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Reference the new league structure in the NCU - this will have a minimal impact on the club scene - real issues include start times and lack of flexability for years from within the corridors of the NCU - the game has been and is dying as clubs show their parocialism to keep their own patch in order while in the big picture the game of cricket within the NCU slowly dies & needs to be on the life support machine - quick someone immediately get it to A&E - the new structure will have minimal impact on the standard of the game (the dedicated and hard working will generally always be so)causing only more confusion and dissension. Too little too late gentlemen..........

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I don't want to disclose my school as that will invite a lot of stupid posts but for what it is worth our cricketers welcome the changes at junior level and what they are trying to do. It may not help the best players who play at the higher level but schools cricket is a short season and they can adapt. Why is nobody seems interested in the absence of a cricket club at Queen's because that's a big loss? I hope to be there in two years but don't see much cricket on the horizon after school.

Interesting opposition to 8 team leagues but why weren't you people at the AGM expressing your views where something can be done about it? Are you speaking for clubs or yourselves? I find it strange that a few website opinions are "common sense" and the 60.2% majority is not but everyone is entitled to their opinion. The 60% majority needed to change it might be an obstacle. That is if there are enough people out there that oppose the new league structure.

Re Current 1st XI league proposals

Well done Paul and Stuart for showing some common sense about what is due to be implemented in 2012.

The current proposals will not change without holding an EGM of NCU so I suggest to live with what has being accepted at recent AGM for 1 YEAR.

However,at next years NCU AGM propose a serial which RETAINS 10 teams in Sections 1 and 2 with the remainder of clubs making up Section 3 [probably 9]. This would give Cricket Ireland what they want and leave the current clubs in Section 1 and 2 to get on with playing 18 league games, something which I suspect most of them want. It would also increase Section 3 to 9 Teams and give a bit more cricket and variation in the opposition. This could be easily implemented by just relegating 2 teams from the premier & Sections 1&2 at the end of 2011 season .

I would also suggest that 2 up/down is retained as it adds interest/competitivness, something which supposed to be the reason for the change in the restructuring of the "junior" leagues.

Stuart Hegarty

100% correct.

Players below the top level are unlikely to be involved in Inter-Provincials which was the reason Cricket Ireland wanted an 8 team top tier league.

Not all clubs are involved in Ulster Cup/Shield matches so there is not the same pressure to reduce fixtures either.

I fear next year there will be teams relegated on the basis of the rain eg. No result and on the back of Net Run Rate which is a mystery to most of us. In Section 3, 2 teams will be relegated on the back of a top half finish. It is utter madness.

I very much doubt that this is what the players want or the clubs for that matter. So therefore the questions are:

1) What on earth were the club reps thinking about when they approved this or was it not made clear?

2) If people below Section1/Premier league don't want this in next years rule book then what can be done about it?

Davy McD VCC.

The logic of the Junior Task force changes was unanimously passed at the AGM. And the proposals were presented after we did three roadshows at which about 80% of clubs attended and aired their views.

This wasn't a cobbled together document but one compiled entirely by a wide group of people representing all levels of Cricket below 1sts standard.

Please give the new league structures a fair chance.

Re. ARMAGH MAN

Drinks on you at the Awards night then Bratty? :D

JEFF CHEERS FOR THE TIPS ENDED UP WELL UP- PICKED OUT 4 OF THEM AND YOU NAP AT THE LAST GOT ME GOOD MONEY- AGAIN CHEERS

new league structure

i have read with interest the various comments in response to the new league structures.

i agree with the restructuring of the junior leagues as something has to be done to try and keep players playing and maybe get a few returning. the majority of lower league players play socially and cannot commit to 50/45 overs of cricket every week. shortened formats may or may not help, but it is quite obvious that we need to try something.

i think the new 8 team premier league is a good idea, it makes the league more competitive and hopefully will reduce fixture congestions brought about by the various cup competitions.

however, i am totally against the restructuring of the the rest of division 1 cricket. the second tier of NCU cricket should not be reduced to this extent. i see the point of reducing junior cricket to attract more 'social' cricketers, but 1st XI cricket needs to be competitive. there are not the same cup constraints as in the premier league so automatically less fixtures. it the more than possible that the following scenario crops up in section 1:-
14 league games -
10 are 50 overs
2 are 20 overs
2 are no results
do we really want the second tier of NCU cricket won or lost on this amount of cricket?!?!
10 teams in sections 1 & 2 and 9 tems in section 3 is fine...leave it alone!

One of the other things that was passed at the AGM which I was against was the reduction in overs for wuite a few second and third teams, and that even 30 over games start at noon from July on, in a mover designed to get "adults playing the game"
Quite how this will encourage anyone that works saturday mornings to play is beyond me, and a step up from 35 to 50 overs when called from the seconds to the firsts is far too large a jump.
Then how many players will not get a bat on a lot of weeks (especially if the top order are doing anyway well), and when they do get in it will just be for a slog at the end of an innings

10/1 nap 14/1 5/1 & 9/4 not bad price for winners ARMAGH man will prob come on say he dint back them as 2 big prices .lol going down royal 2days nov 5 /6 th great punters pack if you book in advance 20£ gets u entry free 5£ bet glass wine an hot beef roll racecard an into marquee, on the friday then the sat is the big raceday might see if the cricketers on here fancy it as the fri imo is the best day for punting ,was good weekend punting 301£ for 3 numbers on irish lottery and had tenner@34 celtic too win halftime lose full time .

Jeff when are you going to organise a night out at D'patrick to earn us all a few quid? Would be great crack.

hope ARMAGH man backed my tips at wexford 10/1 nap 5 winners 1 placed 14/1 ?

ARMAGH M, My nap is Blessed Biata 340 newbury eway sat