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I don't post too often on here, but Neil's post about the tea interval is an interesting one. Overall, I think cricket would be the worse for not having a tea break, but having said that, Neil’s points are most certainly worth considering. Cricket and the tea interval have always, it seems to me, been inextricably linked. That particular interval is part of the game's rich tradition and, although teams seem to me to stay a bit apart most of the time at tea, it does provide an opportunity to mingle, to talk, to renew or strike up friendships and even, on the odd occasion, to argue —but it brings people together and that has to be good. It is, quite simply, part of cricket and, dare I say it, anyone who goes to a cricket match solely for the cricket does not really understand the game. Equally, there are practical issues. After three-plus hours in the field, it is sensible to take some form of sustenance, whether provided by oneself or the home club, but if one provides it for oneself, then teams will end up eating/drinking in their dressing rooms, and I don’t think that’s healthy or in the spirit of cricket. Equally, the fielding side need to pad up, the pitch may need remarked/rolled/tended to, the scores checked and, if it applies, DLS has to be run etc. The umpires also need some consideration, as Neil rightly mentioned. Now, I know that the cost element is important and I know that encouraging more people to play is vital. However, I reckon that a lot of the costs come out of player’s pockets and would not necessarily be redirected to elsewhere in the club. Equally, and assuming some sort of break is needed if only to carry out the practicalities, I’m not convinced that saving what would probably be no more than 20 minutes is going to make the difference between people playing or not. All that said, it seems to me that there is nothing other than custom and practice that prevents what Neil is suggesting from happening. The NCU bye laws are clear that the tea interval should not exceed 30 minutes, so there is nothing there that says it has to be 30 minutes or prevent a shorter interval from being taken. Equally, the Laws of the game, see Law 15 (10), state: “At any time during the match, the captains may agree to forgo the tea interval or any of the drinks intervals.” So, the option to shorten or even forgo the tea interval already exists. Nonetheless, I think Neil has raised an interesting point that will, I imagine, engender some discussion, even if I wouldn’t be keen on it myself.

Good man Neil, why not go even further have separate entrance and exits for each team and ban them from having any social interaction in the bar even after the game. great call

Why do we have teas in NCU cricket?
Why is the home team under an obligation to provide food and tea for the opposition?
Why do we take up to 30 minutes between innings by taking tea?
Why do clubs waste time, effort and money providing teas?

The London Times last week had a page packed full with letters from the secretaries of local cricket clubs in England complaining about the rising costs and the increased pressure on man-power to provide teas. Some clubs said they were losing between £2,000 and £3,000 per year.

Now we are not in that league as most NCU clubs seem to rely on the goodwill and effort of female members, players' wives and girlfriends and, in some instances, committee men to do the needful but it does raise the question.. why bother?

In fact some clubs spend money every week using outside caterers to bring food in. Madness! Surely this money can be put to better use.

Why would players - some of whom are playing at a reasonably high level - want to fill their stomachs with sandwiches, pastries, chocolate biscuits and sausage rolls halfway through a physical, competitive game of sport.

In this age of the 'professional game' and the proper preparation and sensible rehydration of the body it just doesn't make sense.

Why can't players bring their own? Players know what they prefer/need to eat and drink so they can prepare those on the morning of a match. When their team is batting they have plenty of time to eat.

Now I know many 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc, groups of players are going to be shouting - what about us? But my argument doesn't change.... Have a good hearty, healthy breakfast and if you need a snack between then and your return home, bring it with you.
Remember your match is likely to be only 25-40 overs per side. No more than five hours of action.
Most normal people go five-six hours between meals every day of the week.

We are losing players from the sport because of the length of time the game takes so why not turn straight around between innings and cut out the unnecessary gap.

If there are umpires present - I realise it's a long stand for them - a cup of tea and a snack can be provided for them in their changing area. Simple.

Less hassle for everyone. Less gaps in play. More opportunity for everyone to watch and enjoy the game we love.

The final’s day for the Dundrum Cricket Club schools coaching programme took place at the Meadow in Dundrum on the morning of Tuesday 13th June. A total of eight teams of girls and boys from six local primary schools took part. Newcastle Primary, Sacred Heart Dundrum, Castlewellan Primary, All Children’s Integrated, St Joseph’s Carnacaville and Annsborough Integrated Primary all enjoyed fun filled competitive cricket with a break for tea. The finals day saw the children enjoying getting to grips with the basics of the game including batting, bowling, throwing and running. Four wickets were set up at the Meadow and four games took place at once, culminating in a final between ______Newcastle____________________and________All childrens __________________________ with __Newcastle primary__________________________taking the title from Castlewellan PS Champions in 2016.
Dundrum Cricket Club are keen to build on this successful coaching programme and would encourage any young people who would like to have a go to come to the Club training sessions at the Meadow (Old Road, Dundrum). Minis ages (5-9) and Junior U11 Monday 6:15 -7:45pm, with Junior U13 and U15 Wednesdays 6:15 – 8:00pm

There will also be club running two Summer Schemes on 4th to 6th July and 16th to 18th August – all for children aged 5-15 at the Meadow. Full details for these opportunities can be found atwww.dundrumcc.btck.co.uk
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Stephen Calvert 13/6/17
Club Committee Member Contact numbers 028 4375 1222 or 07917 020104
The final was well contested with All childrens scoring 50 runs in eight overs with top scorer Oliver Corrigan batting possibly to late as played well in every game Luke Crawford and Yashin Brannigan all scored runs Captain Daniel Shiels who was there best bat in groups and Zara de Carvalho Isabella Susey -Quinn showed loads promise and Ben Young scored late runs with Jamie Tweedy taking the hardest catch of the day. Newcastle had the hard hitting Matthew Foster who top scored twice earlier but a good catch from Anna -lucie Barber stopped him in second over but very good batting from Zack Curran and Jamie Tweedy got them back on top but Daniel Shiels held another two cracking catches but it was Justin Mcteer hit the winning runs in the last over and Matthew Foster lift the Shield for Newcastle .

