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Poll Result to the question "would you be in favour from 2009 of all matches starting at 11am ?" .Of 39 delivered messages by 5.15pm Sunday the results were.30 YES.2 NO.7 did not reply.
Over the last three years I have texted the numbers on my phone of players and if I get 25% bothering to reply that's the height of it so to 80% replying was enlightening.
Has anyone else conducted a similar poll ?

I have texted the following messages to 42 players at Muckamore.
"I am conducting a poll for the Ulster Cricketer.Would you be in favour from 2009 of all matches starting at 11am.Please text me back a simple yes or no."
I haven't expressed my views to them and I have texted every cricket member who was on my mobile number including guys who play irregular.Every club must have a guy ( probably the 2nds or 3rds capt ) who has a majority of players mobile numbers. Just think with over 30 clubs at an average of 30 numbers each we could canvas the views of 1,000 cricket PLAYERS in a matter of minutes .This poll could give some momentum for meaningful change.I think that a lot of the delegates who go to the NCU AGM are removed from the thinking of the actual people who really matter - Those playing the game.The same could be levelled against some club committees.This poll could within 48 hours give us a feeling for what the players think.It took me about 20 minutes to send those texts and over 50% responded one way or other immediately.I will post the results later on.

Rearrangements and shortening of games. I think the game one scenario overs in each league is about right and would favour the NW rearrangement strategy of the game being played within say 10 days as a 20/20. A one night midweek rearrangement should suit most teams.
The one thing I would really like to see changed are the start times.Why can't we start at 11am in ALL leagues.?
Surely the days of meaningful Saturday school cricket are long gone.
At Muckamore I feel we are lucky that neither Antrim Grammar or Parkhall High School play Saturday cricket. As a result Jason V de Merve, Sunsoon Stephenson and Craig Drummond all Parkhall students have all been available to play in our firsts while at least another half dozen boys play every week in our 2nds and 3rds.We were delighted this year to win the Graham Cup with a full team of boys who play no Saturday school cricket but play in our adult teams.Surely they learn more playing alongside ex Senior players than as fielders in meaningless games.
Can anyone name me a player who has emerged in the last ten years since the NCU under age system really kicked in through Saturday school cricket.I have seen at first hand a guy at our club who was playing between 1sts and 2nds who after his GCSE's left Parkhall to go to a Belfast grammar school and playing all over the country on Saturday mornings and missing all club matches up until July he is now a 3rds player.
If we start at 11am most junior cricket ( all leagues outside 1sts ) should be done and dusted by 5.30pm.
That way we aren't interfering with players social lives.I think that is one of the society changes that threatens our sport more than any aspect of the sport itself.When I was growing up the cricket club was our social life.
Can we conduct some sort of online poll to see how many members would be in favour of matches starting at 11am all season.I am going to text all the Muckamore guys that I have numbers for today and will put the results on here.

Wayne. I understand that teams can decide to play or not play depending om the needs of the team. A better system needs to be in place and from talking to Andy Clement the other evening I know the NCU are taking the rearrangements issue seriously. I have a friend involved in cricket in Bath where traditionally they get better weather than us and they have a NO REARRANGEMENT policy with NO points for either team. Season ends at end of August before the hockey and rugby season get underway.
Tim. That's an interesting slant on it. What would have happened if you had played by the rules and lost would you have been then awarded the game because Michael bowled too many overs or would it simply have been replayed. We will never know.
I went to Strabane today hoping and expecting to see a Donemana victory but they were outplayed by a display of bowling and fielding like I have never seen from a club side in Ireland. Everyone on the North County side looked fit and they took some good catches and made some great stops. Adrain Murphy was particularily good. Fair bit for any Northern side to go to match them. Fantastic crowd and well done to Strabane for getting the game on in such trying circumstances.

Ivan I think you missed the point of my comment. Perceived Inconsistencies in decisions albeit I do not know the facts of the cases so I am commenting as an observer.

I did not mention any clubs as it is not a cheap swipe at your club or any club for that matter despite how you have interpreted it.

As for claiming the points I have witnessed ours 2s get relegated a couple of years ago as in September other clubs could not get grounds and fixtures were not enforced/points claims and they got relegated. This year a serious amount of hard work has gone in and we want to ensure that it results in promotion and that is not distorted by others playing games and our guys not playing (we were due to lose our ground this weekend which is a major factor we have to consider). From what I could see a precedent had been set earlier in the year in the junior cup game but obviously facts were different.

Okay I cant add up !

Section 4 would have to be 9 teams
(8+9+10+9)

re bruce, wish i still didnt love MY SPORT OR CLUB as their has too be a better way think CHARLIE MCCRUM & IVAN & few others talk lot sense & maybe they can come up with plan? my view is that section 3 & 4& all second team cricket should be 40 overs ( id say this again if dundrum were in either) section 1&2 stay at at 50. Also think that you have the 22 day rearrangment & then it goes too a 20 over game midweek if possible ?Cricket is a dying sport & ther will be no STALWARTS in 20 years thats why i think we need too get game shorter too give the young players a chance too not waste the whole weekend travelling & playing our beloved game of cricket .

re Jeff,

I dont envy your job as match secretary and I really hope that we have driest, hottest September on record but somehow I doubt it ....!

I have a great deal of sympathy for Woodvale's position as they are suffering through no fault of their own.

