Forum

I suppose that as we get towards the end of this season the various Competition Rules and Regulations will be, again, altered, or dare I say ignored, in order to get games finished!!

Looking a friendly this friday night for our under 13s anyone fancy a game at cregagh??

NCU Girl's Under 17's to play North West Girl's Under 17's, at Bready CC.
The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced a Girl's Under 17 squad to play their North West counterparts, at Bready Cricket Club, on Monday 20th August (11am).
The girls and officials will then stay to watch first Twenty 20 International between Ireland and Afghanistan.
NCU Girl's Under 17 Squad
Abbi Leckey - CSNI (captain)
Sophie Hinds - Lurgan (wicket keeper)
Amy Hunter - Instonians
Zoe Kilpatrick - Lurgan
Cara Murray - Waringstown
Emma McMurray - Lurgan
Erin McQuiston - Cliftonville Academy
Katie Palin - Instonians
Sarah Sandford - Waringstown
Taryn Schutzler - North Down
Freya Watson - Instonians
Coach Chris Elliott says, 'This is the last inter-provincial fixture of the season for the girl's, and they are looking to redress last weeks defeat to the North West in Coleraine. It is set to be a great day for the girls as they will watch Ireland play Afghanistan at Bready, in a the Twenty 20 International fixture'.

Hello from sunny Nantes in France. Nantes CC is a club in the west of france seeking to promote cricket among the locals. We have thriving men's, women's and junior sections and a recently inaugurated ground in the city's largest park. Most of our cricket is either on our annual tour or when we welcome touring sides from GB or Ireland. We have teams booked to come in September and October, usually to play 2 games in a weekend. However, the team due to come on the last weekend of September, 28th - 30th, has had to pull out. This leaves a space for any club or group of mates who fancy a jaunt over to Nantes (a lovely city) and a game of cricket. If you're interested, please get in touch via our fb page or by replying to this message. We'll do all we can to help you arrange a tour. Thanks and enjoy the rest of your season.

Congratulations to all involved in the work at Woodvale. The ground looks really well with the completion of the scoreboard. Just shows what can be achieved when a club directs resources to its infrastructure.

Hi Ed you probably was wondering where my tips was this week for the Irish and National Cups this week, I got side tracked due to the Golf and my Soccer team down in The Republic Drogheda United beat the might of Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup. Anyhow I would have had 3 from 4 with Clontarf letting me down as I could not see past Waringstown Rush and Limerick. The matches all had something in them to delight us.
On the Womens front it was nice to see Wallace Park in Lisburn being used for the Super3s and nice to see Ali Cowan and Naomi Matthews and Natasha Morton formerly of North Down now with The Hills on the Typhoons side and Amy Hunter on the Dragons side. Amy Benson and Cara Murray also plays in this but I would be hoping that Hannah Grieve Sandi Harrison Suzi Morrison Sam Todd Suzie McCollum and a few others could be picked in this next year.
Some of the NCU women in the Super3s will be in Balbriggan next weekend and I am hoping to be there weather permitting
But why not an interpro between the 3 Unions in Ireland in the Womens side of the sport as it would both benifit the players who would be involved as it would improve their game but also the International side if we are to compete with Sri Lanka Zimbabwe Pakistan and West Indies in the Womens front.
PS Nice to see the Cricket Ireland Flag at Lords over the weekend a little tear was shed and maybe the rain that fell there was from our past cricketers who are no longer with us with a tear of joy

Good luck to Cliftonville Academy and Instonians in their final encounter of the midweek league competition.
Taverners would love to play the winners in a challenge match before the evenings get too short.
Border league winners V midweek league winners. another title up for grabs!

Name the grounds:
Templepatrick (Ballyclare RC) - Vivtoria (Lurgan park) - Holywood (Seapark Oval) - Muckamore
Maybe I should get out more Lol....

