - I think this should be open for debate instead of being dismissed outright. If this was trialled next season, there will be problems and clubs will take bend the rules but if nothing changes we are going to have the same problem year after year. It is very easy for those clubs who have the money for ground improvements including drainage, etc to push this idea to the side because they have a nice dry ground to look at with rose tinted glasses. But at the moment, the structure of the Leagues favours those clubs who have the money to spend on improvements, whilst others have 'no option' other than travel to opposing teams and lose their home advantage, or incase of Dundrum, get criticised for not doing so.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this forum including Stephen from Downpatrick and Michael, who was unfairly criticised by Paul Stafford. Maybe those people within the NCU will see the debates here, and realise there is a strong feeling about the way we govern our game.

Re James

Well if teams aren't forced to play on Sundays and people cant get of work to play on Fridays, that only leaves about 20 Saturdays to get the season played, if you have 18 league games not to mention numerious cup games, what is the solution?

Still don't think sharing points is feasible, umpires can only decide on the morning of a match. The cant be their on a Thursday night to ensure that the covers are being put on a quickly as possible, we need rules which encourage both captains to play the game. Sharing of points does exactly the opposite and in my view it will lead to only bad blood between teams and more conspiracy stories

To be honest I think there is alot to be said for the North West way of doing things. They seem to get all there games played no problem - why dont we adopt some of their rules

Thank goodness Stephen in Downpatrick isn't in charge or we could all just retire! We would end up playing a dozen games a year if his proposal was accepted - if thats what you want, play on the 4ths!

RE Lurgan.

I think it is disappointing for Lurgan not being able to get a team out on Friday but probably more disappointing is the fact that matches have to be played on a friday because clubs dont play sundays.

Secondly people are saying that Dundrum are hiding behind the rules. I find this laughable, would North Down or Dundrum or anyone take the chance to play their HOME match away at someone elses ground in a first match scenario anytime during the season? It's rediculous, of course they wouldnt. Dundrum had good reason to believe that thier ground would and still will be playable for the rearrangement. People need to be realistic and accept that Dundrum, in their dangerous position in the league are not going to give away home advantage especially when they believed they could get the game played at home. If people have a problem with this then they should put it forward at the AGM for a rule change but you know that it would be laughed off.

What's this rubbish about deducting points for teams who don't fulfil fixtures in september??

So your saying that Academy who are actively seeking grounds to play their remaining matches should be deducted points due to the weather in june, july, august and up to this point in september!

Also they should be punished for winning the Junior Cup again which may I remind you took 3 WEEKS to even get started never mind finish and during the cup run had to re-arrange cup games to the following week which then means having to find another day for the league games that should have been played that day!!

I know there is some unrest with the Cooke situation but the game between the two at shawsbridge has been started twice and called off once due to the weather!

The NCU need to work out some sort of way for next season to stop this happening otherwise cricket in this country is going to die quicker than they think due to players just becoming disenchanted and walking away from the game! The fact that the game in question is outside the top 2 sections where the NCU have no interest what so ever proves it!

Why can't Duckworth Lewis be brought into all 4 sections either? It's not because everywhere will not have computers because even at test grounds it's the 3rd umpire who makes a phone call to D/L's HQ with the match scores and it's worked out from there! So why not the same in ulster??

John I think that Pauls view of sharing the points for rearrangements is a sensible idea but needs to be well policed. The home club should not call the game off. All players and officials should still turn up and the Umpires (who should be Neutral) make a decision about wether the game is to be cancelled.

In the case of Derriaghy and North Down both teams need the points for different reasons. In the Premier League umpires make the decision on whether the game is playable, so if North Down travelled the umpires could call it. If both captains wished to play then they could get on with it. Perhaps 1 point each is the best way forward for no result. However the situation at the moment is simply too stressful and are causing people to pack it in. My feeling is however that if Derriaghy and North Down have made two attempts to play the game and it hasn't happened then they should split the points. If Derriaghy benefit then that's the luck of the draw, but you can't accuse clubs of manipulating results because it is raining.

