Forum

Last year i took a year away from the sport, the main reason being the time consuming aspect of the game especially in the latter months when fixtures are piled up and rearrangements meant Saturday and sunday games were becoming the norm not the exception.

its tough for someone who works full time during the week then to effectively 'give up' their weekend for cricket, its a thankless task and i know many still do it for the love of the sport in the union

last year i played in the midweek league and i think this format holds a lot of merit, so much so that i think some Junior league fixtures could easily be moved to a Thursday night to avoid the whole walkover/unavailable/suitable pitch problem. Realistically a youngster playing a match on a Thursday night will learn much more than having a monotonous net week in and week out.

I was to play against Carrick last weekend for our 3rds and have to say i was disappointed on Saturday morning having made my sandwiches and cancelled plans for the day that at 11 Carrick couldn't field a 3rd XI surely something they had known about the night before. I applaud clubs for being able to field so many teams as its healthy for the sport but perhaps some clubs should have a look at their set up and realise that perhaps fielding a 3/4/5 XI week in week out may be a bit too ambitious (no single club singled out)

I agree with a previous post that mergers might be the way forward for some clubs and could definitely see it happening in the future, it certainly hasn't done Doanghcloney Mill any harm. However it would be disappointing to see NCU lose a number of well respected clubs for the game to survive.

Looks like Carrick have played the back foot defensive, best not throw mud at a team with such a big social media presence.....

I'm sure teams would accommodate the lack of players if more communication was used, I'm sure a 20/20 could have been played in 4 hours in the afternoon which would leave both sides happy, Alternatively let the opposing team know as soon as possible that the match wont be played, the morning of the game is no longer acceptable if you know you cant field a team or are struggling communicate with the opposing captain it will lead to less hard feelings. Instead on some of the nicest days of the year like last weekend players who we wish to hold onto and keep playing in the game may choose to go and play golf etc and not come back to cricket for fear of teams crying off and planned days being ruined.

I'm not a CIYMS person otherwise I might know the asnwer, but what is going on that they can't get a 3rd XI together for the cup this week ? Its a thursday and its already listed as "walkover" on the NCU website. And CIYMS 3rds were skittled for 50 odd the previous 2 weeks.

Is it exams or another reason ? I know that some may love the fact that the Gallacticos have to concede games for lack of players, but I'm more concerned about the same ol' issue of falling numbers.

All the fixtures are prepared well in advance so for a club to come out and say they have 11 players who have exams hence a walkover is a lame excuse - I am all for education and yes this is important but as a club you knew this was going to happen at the start of the season so why have too many teams - most of the walkovers at the start of a season are due to exams .

Too many clubs are putting out 4 / 5 teams but in reality they only have 3 available - all about getting those members in and paying their subs but really a lot of these players are only going to play half the season due to exams / rugby commitments

The NCU should wise up to the fact and start handing out big fines ( £100 a walkover) I am sure clubs would start to think twice about how many teams they are going to enter in future

These are different days in terms of availability and sympathise with all teams in the Junior Leagues. Not only do year 12s (5th year in my day) have GCSEs but a large number of year 11s are taking GCSEs in that year too. The schools cricket season doesn't seem to last long but they pack a lot in around these exams and parents are increasingly averse to letting children play two games in a weekend never mind one day.

Add to that the rugby pre season starting stupidly early, hockey/football season finishing late and Duke of Ed expeditions plus athletics and every other sport eating into time I have to commend any club putting out 3/4 teams on one day.

Perhaps it's time to start thinking about smaller leagues in JNR cricket starting later with perhaps a t20 in April/May. Perhaps friendlies are needed at this time of year in JNR leagues with league starting later?

Clubs rely on youth players, generally I play on a team with 7/8 U15s and face similar opposition the majority of weeks and the clubs are never going to win v exams and the other reasons I have listed to convince parents to let these kids play more.

It's not easy and my sympathies go out to all those captains trying to get teams sorted out for this weekend. Fair play to all of you for trying and best to ignore the folk criticising behind fake names, I'm sure they could troll more interesting sites if they had ambition/tried harder.

In regards to matches being forfeited I think our scheduling is a major part of the problem. We all know that a lot of players,mainly outside the first team, are under the age of 25 and still in education yet we all schedule loads of games during exam time. This leads to postponing games and less cricket being played and players becoming disillusioned and leaving the game. This then leads to less players playing and the situation becoming worse. Weather in September has been great,as great as it gets in norn iron, yet we try to have season finished before then. Also in July and August we have lots of free weekends (probably in case of earlier weather cancellations) so why not schedule less games early in season, schedule games knowing your teams and their commitments outside of sport and try to get more cricket played. Or is that too much common sense?
And I agree with Larry from larne. Stop using pseudonyms and use your name.
Anto

I have only played a few games of cricket in my life but for the last 30 years i have followed my home club carrickfergus. Carrick used to play at the local rugby club and played in the old section four.
They now have one of the best grounds/ clubhouses in Ireland and it seems to me for some reason people like to have a go at a successful club.
We should be proud of a club like carrick who engage with the local community and try their best to promote cricket in the local area.

due to the good weather, clubs cannot hide behind the pitch unplayable due to rain excuse to cancel matches. I might be wrong but already roughly 15 matches have been forfeited. From playing in the junior leagues there seems to be a real lack of adults over 25 years old playing. Plenty of interest at under 17 level.

In relation to Carrick having to forfeit a game I was shocked and surprised as I have not seen them have to do that in my many years of watching local cricket. I can only assume it was exceptional circumstances. However to single out Carrick when other clubs are more regular offenders seems unfair.
And if making a comment be brave enough to put your own name to it rather than hide behind a phrase or nickname
Larry

Why do these cowards come on to forums to bitch about other clubs business. Clubs are struggling to get teams out, nobody enjoys conceding games. These are concerning times as kids don't want to give up their weekends to play cricket and senior players who retire from first eleven cricket don't give back to the club that gave them so much by playing seconds or thirds.

In my opinion Mergers will become more common over the next few years.

Carrick were unable to field a 3rd XI last week due to exams - 22 players were unavailable.

But hey - who worries about your education, and future university / employment when there's a third eleven match to play.

Gordon Browne
President CCC

Perhaps Carrick got their starrings wrong last weekend when they were unable to field a 3 XI.

What happened to their abundance of players who they regularly boast about to, compare to so called 'smaller clubs'

Walkovers are becoming all too regular in the NCU

#bestclubinthecountry

Another good win for Portadown Taverners this evening at Chambers park, and yet another belting good pitch.

The Taverners have a couple of Friday evenings free this season if anyone wants to raise a team and come along to Chambers park for a match. Just contact us.

portadowntavernerscc@gmail.com

Re Ulster Plate

As four of the grounds that were due to host Ulster Plate 1st Round matches will now be used for Irish Senior Cup 2nd Round matches on Sunday 11th June, after consultation with the two Unions it was agreed that rather then splitting the round over two separate dates, we should move the Ulster Plate matches en bloc to Sunday 25th (there is a full round of T20 Cup matches in the NCU on Sunday 18th)

However if any club whose ground does happen to be available on Sunday 11th wishes to play on that date and can reach an agreement with their opponents to do so, I have no objection to the match being brought forward, as long as they let both myself and the Umpires' Secretary know in good time.

I see Victoria seconds conceded on Saturday. Possible merger with Lurgan on the cards for next season ?