Forum

Good topic Billy.
It would be interesting if someone from each Premier club came onto the Forum to express their opinion as I'm not sure it affected the other clubs that much. Personally I think it was a good idea as it kept matches more competitive at the top and bottom, but sharing a title within such a small group was an anti-climax. It was possible that four teams could have finished level which would have been farcical. Let's hear it from the clubs!

Andy ncu umpires lost by 40 odd the leinster pro won them the game again for them lol

Bumper,

Some positives and negatives in relation to the 8 team league.

Positives

1. Up until the last game, there was great interest at the top and bottom of the league.

2. The season finishes at the beginning of September which allows groundsmen to get the squares put to bed early which helps with the germination of seed

Negatives

1. The amount of money thrown at overseas Irish passport holders and locals being paid

2. The lack of youngsters given a chance to play at the highest level because of the pressure to win

There are some youngsters coming on the scene but if you look at it from a bowling perspective, can anyone tell me where all the young fast bowlers are, are is just a case there aren't any?

I worry for the future of the standard of cricket in the NCU.

I will pose this question. If all of the clubs that state their pros are doing a great job coaching, why has the NCU under age teams in the last few years been performing so poorly and why is there a need to bring overseas players over on top of the professional when all this coaching is going on?

Any result or report of the White Stick Trophy?

I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HEAR THE VIEWS, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE OF THE ELITE 8 TEAM PREMIER LEAGUE.
HOW IT HAS AFFECTED ALL CLUBS IN THE N.C.U.

As Matt has said, many thanks to all that have offered us congratulations (& we know it will be a major task to avoid going straight back down...especially if I am on the pitch), and the Dee lads were what we have came to expect from them, a bunch of gentlemen, regardless of the result), but have to pull Harv up on his comments on Gerald, I have never known Gerald to be injured by a beach-ball.

Neil - must agree with your comments regarding
Mr. Johnston. I met him a few weeks ago at
Pollack Park and he was looking as dapper as ever. I reminded him of his dancing with Flossie at the Victoria dinner a couple of years ago. He would make a great replacement for Forsythe on 'strictly'!

Victoria C.C. promotion...

Well played indeed men; as Swanney says, you've created your own bit of cricket history and glad to see a few posts relating to Gerald, a real character and if you don't mind me saying so, his prolonged dedication through the leaner years have in every way, been just as essential as anyone else's efforts in your success story!

Your Pro v our Pro

1.Your Pro I guess, comes from a foreign soil
Our Pro lives local, doesn't bother with suntan oil
Your Pro is young, fit, the darling of your crowd
Our Pro's getting on, has arthritis, but he's still proud.

2.Your Pro bowls well with vigour and zest
Our Pro just bowls and hopes for the best
And when your Pro bats, the crowds in a trance
Our Pro bats eleven, likes give the other lads a chance.

3. I bet your Pro gets runs and wickets galore
when our Pro last got a wicket, his hamstrung he tore!
And I know your Pro runs, like an Olympic champ
Our Pro can't run fast, cause he goes down with the cramp.

4. But let's look at the 'Pro's and then the Cons',
in a few years, will your Pro be gone?
Is he like Clint Eastwood, the young hired gun
'For a few dollars more', will he up and run.

5. Not so our Pro. No! He'll never leave
been at his club 60 years, wears his heart on his sleeve,
Now what price would you pay, for service like that?
Yes he's our Pro and if you meet him,
please...Tip your hat!

RE Andy
As much as Gerald may want too come out of retirement when batting I think it would be difficult to hold a bat, zimmer frame and white stick all at the same time. In fairness to him though I hope I am in as good a nick if I see his current age!
All in all a great season for our wee club. We look forward to testing ourselves at a higher level and no matter what the score cards read we will do so with a smile on our faces!!

Thanks to the guys on Donaghadee. It can't have been easy to miss out on promotion in the last game of the season, and their players were very gracious in defeat, and invited us for a drink afterwards.

Hopefully we will be able to survive in Section 2, and play Donaghadee in it the following year!

Thanks to everyone who wished us luck or offered us congratulations! It was very much appreciated. Needless to say, we had a great weekend and a great end to the season.

I was really pleased to see Victoria's promotion. Good bunch of guys who have kept going in sometimes difficult circumstances. One question - will this bring Gerald Johnston out of retirement?!

Well done to Victoria 1st XI gaining promotion to section 2. History in the making again well done everyone :- )

F.A.O. Stuart Broad....

Just Walk !

Pastor Pete was fond of a treat
When visiting his congregation
A cup of tea with something sweet
Before each biblical recitation!

Tommy O’Toole, drank his beer cool
Along with a double chaser
At times he would act the fool
Known locally as the village spacer!

They shared one common theme
Both enjoyed playing cricket
Opening batsmen on the same team
Each fastidious when at the wicket!

Playing together for the last time
In a now notorious match
Tommy nicked one very fine
As the keeper took a straightforward catch!

But before the mandatory appeal
He did not stand there and baulk
About turn then right wheel
Off to the pavilion he did walk!

The Pastor then suffered a similar fate
He also feathered an edge
Though he chose to remonstrate
Despite knowing it had hit the wedge!

With both umpires unsure and uncertain
Pete remained like an overzealous actor
Who won’t withdraw behind the curtain
Or like one of those awful singers from the X factor!

So he escaped due to a howler
And his foibles most underhand
But this so angered the bowler
That his next ball knocked Pastor Pete, into the Promised Land!

Now if ever you edge one through to the keeper
Please don’t just stand there and gawp
Because for all that you know, you could be facing the grim-reaper
So if I were you I’d just walk!

Ah dear goodness me...

The cricket season all over, holidays over, back to work, school gates reopened, traffic jams everywhere and of course it's raining! Oh well, there's always next season to look forward too and this Saturday evening's Lotto jackpot!

Maybe ?

A tedious routine...

Monday to Friday twice daily
I commute on a weekly ticket,
as the wheels of the train go around,
clickety, clickety, click it,

A tedious routine and though
I am thoroughly sick of it,
what keeps me going is on Saturday
I will exalt at the wicket,

Leather v willow, ball striking bat
playing and enjoying cricket,
so unless my 6 numbers come up
for the next twenty years, I'll just have to stick it !

C'Mon Michael - I could't possibly comment on the merits or otherwise of switching clubs!