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To Paul Stafford.
If you want some negativity and bitterness read back your articles on the NCU. Is this the pot calling the frying pan.......?
For your information it is not a fair re-arrangement if you agree a date on which you can't field a team and then concede the points. That's futile.
Also for your information I am only negative and bitter when I read emails like yours.
Guys
The bottom line is Lurgan should be embarrased - not the NCU or the rule book. It is an absolute disgrace that a senior club like Lurgan cannot get a team out for a game (Friday or not!!). This was a re-arranged game that could only be played on a Friday as Lurgan dont want to play Sundays. They cant have their cake and eat it when it comes to re-arrangements - by that I mean, they make other clubs play on a Friday by virtue of not playing Sundays.
Staffy - The fact that they have played on a Friday for the umpteenth time is entirely their own fault! At the end of the day, every club should expect to have to fulfil fixtures so they arent re-arranging to help others. Surely they are obliged to?
As for the Dundrum issue, this is totally different as they are under no obligation to reverse a fixture - it may seem logical to some, but they felt it was worth a punt to keep home advantage - it hasn't worked out and that was their risk to take!
At the end of the day, games shouldn't be replayed, if there is no result after game one, even with reduced overs, then the points get shared. Then the season can finish at the end of August, before it starts getting dark early and players from other sports, such as football, rugby and hockey are free to begin preseason.
Paul,
I think you have been rather unfair and harsh to Micheal in this case - he is only presenting a realistic view. Your idea of splitting points in case of a no result just doesn't hold up unfortunately. Let me provide an example to illustrate this -
North Down are due to play Derriachy in a rearranged fixture and Queensway. We will say that Derriachy will beat N Down 1 in 10, so they have an expectated points total of 0.4 (4 divided by 10), now are you saying that if there is a chance to call off the game that Derriachy will not take it - in effect they gain 1.6 points ( In no means is this a snipe at Derriachy but I thought this example highlighted my point best )
In is ludicrous to talk of teams working together and being a big happy family given the number of times that we have seen lawyers involved at the back end of the season. The sad truth is that teams are willing to take any advantage possible even if it does mean bending the rules slightly
Michael Patterson.
You are the classic example of someone who contributes nothing but bitterness and negativity.
Lurgan are rearranging matches to help other teams yet they are struggling to get teams out. Yet you are suggesting Lurgan should be fined and deducted points for struggling to get a team out for the umteenth Friday, in mid September when they have nothing to play for?
You really don't have a clue, do you?
Not speaking for Lurgan at all - in fact I dont think I have ever set foot in Lurgan! But I am just trying to put a different view across which is completly unbiased due to the fact that I have no ties with any of the teams involved .
It is easy to call Lurgan a shambles and for action from the NCU but in reality I can understand Lurgans response. If it was my team I would also be up in arms but to be fair Dundrum have done themselves no favours a couple of weeks ago by not playing Holywood and it looks as if it could cost them dearly
"More charitable to one another"
That's a lovely thought Staffy and it would be good to see everyone take it on board. But unfortunately charity begins at home for EVERY club and it really comes out in September cricket.
As a suggestion in addition to fining clubs that don't fulfil fixtures why not dock them four points as well?
Billy,
Thank you for your reply. I see on the NCU Website that there are proposals being put forward to the AGM. This is a possible contender for discussion at the AGM. It is obvious that teams are hiding behind the rules, and Dundrum, according to earlier posts on this forum have done it as well. But this forum has discussed that Holywood v Dundrum debate and there are valid points why Dundrum didn't take up the offer of Holywood. You are misunderstanding what I mean. The rule needs to be changed for all teams, not just one-offs. Would no results, which in this case is not the same thing, be better off with 2 points each or would that still be benefical to the team who is scrambling for points to get up or stay put? To me, the whole idea of claiming points because another team 'cant be bothered' is totally wrong unless there are no other avenues to go down. If the NCU decides who plays when and where, then it is up to the teams to ensure they meet the obligation to play. A paltry fine is insufficent, maybe a substantial financial punishment would ensure the fixtures are fulfilled. Other thoughts on this??
Not sure if John is speaking for Lurgan or not but it's a sad day if that's the case. People like Neil Hunter come across as very responsible on NCU and general cricket matters so it seems irresponsible to agree a re-arranged fixture that you are not going to play. But some clubs are used to it because they'll do it too. Look at Dundrum a couple of weeks ago preferring to do nothing rather than travel. They did nothing wrong and hid behind the rules. And these are the same rules Interested Party wants the NCU to do something about. Get real, it's the clubs that want their cake and eat it and people like you who wrongly blame the NCU for things that are not their doing.
Interested Observer
This is already happening. Teams are already insisting Lurgan play them on a Friday when there has been lots of other dates available such as Bank holidays and free Saturdays. This is because for most teams this will be there only Friday fixture but for Lurgan the cumulative effect has been very destructive. Lurgan need to play Sunday cricket to stop this.
However it is the area of rearranged matches that is causing serious stress to players and causing them to leave the game in droves. Bottom line is that we should have one attempt at rearranging and then split the points. Making everyone a loser because it rains is just so negative, and so is this attitude we have of mutual distrust. If we were all more charitable to one another the whole landscape of NCU cricket would be changed for the better.
Completely agree with what you are saying and that this issue of Sunday cricket needs to be looked at.
But from the Lurgan players point of view I would probably make the same decision even though I realise this is not at all fair on the other teams.
It is always the case at the end of the season that teams who have something to play for win alot of games in September due to other teams not being able to get teams out primarily due to other winter sports. 2 up 2 down has done something to help as more teams have something to play for at the back end of the season but I am afraid that this will always be the case
Its ok if there is a no result because of rain, but for a senior team not to play a fixture because of not being able to get a team is a joke.
There should a fine imposed or points deducted.
John,
Thanks for your reply. I dont know which teams in section 2 dont play Sundays. So am I right in saying that those teams, fighting relegation or pushing for promotion, yet to play non-Sunday playing teams, are better of arranging games for a Friday, therefore increasing their chances of 4 points? Maybe Downpatrick, Laurelvale, Dundrum and Saintfield should all declare that they will not play Sunday Cricket..and maybe they should also confirm that Friday is the Muslim Day of Rest and they cannot play then either or where does it end???
to interested observer - I sympathize with the teams you mention but at the end of the day Friday cricket means days off work. With Lurgan having nothing to play for at this stage of the season can you really blame their players for not giving up hundreds of pounds in wages in order to help other teams? Im not saying its fair but that is the way it is
The NCU will do nothing as there is a provision in the rules for this in that they forfeit the 4 points
I find it very strange that Lurgan who dont play cricket on a Sunday take a fixture on a Friday and cant field a team. Have Lurgan not got 11 players in their whole squad who can play this fixture. I wonder, as an obeserver, what the guys in Donwpatrick, Saintfield, Laurelvale and in particular Dundrum think of this. NCU what are you going to do?????????
