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Already CLUB BASHING has started .No club is embarassed on struggling getting a team out yes dissapointed as we fight thru other sports exams schools cricket work commitments and balancing work and family quality time , sat we fielded for 14 overs with NINE FIELDERS (subs should be alowed in this case) as two great young lads struggled to beat busy sat traffic /accident? Sunday our overseas indian player Prem Ahire wasnt allowed play junior cup (we still would lost )and help quide our very young side thru a very heavy defeat (the fact that that Muckamore seconds fielded THREE very good indians all founders is not a dig at them as ther club is thriving and brilliant work by all involved ) .My point is that cricket in 70% clubs are struggling as lots players dont want double headers or 50 over cricket and my ideas are revamp the NCU AGM as its time that each section votes on what ther club requires ie how can Monaghan vote on what Waringstown need is premier and vice versa ? This is my idea id make PREMIER 14 teams Downpatrick/Muckamore/Lurgan/Ballymena/Bangor/Woodvale one home game each year which FREES up lots dates run proper T20 CUPS with massive semi finals day with barbeques music lots great ideas to make it spectator friendly and stop this madness of familys gettting destroyed with playing sat and sunday missing out on there children growing up (we have all done it).I have played 45 years and would play 60 over games and every day but them days are gone cricket and the NCU need to move with the times as our great game and clubs are in lot more trouble than most realise id say present players career is between 10 /15 years.The present younger players and im not talking about NCU sguad players want shorter games as they seek balance enjoying weekends we must address that asap ,Lets look at last sat we had lot schoolboys playing sat morning afternoon and sunday (one them said me thank god we out in 14 overs as can study and get back to life ) but his point was its far to much to expect anyone to play cricket fot 240 overs in weekend in fairness I AGREE . I am stalwart and proud of my clubs effort FREE Cricket over 8 weeks and nine shools involved with finals day but even i cant promise we will get 20 kids wanting to join club but i gave commitment that while still alive ill do something to put back inrto the game as i have gained much more out of .ps Muckamore destroyed us but i simply set them up FREE REFRESHMENTS AND BURGERS as no one died and it was great day lots enjoyed except our young batsmen.and we all should remember theres more to life that cricket.pps bet you Andy Clement saying that god Jeff didnt phone him with this RANT.

Why do people need to take it upon themselves to write about other clubs without knowing the circumstances and situation? Instead of focusing on individual clubs, one should take a look at the overall
health of the game. Let's be clear, Cricket in Ulster is not in as strong a position as people think! Take out paid players (including pros and Irish Passport holders which I know is an exhausted argument) and that's where we stand. I do respect that certain clubs are in strong positions with great youth set ups with 4 or more senior teams but these clubs are a minority and I am seeing the majority in this situation increase each year!

Mike. I would welcome your surname so that we know who we are talking to. I am far from ashamed. I applaud the hard working efforts of 2 team captains trying to get 11 players each for Saturday in the middle of exam season. I applaud the players that took to the field in an effort to play a game of cricket rather than find some excuse not to play as other clubs have done lately. It’s too easy to hide behind anonymity and throw things then run away and hide. Come down to the Green any night of the week and see how much time and effort is going into a club of North Down’s stature. We might even find something positive for you to do. I am far from ashamed.

Mike. Who do you think you are to criticise any club of their affairs.

Maybe if you took a look at the ncu as a whole you might realise that it's not an easy task getting teams together week in week out. It's hard work by a devoted few in each club.

Already this season drumaness have folded. I note that both Dungannon and Ards failed to fulfil first eleven fixtures last weekend. And already there have been a few other junior league teams giving walkovers.

It's not all rosey out there !

Re- Andys comments on ground improvements at Woodvale C.C...
Hey Andy thanks for your kind words about our sight screens and ground improvements. They have a good group of guys working beaverishly behind the scenes to secure funding for such things. They also (as you know) have a great wee clubhouse with a bar that sells all sorts of refreshments to raise revenue.They are available to: members, non members and visiting officials and players. Perhaps next time you are over Belmont direction you could pass this on!! Maybe they were stuck for cash...who knows??

What is happening at north down seconds and thirds can't get eleven players to play I've watched many a game and a club of north downs stature should be ashamed I've seen 5ths and 6ths teams at clubs field eleven players

20/20 at Middle Road on Friday night. Well marketed, beer promotions, music and Aliie McCalmont on the mike. Weather was a great plus. Great entertainment - not sure about the 'light up' bails being used in bright sunshine.

Hi, anyone know of any 2nd hand Boundary line markers machine for sale

Congratulations to Woodvale on the ground improvements. The new sight screens and fencing make a tremendous difference, not forgetting Colin Storey's paintwork! When the new scorebox is added Ballygomartin Road will certainly looking well.

Tony Cozier has passed away after a long period of illness. He was an active journalist until recently and will always be remembered as an outstanding broadcaster. For many cricketers he was the face of the West Indies and he loved the rise of Ireland cricket. He joked cricket was emerging as the West Indies were falling.
He was the Doyen of broadcaster, journalist and statistician and sadly missed throughout the cricket globe, but especially in Barbados..

Graeme & Cooke Collegians 3's

Graeme Templepatrick 4's have restarted this year and played against Newforge 2's at the weekend, I was talking to their skipper after a fun hard fought match and we discussed a friendly in August.

In addition William Hall of Muckamore 5s was very keen for more games following Junior 9 being limited to 8 games this year.

If you are still looking in August I will run it by our Committee & sort a game versus TCC 4's, myself one or two adults and a load of talented kids.

I think friendlies would be a great way forward for the very occasional cricketer like myself and a way to encourage folk back to the game.

Hi
Thanks for posting my message about NI football tickets for sale.
I have now sold them so can you take down my message as it will save me getting more calls.
Thanks for your help.
Cecil Johnston

Hi everyone Cooke Collegians would like to get our third XI off the ground again. As such we would like to know if anyone would be interested in a friendly or two. Give me a shout if interested. My details are in ncu book graemewkpollock@hormail.com

In case any cricket fans are also N I Football fans I have for sale some Euro 2016 tickets for 2 of Northern Ireland's games as follows.
The tickets are top grade Category 1 tickets in the N I section on the half way line.
Two tickets for Sunday 12 June in Nice ko 1800 hours for Poland v Northern Ireland and two tickets for Thursday 16 June in Lyon ko 1800 hours for Ukraine v Northern Ireland.
If anyone is interested you can email me at cecil.johnston@btinternet.com for further details.
I got these tickets through the UEFA ballot but now find I can't use them so maybe someone else can make use of them. Cheers.

The first weekend fixtures certainly gave us one major shock result . Very few would have predicted a defeat for Armagh against Saintfield in the Senior Cup and maybe Section One is going to be an even tighter league with all teams capable of beating each other.
Great wins for Derriaghy and Carrickfergus as well if maybe a bit more predictable with the players out of last year's CIYMS and North Down teams. Healthy for cricket that we can look forward to a competitive season.
This weekend with the Irish Cup games will open up "who is the strongest Union " debates again. Great start to the season lets hope it continues.