It seems to be that the common sense approach would to be allow the results to stand but unfortunately in these litigious times, it appears the NCU has to engage in "cya" and apply the rules to the letter.

It seems to me that most years sections 1 and 2 have problems completing their league fixtures and I think it is far from ideal that promotion and relegation could be potentially be sorted out by playing 10 over bashes in September on wet pitches.
I read Paul Stafford's comment about Cliftonville unfortunately being on the brink of collapse. If this did happen we would be left with 36 senior teams and I would suggest the following league structure to ease fixture problems in sections 1 and 2.

Reduce section 1 to eight teams (14 league matches per team) plus ISC, Senior Cup and Club Turf.

Reduce Section 2 to 9 teams (16 league matches plus Senior Cup and Ulster Shield.

Keep section 3 at 10 teams and increase section 4 to 10 teams. Both play in Junior Cup or senior cup (for top of secton 3).

I'm sure this has all been debated before but I think the clubs definitely have to agree some changes as the status quo is not working.

dundrum v laurelvale off sunday. think try few pints & horses today. eway zezao, al shelali, nap ethaara,nb candela boy, best outsiders supersonic dave ,formation,secret night, think in football georgia,denmark & norn iron all too DRAW & if you bet them too draw halftime & full time pays a over a GRAND for a tenner which if VANBURN wants too try a little 1£ bet he can win 125£

DOWNPATRICK GAME WITH DUNDRUM at downpatrick IS OFF SAT 6 SEPT rearanged for sunday 21sept. weather permitting.

Ivan

I am not so sure that it is as simple as you suggest. Sure this year it seems that it may not result in any change in who goes up or down but some year it just might matter. As Gareth Dempster suggests we have been here before.

If we take the Dundrum v Ballymena game for example. Ballymena won by six wickets, doesn't seem to have been a close game. The fact is that Dundrum's opening bowler Connor bowled just two balls over his allocation. Why should Ballymena be punished? However, as you state a breach of the rules is still a breach. The NCU have no choice, still quite harsh on Ballymena who did nothing wrong and (as with us and Michael Glass) could do nothing to prevent the opposition bowler causing the breach.

In our match with Ballymena if we had refused to retake the field after our innings (after they had breached the rules) would we have been awarded the game? In other words does it matter who was guilty of the first breach? Or again would that be disobeying the the men in sole charge of the game?

This one seems to just run and run.

P.S Wayne thanks for the good wishes. Perhaps if your sick of winning trophies (for a change) you may rejoin our ranks for next years title push!

What else could the NCU do? Ignore the fact that the game wasn't played as per the rules. As it turns out the decision won't influence a change in the promoted clubs but why should that be a consideration. For as long as most of us can remember the bowling restriction has been 1 / 5 of the overs bowled. Why should this change in this game to let Ian Cleland bowl unchanged at one end ? NCU officials are appointed by the clubs . The rules are agreed by the clubs. Without either we have anarchay. Imagine being an official in a season like this. We don't have to agree with them all the time but let's give them our full support.
As for Wayne Horwood's cheap swipe at Muckamore. Our 1sts cup game we were told took preference over the 2nds league game. As it was in July we were well within our rights to go for a rearrangement and offered various Sundays. age inter provincial at Stormont. Understandably the NCU agreed with our stance as we broke no rules. If I were you Wayne I would be asking who in your club allowed a claim to be made for the points in the first place.Club officials first priority should be to promote the playing of games.Some clubs want to play on the field some clubs want points at any cost.I'm glad to be a member of a club that wants to play cricket.

Good fun as always reading this and the other "channels". Don't have enough time to comment on all the issues but just had a thought while having lunch with another senior cricketer who in his case has seven games still to play and tomorrow match has already been called off. With the global climate changing and lack of school boys playing senior cricket-what about moving the season so it starts sometime in march and try to finish it in june/july.
Anyway good luck to all groundsmen, umpires and subdued players for the rest of the season

The Mall isn't looking too hot for our double header against Saintfield and Holywood this weekend, its absolutely lashing today, but as Downpatrick will no doubt testify we do everything in our power to get the game played, even if the pitch might not be the best. We would hope to be able to host Dundrum next Saturday, although I won't be playing. Going to need some pretty good weather between now and then, which is something I wouldn't want to be gambling too much upon.

re bruce. unfortunatly as match sec i have too arrange all our games so dont see why 1 more makes any difference (id quite like too see Ballymena here on 26 sept with a WEAK TEAM .lol)NCU have too make sure that common sense prevails as this wet weather will see a lot of players & match secs quitting . tim our ground was 2 days away from being playable but with the downpour today i have rang ANDREW too ask can Woodvale host us NEXT SUNDAY.this is only my opinion (not clubs) but think that all the results should stand as bet you best team won on the day& no doubt Ballymena & Woodvale have been streets ahead in section two.PS not often i want too stick up for Downpatrick but the critism of their ground is totally wrong as the DOWN DEMOCRAT CUP FINAL proved the place can host & provide fantastic atmosphere & i have never heard ANY player in any section not wanting too play on a superb ground & the ones who usually slag grounds off dont mention if they play or if they just on the forum too create mischief.pps gareth we havent played at the mall in 25 years if you were betting man what odds next sat & keep believing as its never over till the fat lad sings( & i dont mean Greenleas )