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Just to like echo the comments of the Waringstown supporters who were at Middle road on Saturday.If anybody hasn't been to Middle road its a great place to watch cricket.
Carrick are very much a club on the up with a great team spirit. Nice clubhouse and always made very welcome after a game.
Spent Saturday afternoon at a picturesque Middle road watching Carrick and Waringstown... Surprisingly we avoided most of the days rain (albeit one break) while other got hit!
The Carricks response to 215 target from 35 starting 70-3 off 18 after the rain break was nothing short of remarkable!
Pat Botha hit a excellent and some could say blistering 90 off about 40 balls - some of the cleanest hitting you'll ever see.
Once he departed many including myself would have thought game done and dusted, but wasn't I wrong, both Shetty and Armstrong batted superbly under pressure hitting some vital lusty blows to see Carrick win by 3 wickets
If there ever was a story of the season, Carrickfergus has been that team/club who should be proud of themselves, the Premier League table shows that.
I finish by saying, I hope some of journalist speak with Carrick club and skipper Parky about this remarkable season, as most would have predicted at start of sealant that they may struggle
I have to support 'Mike' or 'Mick' over the postponed North Down - Templepatrick game. The vagaries of Northern Ireland weather are such that it IS possible that rain fell so 'locally' that a pitch would be unplayable while another within 30 yards isn't! Haven't come across this in some 55 years involvement in cricket but it could happen. But then again!! I tend to agree with Mr. McCrea's summation.
No photographers only come out in the sun when it's been dry for two days.....
Ndcc 2nds off today no photographer in site
re William Carr
Since when did 93no equate to a ton?
A big well done to Portadown and Monaghan for managing to play a match yesterday evening.
It was gloomy, and it was raining but that didn't discourage anyone(much). A great game played @ around 8 runs and over. Makes you wonder why more games aren't played in light rain or less than perfect conditions. It's ok to begin a match and then abandon it if conditions become unsafe. There are too many matches not even getting the chance to begin.
The floodlights were on at Chambers park last night, but that was for the benefit of the rugby match on the adjacent pitch!
I should have taken a picture of the rugby under the lights, and the cricket match right beside in the damp and gloom.
R.E Nathan Doak
My apologies, congratulations to the lad on making a ton at 14, superb achievement
Editor's response to the NIgel Jones retirement post.
Have to say I read this differently to you.
'Nigel, top player, and top bloke by all accounts played 19 of the 48 matches scheduled over that period and when he did contributed greatly to what success the Knights had in the early days.'
Hardly a 'very cruel assessment on Nigel' to my reading.
His unavailability was reportedly down more to his employers than himself and no personal criticism is implied there.
What seems to be up for judgement is whether his assertion, in his own words or someone else's about the Knights, past, present and future can withstand scrutiny of the on field performance.
Sing along if you know the words, 'Things can only get better.'
Mike
No thoughts from you then on the reason of my post......... the rule change.
This is something I suggested weeks ago on the forum and also brought up the topic at the NCU road show.
I've just read that Nigel Jones has retired from interprovincial cricket "after a successful four years with the Northern Knights."
I have to say this left me wondering if the 'success' alluded to was at a personal or team level.
Nigel, top player, and top bloke by all accounts played 19 of the 48 matches scheduled over that period and when he did contributed greatly to what success the Knights had in the early days.
But if we're talking Team success then I'm afraid he's turned his back on his normal 'seam' for 'spin'.
"Jones believes the current squad and backroom staff have the necessary ingredients for success in the years ahead, having built solid foundations and having proper structures in place."
Sorry! but it's been downhill all the way for the last 3 years.
2014 brought 1 win out of 4 in each of the 3 competitions
2015 brought 2 wins out of 4 in the 50 overs and 0 out of 8 in the others
2016 brought 1 win out of 4 in the 50 overs and 0 out of 8 in the others.
In three years then out of 36 matches the Knights have managed 6 wins!
That's 3/12 in 2014, 2/12 in 2015, 1/12 in 2016
Not sure that is a solid foundation for any structure to be built on.
Editor-
Very cruel assessment on Nigel. So many other factors could be involved rather than bare facts.
No sign of lethargy or lack of intetest where I 've played most of my cricket this season and certainly no talk of reduced overs or early finishes!
Yes, even with a game or two still to play, its been a joy and privilege to have the opportunity to 'face off ' against our future cricketing stars of tomorrow, and though personally for me it gets more difficult with each passing season, thats the natural progession of things and I wouldn't want it any other way!
So 'hats off' to all the players of JL 9, some fantastic young talent coming through and may I especially salute the respestive captains of every team, their on field guidance and marshaling of these young prodigies are a credit to both themselves and their clubs.
Every team has impressed me in this vitally important league with Templepatrick & Derriaghy being the outstanding pick of the bunch.
Superb work by all involved and already looking forward to next season's monumental challenges.....Who says cricket in this wee province is dying ???
William
It was Neil's 14 year old son Nathan with the runs for our 4th XI
Easy error to make - no harm, no foul
re William Carr
Neil Doak was indeed at the Derriaghy IV v Lisburn IV match but only as a spectator. It was his son Nathan who scored the runs.
Re: William Carr
There is more than one N Doak registered for Lisburn so it may well have been the younger N Doak that scored those runs.