16 June at 1pm
Schools Cup Final
RBAI v Wallace HS
Muckamore, Co Antrim

16 June at 5pm
Interprovincial T20 Trophy
North West Warriors v Northern Knights
Strabane, Co Tyrone

IRISH SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINALS
Coleraine/Waringstown v Merrion
Bready/Pembroke v North Down
CIYMS V Instonians
Donemana/The Hills v Balbriggan
IRISH NATIONAL CUP
Malahide v Midleton
Derriaghy v Newbuildings/Knockharley
Rush v Terenure
Strabane v County Kerry

Arthur

I appreciate your response. Should I find myself at Templepatrick this summer, I will happily discuss your thoughts on the local game with you in person. I do think, other than the tatoo comments, you make some valid points.

Kind regards and happy convalescing.

Gary

Following the cancellation of this afternoon's Ulster Schools' Trial, the following team has been selected to play against the MCC at Campbell College, Belfast on Tuesday 20 June:
Stuart Nelson (Grosvenor Grammar School) (Captain)
Max Burton (Belfast Royal Academy)
Jack Carson (Banbridge Academy)
Matthew Foster (Regent House School)
Aaron Heywood (Strabane Academy)
James McClean (Ballymena Academy) (w/k)
Marc McCloskey (Foyle College)
Thomas McCord (Sullivan Upper School)
Gregory McFaul (Foyle College)
Marcus Poskitt (Coleraine Grammar School)
David Robinson (R.B.A.I.)
Ben Rose (R.B.A.I.)
Jonathan Waite (R.B.A.I.)
Play will start at 11.30 am – players should report to me at Campbell College no later than 10.45 am.
Some established players have been excused from this match in order to enable the selectors to see a wider range of players, while others were unavailable because of examinations.
The team for the Schools' Interprovincial against the Southern Schools at Rathmines, Dublin on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 June will be selected after the match.
Any selected player who is, or becomes, unavailable to play should advise me at emp@murraypower.plus.com, or 9066 6354, or 077 7552 0054 as soon as possible.
Murray Power
Chairman
Schools' Committee

Gary

The remarks I made were mine and mine alone, not those of Templepatrick Cricket Club. I take full and total responsibility for them.
These remarks were totally out of order: somehow I just lost it. I want to apologize unreservedly for them. I also want to assure you that when you come to Templepatrick you will be made most welcome, and if you introduce yourself, I will apologize to you again in person.

Yours most sincerely

Arthur Bowron

You make some very salient and objective points Arthur, though tattoos are something of an acquired taste, some like them, some don't and some like me are indifferent.

But why folk want to reduce overs especially for an already shorter version of the game 'beats me' ?
As it stands, forty to thirty overs below senior leagues already are an abbreviated form of the game, yet on a fine afternoon, we still have skippers agreeing to reduce to a 20 over bish bash, bizarre to say the least?

Even in a recent game some guys we're looking away to watch a cup final on TV. All I can say is thank goodness Glenavon no longer get past the first round of anything or we'd be playing 5 overs each.

As regards mobile phones, when the game starts, put them into the bucket of water provided and collect them again on your way out!

Looking forward to your next post and thoughts on the game Arthur, like I've often said, there's no substitution for experience!

Okay Andy 'YOU' Pedantic

IRELAND SERIES AGAINST AFGHANISTAN CALLED OFF
CRICKET IRELAND today confirmed that the proposed One-Day International series against Afghanistan next month will not now go ahead.
The teams had hoped to play a three-match series in Belfast but the Afghanistan Cricket Board informed Cricket Ireland today that they're not in a position to approve the tour due to a clash with preparations for their domestic franchise T20 event.

As the risk of being accused of being pedantic I would point out to Ronnie that 'you selection' in his post should have perhaps read 'your selection'! Arthur is too much of a gentleman to point this out but I'll do it for him! But more seriously, a few years ago I posted about the situation in Ulster rugby with regard to 'contracted' players and the detrimental effect on club rugby. Is there any plan to offer Inter-pro contracts to players from Section 1 teams who come in to the reckoning for the Knights and how would clubs be compensated for the loss of such players on Inter-pro duty.

In looking through the NCU scores from yesterday I noticed a J Matchett scoring 26 for CIYMS 2nds v Warringstown 3rds in Junior 1 yesterday. Surely that couldn't be the same J Matchett who made his 1st class debut last week for the Knights?

Morgan Topping
This performance should clarify the potential shown from the Knights' selectors when Morgan made his recent debut on a late cry-off-
At Phoenix Park,
IRELAND ACADEMY 233-8 (50 overs; M Topping 66, C Fletcher 63, F Tucker 25*, N Rock 23, J Little 21, C Emerton 3-58)
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY 208 all out (48.1 overs; T Colverd 51, P Tice 49*, N Winder 24, C Webster 22, M Topping 3-39, JJ Garth 2-31, I Anders 2-35)
Ireland Academy won by 25 runs