The final of the Intermediate Cup Final will be contested by Donacloney Mill Seconds and Cliftonville Academy Seconds, at Upritchard Park (Bangor CC), on Saturday 11th August (Noon Start).
The Intermediate Cup is contested by cricket clubs in Junior League 2 and 3. Both of this years finalists are participants in Junior League 2.
Cliftonville Academy Seconds reached the final by defeating Cregagh II's by 74 runs in the first round, followed by an 8 wicket victory over Downpatrick II's in the next round. In the semi-final Junior 2 league leaders North Down II's were beaten by 94 runs. Prior to the merger of Cliftonville and Academy the latter won the Intermediate Cup in 1977 and 1978, and were defeated by Donacloney Mill II's in last seasons semi-final.
Donacloney Mill Seconds were runners up in the Intermediate Cup Final last season to Carrickfergus II's. Their route to this years final saw victories over Holywood II's (76 runs), and Instonians III's (6 wickets) in the early rounds. In the semi-final Laurelvale II's were defeated by 8 wickets. Donacloney II's completed back to back triumphs in the Intermediate Cup in the mid 1980's (1984 and 1985).
All players, officials and supporters will be made most welcome at Bangor Cricket Club.

Name these grounds!

Hi Ed hope you are well, I must say following the Womens Cup Final on Sunday my nerves were shot to pieces and have no nails left and me a neutral. Both Lurgan and CSNI should be praised for their commitment to the cause and those who attended were well rewarded.
A low scoring match in my opinion is like a game of chess as to see who cracks first in the encounter. It was also nice to see two young umpires officiating the match, both Sean Grant and Laura Caughey (future is bright off the field with youngsters looking to umpire).
Checking the NCU Website on Bank Holiday Monday in The Republic it was nice to see the match highlighted was a good thing for the Women's side of Cricket in the NCU region and Cricket Europe Ireland had some good action shots.
On to the run in the League have both CSNI and Lurgan taken their eye of the ball and left Muckamore to take the title but with Muckamore having to travel to both sides this is where they will win or lose the league then a repeat at Pollock Park on 19th August could be a potential title match if Muckamore has lost both above matches. Major surprise this year is Waringstown not having won a league match this year and with some heavy losses to.
And also to the Under 17s who played the NWCU in 3 matches with 2 T20 wins at Stormont a couple of weeks ago but I was surprised to see them lose in Coleraine on Tuesday as I thought they would have won easily
I hope that the match between the Northern Women and North West Women will have another match this year after the postponement and then the abandonment of the clash a few weeks ago, it would be nice to see a Women's Interpro on this island of ours to be played with the help of the Unions to help Ireland Women's Cricket as we have seen in Rugby and more recently in Hockey

As predicted, the Portadown Taverners vs Victoria select T20 match turned out to be another last over thriller with the home side just about defending a very credible 121, despite a valiant effort by the Victoria batsmen who took up the cudgels in taking the game right to the wire and just falling short right at the very end.
How in ever, the real winner on the night was the great game itself and kudos indeed to Alan Chambers & George Hamil for all their hard work and dedication in keeping the sport very much alive & well in the area and further field, sterling work indeed Gents!
Secondly, superb indeed and a great moral boost for both sides to have a surprise visit from the NUC's President and the Director of Domestic, adding prestige and no small amount of encouragement to all participants. Clarence & Neale, on behalf of both teams, thank you very much for slotting both your welcome visits to Chambers Park into as I'm sure very busy schedules, much appreciated gentlemen!!
And finally, alas that supposed formidable new signing by the Portadown Taverners didn't live up to all the hype, ( mostly made by himself), seems he talks a good game though that's about it, then again, isn't there one like that at every club ? Goodnite....

Delighted to see NCU president at the match this evening. I think he would agree that there was plenty of talent on show.
Another epic last over decider game 'clinched' by the Taverners. I'll leave the match report to Caleb.