What's Paul Stafford on about?
The comments were reasonable yet he comes on with personal insults. Start looking at the facts Paul and as for Lurgan doing favours you have got to be joking. They have to re-arrange games under the rules. And as for sharing points you should earn them on the field not the committee room.

As Chairman of Lurgan CC, I am very disappointed that we were not able to field a team against Holywood today. To my knowledge this is the first time the 1st XI have ever had to 'scratch' a match. It is not something that was done lightly and I can fully understand the frustration of the other teams in the lower half of the league. In fact, we are not yet mathematically safe.
However, some of our players have already taken 4-5 Fridays off work (not all these games were completed)and cannot get off any more. We have players on holidays, some work outside of Northern Ireland from Monday to Friday and all our schoolboys are back at school and can't get off.
Myself and our captain Neil Anderson have contacted every possible registered player this week but we still couldn't get anywhere near 11 players.
This season along with last have been exceptional in terms of Friday fixtures (In fact, we could possibly have 2 more Friday fixtures) and it is something we will have to look at.
We did not arrange this fixture for a Friday with no intention of playing it. However, with Holywood already having a fixture tomorrow, we had no other Saturdays to play on. We play Armagh and Dundrum on the 20th and 27th. Therefore, it had to be a Friday and unfortunately at the end of this very trying season we have not been able to field a team.

To Paul Stafford.
If you want some negativity and bitterness read back your articles on the NCU. Is this the pot calling the frying pan.......?
For your information it is not a fair re-arrangement if you agree a date on which you can't field a team and then concede the points. That's futile.
Also for your information I am only negative and bitter when I read emails like yours.

Guys

The bottom line is Lurgan should be embarrased - not the NCU or the rule book. It is an absolute disgrace that a senior club like Lurgan cannot get a team out for a game (Friday or not!!). This was a re-arranged game that could only be played on a Friday as Lurgan dont want to play Sundays. They cant have their cake and eat it when it comes to re-arrangements - by that I mean, they make other clubs play on a Friday by virtue of not playing Sundays.

Staffy - The fact that they have played on a Friday for the umpteenth time is entirely their own fault! At the end of the day, every club should expect to have to fulfil fixtures so they arent re-arranging to help others. Surely they are obliged to?

As for the Dundrum issue, this is totally different as they are under no obligation to reverse a fixture - it may seem logical to some, but they felt it was worth a punt to keep home advantage - it hasn't worked out and that was their risk to take!

At the end of the day, games shouldn't be replayed, if there is no result after game one, even with reduced overs, then the points get shared. Then the season can finish at the end of August, before it starts getting dark early and players from other sports, such as football, rugby and hockey are free to begin preseason.

Paul,
I think you have been rather unfair and harsh to Micheal in this case - he is only presenting a realistic view. Your idea of splitting points in case of a no result just doesn't hold up unfortunately. Let me provide an example to illustrate this -

North Down are due to play Derriachy in a rearranged fixture and Queensway. We will say that Derriachy will beat N Down 1 in 10, so they have an expectated points total of 0.4 (4 divided by 10), now are you saying that if there is a chance to call off the game that Derriachy will not take it - in effect they gain 1.6 points ( In no means is this a snipe at Derriachy but I thought this example highlighted my point best )

In is ludicrous to talk of teams working together and being a big happy family given the number of times that we have seen lawyers involved at the back end of the season. The sad truth is that teams are willing to take any advantage possible even if it does mean bending the rules slightly

Michael Patterson.
You are the classic example of someone who contributes nothing but bitterness and negativity.

Lurgan are rearranging matches to help other teams yet they are struggling to get teams out. Yet you are suggesting Lurgan should be fined and deducted points for struggling to get a team out for the umteenth Friday, in mid September when they have nothing to play for?

You really don't have a clue, do you?