Forum

You are right about one thing Ronnie - the only person whose opinion matters is the umpire's! However, once the umpire leaves the pitch everybody is back on equal ground and the opinions of others become very important because they reflect on the integrity, ability and honesty of an umpire when performing his duties. I'm sure you set high personal standards but don't dismiss the opinions of others because you alone make the decisions. Also don't forget umpires are probably assessed by those same people. On a wider topic don't think some umpire somewhere hasn't taken a bung amidst all this match fixing and corruption that has been going on for years. If there's one person who can make a decision with certainty then it's the umpire. Can you imagine if bets were taken locally the pressure you would be under from Jeff to 'give him a little information?' None of these guys ever did anything wrong - they just gave 'a little information to a friend.'

Thanks for your reply Mr Heaney. I wasn't creating any fuss but trying to get some sort of clarity as I was confused. Still am.
I'm very pleased that North lives on but like many of my generation I felt when you left Ormeau a lot of the club died with the move. There'll never be another Ormeau, it was a sad day for Ulster cricket.

Vanburn,
What does this mean?
"the fact is that this is an amalgamation of 2 proud Clubs whose constitution within the NCU is on this basis." Now we are really confused. I think what needs to be clarified is whether CSN inherits NICC's and Civil Service CC's previous records. Obviously the history is already in place and explains the origins of the new club but can the new club honestly claim it owns the performances of two former clubs that had totally different identities. It is confusing when some members say you have a new identity and others appear to say you are the same people under a new banner. Fact is CSN is neither NICC or Civil Service CC so sorry if we are still confused. Or maybe it is none of our business!

Just too let anyone who is interested that Dundrumm cricket clubs website is closed until further notice as Turkish hacker has got in too the site & caused a lot of problems but Rodney currently in england might be able too sort it out when he comes home. The WATER is clearing & the hard work starts asap as the (optimistic) hard working groundsman Tommy Curlett thinks we will play in the meadow if we get some drying weather(id bet againest that) but we will try our best.

Re: Billy Pollock and Wayne
I agree this is a new era, and CSN is totally different to what has gone in the past. However, the fact is that this is an amalgamation of 2 proud Clubs whose constitution within the NCU is on this basis. The past history of both Clubs has therefore to be taken into consideration, and Holmesy was quite right to quote the number of times that the Senior Challenge Cup has been won by NICC and/or Civil Service.

re; michael patterson

hi michael interesting you discribe an umpire making a decision as "putting they're head on the block" nothing is further from the truth, and as for favouring certain bowlers or batsmen....definately not as far as i'm concerned. impartiality is of utmost importance. as for worrying about what players or spectators think, why would i?. a decision is made honestly and on the laws of cricket. sure mistakes happen but as long as an umpire gives what he is sure in his mind about, then what a player or anyone else thinks is totally irrelevent. i stood in a game earlier in the season where after both umpires conferred the batsman was given not out. after the game the wicket keeper, the bowler, the batsman and a spectator all had different views on what should have been given. in the end the only one that mattered was the one in the score book!!!

Thanks Wayne and congratulations. I watched many a North game over the years and agree this is a new era. I'm sure you young fellas will write your own history and we all wish you well. Never played cricket at Stormont but a few games of rugby! Lovely setting.

You are correct Billy this is the first time CSNI at senior level has won a major trophy and that is how the players viewed last week.

Cricket correspondent Davy Holmes says Civil Service North have now won the cup 21 times the last time nine years ago. But surely this is their first win?

Just read Staffy's Blog on the cup final and it nearly did my head in trying to understand it. Have to agree with him on the top bowlers getting better treatment from umpires and the same goes for batsmen. Some umpires are too sensitive to criticism and prefer to give nothing rather than put their head on the block. But who can blame them the way players and spectators react? Stuart Kidd's dismissal didn't decide the cup final, there were many more worthy contenders.

A fair cop! my wording of the "comparison" was wrong, I see Beverland as having the potential to emulate Hall and Nelson, similar kind of player, with a good technique but he obviously has a long way to go to compare to the Waringstown openers.

Many apologies for any confusion caused there Mr Clarke

ryan mccarter, im sorry but your asking for this mate! lol your comment that beverland is every bit as good as james hall and lee nelson is probably one of the most hideous i have ever read on a cricket forum! firstly your comparing a young guy with 55 runs all season to an irish senior international opening batsman!! then you compare him to lee who was selected for ireland a earlier in the year! both of them also played in the under 19 world cup in malaysia!! charles has never even scored a senior fifty!!! come on now mate your having a laugh!!

I see on the NCU website the Intermediate Cup final was postponed which implies it is going to be played later. However it also says the trophy has been shared!
How can you share a knock-out competition if the final has not been played? Hopefully this is an error. There's no merit in sharing a cup no matter what the weather is like. At least a bowl out produces a winner.

No relegation? That'll do for us :)

Realistically not an option in fairness for the NCU to bring in, but with the leagues likely to be restructured for next year anyway it might not have a massive impact on standings.

This weather is pretty terrible though, The Mall square was under water yesterday too :(

danny. yes vandurn was in good form even tho i tipped CISN too win, think ROARING FORTE will win &eway lady grace.good idea too play on astroturf if NCU agree?it has dropped 3 feet but still like a lake & heavy rain forecast monday.ps be great if they decided at tues meeting too have no promotion& relegation. suit us.lol