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I played a match yesterday for CSN 2s against N Down 2s and realised that I had played through a number of generations of very good cricketers. Over the last 12-15 years I thought I would pick a team from the NCU that I would regard as the toughest players to play against and some of the best to watch

Andrew White - I first played against Whitey when he was a young lad in Ards. In the early part of the 2000s when Whitey played a lot more club cricket in the NCU he was truly destructive. 1000 runs and 35 wickets in a season in 2003 says it all.

Stephen Warke - I am a bit biased as I had the pleasure of playing with Stephen for a couple of years at Woodvale albeit near the end of his career. Sheer class and as much time to play a ball as anyone I have seen. A legend at Woodvale and just ask anyone about the 98 cup final and you will hear about Warkey’s ton.

David Kennedy - took Ballymena to an amazing league win in 98. Every time I seemed to play against him he scored runs and in 5 or 6 years at the Green he probably scored a few thousand runs averaging about 50. The 2004 cup final with a ton and a fifty against Harlequins was an awesome display. As Raymond Moreland keeps reminding me he can also turn the arm over.

Andy Patterson - What an awesome player in full flight. Moving his feet and hitting the ball straight, pulling, elegant cover drives. Genuinely class player. I did not play a lot of league cricket against him but saw quite a bit of him in Irish Unis/Irish Development games.

Ryan Haire - his sheer weight of runs over the last 10 years make leaving him out impossible. A man for the big occasssion and has probably scored more 100s against CSN/Quins/North than any other club. Takes games away from you.

Derek Heasley - He just seems to get better and better. Fantastic eye, hard hitting and scored a 146 not out against Harlequins in 2004 that was probably the best hundreds ever played in the league. Chasing 214 Derek got the winning runs off the last ball with 2 wickets in hand. Next highest score 11. Awesome! Always took wickets and bowled well at the death.

Kyle McCallan - There is nothing I can say about Kyle that has not been said already. I have played against him since Under 15s and his drive and determination are a fantastic example for all kids nowadays. Smartest cricketer of his generation with bat and ball and you know you are in a game playing against him.

Allen Rutherford - this was a tight call. Again played with him and against him. As tough a cricketer as there was You would want him in your side in a tough battle and could win matches standing up as a keeper. Some awesome stumpings (particularly leg side) and never gave his wicket away. Played a couple of outstanding innings. None more so than against North Down at Comber in the quarter final of the cup in 1999.

Ryan Eagleson - Like Kyle I have played against him since Under 15s. Has tormented me for 20 years now and is without a doubt the best swing bowler the NCU has seen in the last 15 years. Has held Carrick together with bat and ball and it is a shame back injuries hindered his stint in England.

Mark Patterson - the third of the Cliftonville brigade of the 90s. Would run through walls to get a wicket and as fierce a competitor as there was. Bowled with real venom and attitude. Played a game with him last year for the MCC and still a top bowler.

Michael McCord - with 2 spinners in already this was a real toss up and depends on conditions. My other choice was Adrian McCoubrey who bowled with real heat and again was a tough competitor. Banty is a legend though in Bangor and his 35 wickets in 2004 helped Bangor to an amazing league win. Could still take 35-40 wickets a year and a massive loss to Bangor.
There were a number of players I could slot into that team comfortably. Jim Patterson, Garfield Harrison, Uel Graham, Peter Shields, Johnny Bushe, Ross McCollum, Robin Haire.

There are some other top club players (Non internationals) that over the years have been fantastic competitors that could make a good side. Gareth Morrison, Michael Scott, John Stevenson, Mark Hutchinson (1 cap I think), Geoffrey Ferguson, Simon Harrison, Richard Warnock, Jeremy Stewart, Gary Hunter, Marty Moreland, Billy Adams, Johnny Hewitt and yes, I have to say it, Bumper Dale.

Certainly some good players and I have probably missed a few. You will note I have left out non NI born players such as Eugene, Coops, Westy etc.

Seem to recall Waringstown bringing a Barrister to the NCU meeting to decide the league over Connellgate.

Hey James - how do you know when you're on a plane full of Derry wans - the engines switch off and you can still hear the whining!! Funny enough the Ulster Shield final was between 2 NCU sides - maybe the problem arises when the majority of North-West sides have to play on the big grounds in the NCU!

