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Jason Maxwell

Banford Green

11th Jan 2011

Roger

As our 2nds capt it doesnt really make any odds to me just as id asked before and got the response that more sunday games could be played then seeing on the website that leagues 1,2 & 3 could only play 2 games i thought i would ask, i know they arent in the same league as us anymore but in recent seasons we would have played victoria and donacloney in 2 night matches during the week in early summer so this would have been out the window also as that would be 4 games, but as i say this is irrelevant now as they arent in our league.

Michael Foster

Got a surname and not afraid to use it

11th Jan 2011

Hear hear Wylie!

Paul - Lisburn hosted the Junior Cup Final last year. 220 odd for Academy batting first, they won the game off the last ball by one run in what everyone present considered to be a fantastically exciting game of cricket.

Doesnt really suggest incapability for hosting a cup final, does it? Our groundsman, who is reasonably well known around local clubs, has faced extremely challenging conditions in recent years which have led to some of the wickets not being absolutely ideal for batting on occasion, but its the same for both sides. But a half decent summer last season (and it was only half decent) showed that our wickets are decent when the conditions do not conspire to make our job much harder. Any team coming to us after early May would hopefully agree.

Not sure what your concern is with the Lisburn outfield, apart from when it is really wet it is fine. Throw in unrivalled hospitality/teas from our revered ladies committee coupled with a desire throughout the club (it being our 175 year) to have a senior cup final to remember, and I would be more than hopeful that the finalists who make their way through to the showpiece at the end of July will have little cause for concern in relation to the facilities, and can concentrate on playing their best cricket.

If 220 plays 219 in a last ball thriller, I doubt you will hear many complaints, eh?

Wylie McKinty

Work

11th Jan 2011

Paul/Grounds for Cup Finals

As chairman of the NCU Competitions Directorate that recommends to the NCU Management Board the grounds on which cup finals should be played it would be nice to be able to choose from the 30+ grounds that are used in the NCU Area. Sadly this is not the case and we rely on clubs offering to host cup finals or agreeing to do so after an approach by this Directorate.
Very few clubs these days offer up their grounds for cup finals for a variety of reasons and the NCU are always extremely grateful to clubs that do offer to host finals.
I would also point out that as CIYMS play in the NCU Premier League their ground does have to have passed certain stringent ground criteria for cricket to be played there at that level.
If we also use Paul’s logic as regards “proper” cricket grounds then the Ireland cricket team would not be allowed to play ODI or International matches at Stormont as I’m pretty sure they play rugby there for more months than cricket is played!

Roger Bell

Home

11th Jan 2011

RE: Jason
Yes, you are correct, as we pointed out before, the very small number of clubs (maybe only Millpark II) playing in Junior 3 or above who only have 2 teams may play more than 2 matches on days other than a Saturday if they wish to do so.

Does it matter?!?

M3

11th Jan 2011

Paul,

Where do you think these finals should be played? Where do you class as a good wicket? Should clubs like CI not be encouraged to host cup finals?

Paul

M2

11th Jan 2011

Re Roy Young:

Finals should be played at the best cricketing venue available ie:
1-Good wickets (lisburn and CI-Negative)
2-Good outfield (lisburn and CI-Negative)
3-Finals should be played at a proper cricket club (Lisburn-Positive CI-Negative as its a rugby club turned kinda into a cricket club during a few months of the summer)

Best of luck to Lisburn in their 175th year, a fantastic achievement. Im just not at all convinced that their ground is fit for a senior cup final venue, i genuinely hope im proved wrong. Wallace Park was one of the most beautiful grounds to play at during the 80's and early 90's, great wickets and superb outfield etc but sadly this is not the case any longer.

Roy Young

At Newtownards

11th Jan 2011

Re: Junior Cup Final
Great news to see that the Junior Cup final will be played at CIYMS Belmont. I had suggested on this forum that it would be nice to see finals at new grounds.
With the senior cup being played at a club with such long history as Lisburn - its a nice balance to that the junior cup is played at a fairly new club with a short history.
Good luck to both Lisburn and CI for their big games!

Jason Maxwell

Banford Green

11th Jan 2011

Would I be right in saying that the junior task force have now changed their mind as I see on the ncu website that all teams in junior leagues 1,2 and 3 can now only play 2 games on a Sunday??? I thought and asked on here before and was told that this only applied if the club had more than 2 teams I THINK out of junior leagues 1,2 and 3 that only ourselves (Millpark) and donaghadee have 2 teams .

Stephen Hughes

Aussie bashing!!

10th Jan 2011

Q. What do you call an Aussie with a bottle of champagne?
A. A waiter
Q. What do you call an Aussie who can hold a catch?
A. A fisherman
Q. Why can no one drink wine in Australia at the moment?
A. They don't have any openers
Q. What's the difference between Cinderella and the Aussies?
A. Cinderella knew when to leave the ball
Q. What do you call a world class Australian cricketer?
A. Retired
Ring Ring.....
Hello - Australian team dressing room
Hello mate...Can I speak to Ricky Ponting please.
Sorry mate - he's just gone out to bat
It's OK - I'll hold.
Where do you find an Australian cricketer with runs?
Trap 2
A bloke walks into a brothel and says: "I'm a bit k.nky, how much for total humiliation?"
The madam replies $60.
"Wow, what do I get for that," he says.
She says: "A baggy green cap and an Australia cricket shirt”.
Last pommie to bring back ashes from Australia was Paula Yates

Wylie McKinty

Home

7th Jan 2011

NCU Junior League Structure

The NCU Competitions Directorate met last night and approved the structure for the new Junior Leagues
I have placed a link on the NCU home page giving details of the various sections and updated each of the Junior League Section pages.
I have also added the draws for the Intermediate, Minor (Lindsay) and Minor Qualifying Cups
Just in case any one has forgotten the NCU's home page link it is www.northerncricketunion.org

Neal Hermon

Still at work

7th Jan 2011

No problem Wylie. Bet that rain delay helped a bit......

They did drag it on a bit I have to say though Siddle did show a bit more than the rest of the Aussie tail which started with Shane Watson.

C.Boomer

Home

7th Jan 2011

Some exciting draws alright in the Challenge-Cup, the highlight for me would be the second round, a local derby (if both teams get through rnd.1)
Lurgan-v-Donaghcloney... should get plenty of punters through the gates of whichever club has home draw.

And well played England on their convincing Ashes series win, praise especially should go to Broad & Finn's replacements Tremlett & Bresslin who were outstanding and more than justified their inclusion in the 1st team.

Gareth

Armagh

7th Jan 2011

Re. Jim.

Not sure about why there was a lack of champagne when the Aussie squad has Bollinger in it!

Cook did get the Compton/Miller medal about half an hour later, Tubby Taylor was just a fairly shambolic host for the presentation. I'm sure it will mean more than the perspex Vodafone bat!

Wylie McKinty

Home

7th Jan 2011

Neal

Thanks for letting me know (you were not the only one!).
I hope you’ll let me off this time as I did it last night while watching the end of the Ashes and was probably a bit distracted!
It is now fixed on the NCU site
The other senior cup draws should be on the site as the day progesses

Jim

Alice Springs NT

7th Jan 2011

Are the Aussie Cricketing authorities poor losers? No champers for the winners and no medal for Cooke. Disgraceful.