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Jeff, i echo your comments about the guys getting well soon.

Yes local derby coming up again soon, im sure it will be another close game and it could have a huge impact on who finishes higher in the table.

Another local derby this sunday if anyone is interested , Saintfield v Downpatrick in the semi final of the Ulster Shield. Another grudge game... Dickie dont worry i won't bowl this time to give you a chance to get some runs lol.

Re Jeff

For your info both Derriaghy and Downpatrick have games in semi final of Ulster Shield this Sunday. Woodvale play Derriaghy at Muckamore and Saintfield host Downpatrick. Hopefully see you at T20 Shield final next Wed evening.

Tayto , yes indeed Craig Lewis is one of the best all rounders along with JA JA and only a few that play for most premier sides ive orderd more balls for the cup final next week at strangford road and might just bring couple dogs for the garden search and with Daubney the biggest hitter ive seen in this section we are big underdogs but that will suit us no pressure if we can pull of a shock . Just like wish speedy recovery to Billy Mccormick from Holywood in hospital and was great see Ted Cooke at a recent game and hope see Ivan Reid and Sammy Alexander back to full health and hopefully umpiring as both do a superb job and great charactors to boot .PS i think might be few our team try few over the road just pity wasnt a sunday game as both teams would have brought supporters and stayed in your marvelous facilities and enjoyed the after party win or lose and both teams aint got game this sunday think thats strange as would made for cracking day out.

The NCU's proposal for the two bottom sections proposes either 11 teams in the bottom section and 10 in the higher section, or an 8/13 split.

Personally I would be more in favour of the 10/11 split, as a league with 13 teams will mean a gulf in class, and many one sided games.

If there is 11 in the bottom section, 20 games is too many in my opinion. I think that if everyone played each other once at the start of the season, then there could be a split, and then the top 6 play each other again, and the bottom 5 do the same. It would require a couple of free Saturday's mid-season to clear any games which need cleared before the split....

Can anyone confirm how the bottom section of the senior league will be organised next year? With 13 teams left once the leagues above are reduced to eight teams each, I assume the only option is for each team to play each other once?

a few weeks ago there were postings about lack of media coverage and when AB expresses views he is lambasted. Surely we don't want a sanitised Press where the spin doctors try to make everything squeaky clean and PC. AB is entitled to his view and deserves our support, even though we may not always agree with his opinion. Compare the coverage in the Newsletter with what is laughingly called the "cricket roundup" on Radio Ulster on a Saturday night.

Is there any news from the Senior working group that met last night ?

I just wanted to praise Craig Lewis for a fine hundred at our place on Sunday. It was as clean a bit of hitting as i have seen for a long time... and good to see the first person hit the new house on the far side of the strangford road... anyone know a good plasterer lol

Its refreshing to see the new league set up is working to help find teams get to their level. JL 5 sees Waringstown IV midtable with 2nd XI teams.

Also what has happend to the Larne club - once a thriving club. 1st & 2nds bottom of their leagues and the 3rds having it hard too!

Finaly, its good to see Holywood 3rds getting some old faces out playing. Maxwell, Shannon, McMaster, Walker, & Johnston all names having senior experience! Could this be due to the new playing regulations introduced by the NCU?

Well done the NCU and the Working Groups!

Many wonderful & colourful characters have graced the cricket firelds of Ulster/Ireland - can we get a top XI or a list of those who hold a special place in all our hearts with their rapport, humour and banter..........i'm proposing a Lurgan man through and through Dickie Maxwell - one of the sharpest wits on a cricket field, a tremendous competitor and a joy to watch - gone but never forgotten.

Not sure that a national newspaper cricket reporter should 'wear his colours on his sleeve.' We assume they want to sell newspapers and there may be more readers in the Belmont area than Waringstown. However Twitter is not newspaper so give Bushy a break from his 9 to 5 as he is passionate about his club and the game.
Dk-'freedom of the press and twitter?'-did you not scold me for expressing an opinion a few weeks ago?

I agree entirely with Ivan.
I think AB does a superb job for the local game in what he writes for the NL.
Ali would be the first to tell us all that he wears his heart on his sleeve at times, but i genuinely believe he writes what he sees whilst at the same time offering his own opionion on the said game...ie what any any sports journo should do!!
From reading some of the comments made y'day i think he is as critical if not more so of his own club rather than CI!
Keep up the good work AB.

Alan - don't take it to heart - Waringstown have such high standards and it's what keeps them at the top - the odd tweet won't hurt anyone, maybe even stir them to greater feats with bat & ball - the boys at CI have thick skins and give as much as they get......modern sport. All for freedom of press and twitter!

Alan, I wasn't at the game and followed it via twitter. I agree with Ivan that if it wasn't for this technology I wouldn't have been able to follow that game and the others. However, I 100% agree with Alan about Alistair Bushe's comments, he may have slagged his beloved Waringstown off at times, but to say CI are not a Premiership team bar 3 players is a disgrace!! Did one of those 3 get Pienaar out?! Did they keep well or hit a six to win the game? There are a number of other CI players who other Premiership teams would welcome with open arms. Waringstown CC must cringe at times with his comments.

A fair comment Ivan and as a non 1st XI player I am looking forward to an exciting finish to the season. I too welcome the twitter reports but my objectin is when they become personnal.