Great stuff James. I thought you were a nutcase but you're not. You are a comedian!
Only one part of your act that needs adjusted. No NCU leagues have been decided in the law courts. Otherwise the rest of your material is hilarious.
Dare I say entertaining?

i cannot believe the standard of north west cricket is being abused. no doubt there is one real feeder club in donemena but ncu is littered with southern hemisphere pros. 6 of ten clubs riddled with them. north down probably would get relegated without them and would csn have a club? look at the state of lisburn carrick inst ci. probably pay everyone and most would not get on donemena 2s. as for ncu and holes come on now. committee rooms are where the leagues are won. just waiting for some crying this year. give you your dues you managed a few lucky wins in club turf this year knocking out bready limavady and donemena. that was a turn up but maybe better standard of pros this year helps. anyway i look forward to hearing who wins your amazing league in the courts at christmas.

In fairness Froggy its been 3 or 4 seasons since I played a game and even back then it wasnt until someone hit my slow medium dobbers into the nearest river/carpark/clubhouse that I would actually have recognised them.

Good luck with the rest of the season, hope the weather improves.

Come off it James! Paul Stafford brings it on himself in a public domain and actually invites reaction then answers it by saying he writes for entertainment and if you don't want to be entertained by him then don't read it. Fair enough. Most of us don't read him anymore. As for setting the North West up as something to aspire to get real. North West cricket has more holes than a fishing net and faces some serious problems that are well documented on the other channel by North West people themselves. OK the teas are brilliant, Donemana is brilliant and the McBrines are brilliant. What else is going well up there? Suspensions, few umpires, sledging, umpires abuse, dropping playing standards, personal threats, lack of quality players, etc. These are the things that real grassroots North West forumites are talking about these days not wasting their time on rants against the NCU. We aren't crying when a well known NCU critic rants about us again and again as we are actually laughing. We're not perfect but we're not that bad!

Ncu and Northwest clubs have met on 16 occasions this season between Irish cup and Ulster cup, Ncu clubs won 11 of these clashes, but don't let the facts get in the way of a good story. Nwcu didn't fair any better in the shield either. Paul and myself were having a bit of banter, pity when you pass the 'ponderosa' the rarified 'Londonderry air' numbs your sense of humour!!!

Cracking wit today on cricinfo - -
"Good grief. What the hell's happening here? Australia are 89 for 3 and trailing by 243. Broad looks unstoppable. The clouds are looming; the rain's not far away, and I'm eating far too much sugar and can barely sit still. Here's Clarke! Broad has 3 for 8 in 16 balls of madness"

james north west

correct on the staffy points....

however dont go slagging off ncu cricket regarding money bags when your from the north west...Glendermott anyone?? ulster cup this year...includes teams from ncu and north west? would i be correct? the final was contested against north down and csn!! case closed.

you ncu boys do some cryin when someone speaks there mind. paul stafford calls a spade a spade and is more often right than wrong albeit have not checked his irish cup predactions but one thing he said was the ncu would struggle in it. where are the so called big shots this year? north down fail again or should i say yet again. what about the money machines at csn, inst, ci, lisburn. all stuffed. what about roger bells carrick? burnley probably have a lower payroll and carrick could not beat themselves out of a wetpaper bag. best thing you can do is gang up on a man who speaks his mind. take a look at yourselves

Cheers Ivan, it's been a good week!

I'll be diplomatic and just say that both results gave me a lot of satisfaction!

few bets for today in case i need 20£ for ROBIN HOOD YORK all eway , rogrigo de torres 145/ numie 215/ roaring forte 250/ storyland 415. good luck

editor , im sure no two people will work harder than gavin or ivan so i hope they get the game on as theirs no better place than strangford road for atmosphere . no someone asked me if theirs no chance of play can it b switched thats why i asked and good luck to both teams in what looks a 50/50 game ?

ivan. didnt expect sundays result but told friends yesterday that man utd woundnt win at turf moor + ill tell you this they will pick up lots points at home againest even the biggest teams & surely thats what makes sport great as all neutrals want the underdogs too WIN COME ON INSTONIANS ( sorry editor as im sure youd love to EDIT some of the comments on the forum ps thats not a sly dig at staffy).ROBIN if your taken the bet post on here as surely you dont want be like tayto who only takes WELSH BETS lol pps EDITOR if strangford road not playable why cant you toss for comber or shaws bridge ??