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MARK ,thanks it was great start for DUNDRUM, i think we deserved it but also holywood bowled really well without LUCK especially DAVID CARDY who was unplayable 10 0vers 5 maidens for just 5 runs&i think we wil see a lot more RUNS FROM KIWI LEON MOORE who looks a good allrounder!CLIFTONVILLE will no boubt be ODDS ON favourites but we love the UNDERDOG TAG&in a 3 horse race any result is possible &after 2 brain operations yes i would back DUNDRUM as they say a FOOL&HIS£R EASY PARTED!!cup is a bonus but winning games creates CONFIDENCE&lets hope that we can continue at one off the BEST GROUNDS in the NCU SAINTFIELD on sat!the new COVERS made by MAG/CONN made the result possible.funniest thing i witnessed was that both TEAMS WERE READY TOO BOWL as their was CONFUSION (think rodney was alittle excited) but fair play too HOLYWOOD&THE UMPIRES SHORT delay sorted the problem.ps mark we were hoping next round was at CLIFTONVILLE so we could claim the GAME.LOL

Hats off to Dundrum and Rodney's men for a fine win in the cup. One swallow doesn't make a summer but there were a lot of people looking towards the Mournes for this result and with respect to Holywood hoping for a fairytale start to the season.
What odds Jeff against Cliftonville or is there a conflict of interest when you are involved?

Must say it sucks to see Ireland's wicket-keeper paste us in a competitive match when we are so short of genuine class players at this level. No complaints mind you as Niall O'Brien is making the most of his ability in the professional ranks and this competition has nothing to do with nationality status. It seems he's going to be joined by a host of others in the near future as I read on the other channel that counties are queuing up to 'poach' our best young players. Vanburn are you for real? If any of these players is good enough to make a living from the game then you should be delighted if a county offers them a contract. There are ten times more young English players out there in front of them so only the very best will make it and that means only a select few with both the ability and the focus. Stirling has now made his mark but note the critics on his back before this fine innings.
One writer criticised his position and then congratulated him after the innings. What a hypocrite.

interesting weekend in the NCU : Some very interesting games over the weekend in both the premier league and the senior cup. North down off to a great start, tight one yesterday though. Mr strydom has started not to badly for lisburn.
Congrats to CI on their first top flight victory im sure there will be plenty more.
Same goes to Dundrum on saturday for their first ever senior cup victory.

In relation to Mark and Jim's points i think whilst North Down have recruited quite well this post season i have to agree with Jim and say the 3 that left would make any team in the premier league easily never mind North Downs.

I believe from what ive read that Dalzell has had a tough start to his NW career but Russell seems to have started quite well with 35 and 40 to his name,not setting the world alight but for the opening two games of the season more than likely on green tops it certainly is not a failure by any means. Looks like the rest of the Glendermott line up are struggling without Raza.

Now that would be entertaining,watching Russell and Hasan Raza bat together.

Long season though and this one has literally just begun so lets assess mid-season on the good bad and the indifferent.

I think CSN and Carrick will push Waringstown and North Down this season. Should make for a more competitive summer of cricket in the NCU, here's hoping!

Paul

Not sure about that Jim but it's not my problem. You may be in the know but Montgomery scored a century and the pace attack looks fairly balanced. Dalzell and Russell aren't in much form up the M2 and Davy Kennedy isn't playing at the same standard any more.
It's early days but looking form the outside North Down have answered the doubters. It remains to be seen if they can win the big matches.

Mark,

Not sure i would agree with you that North Down look stronger than last season.

When you take out Russell,Kennedy and Dalzell you have a pretty big hole to fill, but because North Down had such a strong squad in place already and with Sutherland and Parsons coming in alongside a couple of young guys being blooded they will still be there or there abouts come the end of the season. They are still the team to beat for sure but the 3 guys that left this season past would still secure a place on the North Down team for sure.

First blood to North Down. At least East Belfast knows what they have to do to beat the champions because the Comber men look stronger than last year!
Good side and they set the standard.

Brendan, Start with the NCU and North-West averages and see who's been in form. Count out anyone outside section one and anyone over 40. In the absence of anything else have a trial match if club cricket doesn't tell him enough. At least look outside Dublin.
Mind you, it's a lot for one man to do but whose fault it that?

Mark the silly season started last Saturday!
The Cliftonville situation has been known for months.

Bit hard on Phil there Michael. He's lost more than half a team and the new kids need time to rise to this level.
Apart from Peter Connell and Ryan Haire and a few 'vested interests' from the Dublin lobby what players are being missed?

If the NCU is allowing Cliftonville to play all their matches away this season what happens when another club says they cannot accept the fixture? Does this mean Cliftonville have to concede the points? And what happens if some clubs accommodate Cliftonville and some do not? This is a recipe for chaos and the NCU should give clear guidance right now before we reach the silly season when anything goes!

Have to say big Phil has to get it right in the next few weeks or he's on his bike! Rampaul has to be up to the task as he's the coach's pick and the young guns in the side have to be brought into the action or there's no point in having them there. Sheltering players? Give us a break, if you aren't good enough why are you there?
Ireland under Simmons has done nothing and while the fault may not be totally at his door, the end result will be his head when things continue to go wrong. Also who picks Ireland these days and if it is coach Simmons what does he really know about cricket in Ireland? He has no knowledge of club cricket has never seen interprovincial cricket and must rely on heresay, youth cricket, and 'information.' Is this a professional set-up?

taito, didnt you no that ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has holiday home in DUNDRUM & HE said that if his JEWISH manager wont sign players then he would get RODNEY to do it now that LIVERPOOL can concentrate on summer (champions)league.lol dont think their be many games sat.eway jardin de vienne. bangor friday,might pay for your supper.

jeff, that auction you ran must have made some money with all these imports ha ha. If the forecast is right this weekend could be a wash out. Is it still the same in the cup ? that if it starts then your back monday, tuesday, wednesday .....nights until you get it finished?