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced a squad to participate in the Under 16 Cricket Festival from August 13th-15th, in Belfast.
Following on from successful tours to festivals at St Alban's (U17) and Taunton (U11/U14) in the past two seasons, the NCU are hosting their own inaugural event, with Campbell College Belfast as base.
Campbell College has agreed to host players and officials, with CSNI (Stormont) and CIYMS (Belmont) hosting the games over the three days. Teams from Yorkshire Schools Cricket Association, Cornwall Cricket Board and St Joseph's College will join the NCU in a round robin tournament.
NCU Under 16 Squad
* Luke Allison
* Ben Beattie
* Matthew Daly
* Michael Glass
* Ethan Hanna
* Matthew Humphrey
* Archie Johnston
* James Lambert
* Sam McLarnon
* Reece Malone
* Hugh Minford
* Michael Waite
* Ewan Wilson
* Adam Wylie
Coaches: Eugene Moleon and Simon Johnston
Fixtures
Monday 13th August - 11am Start
NCU v Cornwall Cricket Board - Stormont
St. Joseph’s College, Ipswich v Yorkshire Schools Cricket Association - Belmont
Tuesday 14th August - 11am Start
NCU v St. Joseph’s College, Ipswich - Belmont
Cornwall Cricket Board v Yorkshire Schools Cricket Association - Stormont
Wednesday 15th August - 11am Start
Cornwall Cricket Board v St. Joseph’s College, Ipswich - Stormont
NCU v Yorkshire Schools Cricket Association - Belmont
Uel Graham, NCU Cricket Operations and Administration Manager, says, 'The vast majority of this squad have been involved in recent Interpro series where U17s won and U15s finished second and this festival and its preparation are seen as significant steps in their development both collectively and individually'.
Robert Robinson MBE, Headmaster of Campbell College said, ‘we are delighted that the NCU has decided to hold its first ever residential festival at Campbell College this summer and look forward to welcoming the three teams from England to our campus. We are grateful for the strong partnership we enjoy with both the NCU and Cricket Ireland and look forward to watching some superb talent on display in East Belfast’.
Chairman of the NCU Alan Waite speaking about the forthcoming festival said, ‘the NCU will warmly welcome our visitors from Cornwall, Yorkshire Schools Cricket Association and St Joseph’s College, Ipswich to our inaugural cricket festival. Our young cricketers, coaches and administrators have been hugely impressed by participating in similar festivals in England and Scotland over the past four years. With the support of Campbell College, to whom we are grateful for hosting the players and officials and also some grant funding from Belfast City Council, NCU staff have worked expediently to co-ordinate this exciting new chapter as part of our commitment to youth development within our region'.
The NCU Under 16 squad have played two warm up fixtures: defeating Jersey Under 15's, by 17 runs, with Reece Malone top scoring with 49, in a total of 127 for 7; and losing by 8 wickets to the Cricket Masters Academy. The NCU scored 225 for 4 declared in 25 overs with Michael Glass and Archie Johnston scoring undefeated half centuries. The Cricket Masters won the game, with Parth scoring 128 and Guraj 47 not out.
The NCU would like to thank CIYMS CC and Donacloney CC for making sure the squad got appropriate match practice before the festival.
The Northern Cricket Union will be providing umpires for all of the matches during the festival.
The festival Twitter account @NCU_News will be used for festival information, including the prospects of play if the weather is very wet, and the Cricket Europe team will be covering the festival.

Instonians CC and CIYMS CC will contest the rarranged Banoge Cup Final (Under 13), on Thursday 9th August (6pm), at Belmont (home of CIYMS CC).
Belmont is located on the Circular Road, Belfast, BT4 2GD.
Instonians winners of the Banoge Cup for the past three seasons, reached this years final courtesy of a bye in the first round, and a 148 run victory over Ballymena in the second round. They then had two closer finishes, beating CSNI by 28 runs (third round), and in the semi-final defeating Donacloney Mill by 21 runs.
CIYMS's journey to the final started with a bye, followed by a 7 wicket victory against Derriaghy. In the third round they defeated Cliftonville Academy by 9 wickets, before overcoming Templepatrick in the semi-final.
All players, officials, and supporters will be made most welcome at Belmont.