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In the spirit of coverage down the leagues, (and because I am a bit of a nerd) I have been organising my thoughts on who I will nominate for section 2 player of the season.
Based on the performances documented on the ncu results page and my own convoluted scoring system the top dozen or so with a third of the season to go would be:

1) J Cunningham - Dundrum
2) J Terret- Cliftonville
3) R Bryans- Templepatrick
= M McCord- Cliftonville
= M Ajmal- Laurelvale
6) C shekar- Cooke Collegians
= B Talbot- Millpark
8) P McCormick- Holywood
= K Walsh- Holywood
= D Sinton- Laurelvale
= D Henry- Laurelvale
= D Glover- Millpark

Not a bad bunch of cricketers that lot!

Ivan,
your simple idea does work, you've pretty much described the fixture meeting of the border league.
The matches can sometimes be tough enough on the field, but because we have made a point to know each other off the field, and share our ideas and concerns, every team's success is shared by all, and if anyone needs help we will help.
It is simple and it does work, and at least for us it is the real difference between playing cricket and having no cricket at all.
What would you choose?

Here's an idea that is so simple that it might just work.
How about each League Secretary arranging a meeting over dinner with all eight captains in his league towards the end of March. Just before the season starts .
Push hard for full attendance so that they get to know each other a bit more than just a number on the NCU website.
Captains can all empathise with each other , they love the game but in the main they face the same challenges around availability , lack of umpiring knowledge , scoring , transport etc .
At the meeting they can discuss their own challenges and if need be tweak a few dates they just know it will be tricky to get teams out. And get to know a wee bit about the others off the field and that in turn might encourage teams to spend half an hour together over a drink - after the game .
With a wee bit more "personal" approach they can maybe work closer together and the goal of the meeting should be " let's get all 56 games decided on the field of play ". That goal would put pay to what I think are the worst five words you can hear at any cricket club " can we claim the points ?".
This might help bring back a bit of the "spirit of cricket " when there's a bit more mutual respect among captains and their teams .
Maybe each team should sit down in their own club some evening with a senior umpire and get a briefing on the basic laws of the game . This might help stop the " I've hit him on the pads I must appeal " mentality and also the thought that " he didn't give him out so he's cheating " thought process.
I don't think the problems are the overs , it's more about bringjng a sense of enjoyment back to the battle.
If the goal is to complete all 56 games I think clubs would work harder together to get games rearranged .

I agree with Colin that this is a great opportunity to give real feedback to the NCU ( which is a body elected by the club's after all).

As the invite suggests they want players to come along and express their views . This isn't about the "Blazers" or those outside the boundary like myself - this is about those playing the game at both Senior and Junior level.

See below .

The Union's Management Board wishes to discuss with clubs a number of possible options for the arrangement of Senior and Junior Leagues as well as other playing conditions in the future.

The attached discussion paper sets out some of the options that the Board is keen to discuss.

As the paper makes clear it is only intended to start discussion and nothing can be implemented without the support of clubs at the AGM.

A series of meetings has been arranged:

Monday 8 August 2016 Shaw's Bridge Sports Association

Tuesday 9 August 2016 Waringstown CC

Tuesday 16 August 2016 North Down CC

All meetings commence at 7.30pm.

Clubs are invited to send along a senior official eg Chairman and a player from each team so that there is a good spread of senior and junior cricketers.

All clubs have received an email from the NCU regarding the forthcoming meetings to discuss possible changes and given the positive thoughts on the forum I thought they would be well attended.

However tonights email to update on venues shows the clubs that Bryan Milford has heard from to date are:

Ards
Carrickfergus
Cooke Collegians
Donaghcloney
Larne
North Down
Saintfield
Templepatrick

We are being given an opportunity to talk before the AGM. I would hope a few more show up on the nights.

Some of the suggestions about fielding circles and overs and ends are getting a bit of air.
You have to begin with a question, otherwise you're playing that game where you hear the answer and then try to figure out what the question was.
Why did we ever introduce fielding circles to begin with?
When you answer that question you can go on to ask the next one.
Is the 30 yd circle relevant at all levels of cricket?
Knowing the purpose of the fielding restrictions is fine, but it's a burden on the game if most of the players will never play in a game where the fielding circle and restrictions are necessary.
Why would a captain put all his fielders on the boundary, when a smart batsman will tap the ball 20 yards and run two every time while the outrider has to run in to field it?
Fielding restrictions are in place because pro players have already learned the tactics.
I could be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but you have to ask. Why are we doing this?
Why are we doing it this way?
Is it working?
Further questions to follow ;)

Hi Ivan,
We use this for our lower league midweek friendly matches in Dublin and we can get close to 20 overs per hour.
The only complaint we have had so far is from our scorer who struggled to keep pace with the over rate.
If the aim is to have more cricket and overs played without compromising the game itself it has its merits, but it will not be for the traditionalists but if it allows matches to be played in 25% less time then it is something that should be considered particularly midweek matches.
In Dublin, I have seen too much time wasted with inept captain changing field settings when the bowlers cant even bowl to the field set

Picking upon Bruce Topping's suggestion of having half a season of t20 games below, what about structuring the season something like this:

The season starts as it does now last weekend of April/1st week of May. The 8 teams in each junior league are split into 2 groups of 4 based on previous season's finishing positions for a T20 competition. Games are played on a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon. Whichever the clubs agree to. You play the other teams in your group once so that covers the first 3 weeks. There is then a final and trophy/medals for the winner of each group played on the last Friday evening of May.

Other benefits are these shorter games can start at 1pm on a Saturday after school cricket and be finished by 4pm. Or be played on Friday evening, or any weeknight potentially. Also as they're shorter those doing exams may not be as unlikely to be unavailable. As it is T20 you get a chance to replay each game any time the following week if off due to weather.

At the beginning of June you begin your 50/40/35 over league. You have 14 league games to arrange with one game per weekend and start times of 11am as now happens in July.

I think if you have your league having a mix of 20 over and 40/50 over it kind of devalues it overall.

The Junior/Intermediate/Minor Cups don't need to be polished off by early August - push the finals back to the mid/end of August and have the first rounds later also. The Ulster Plate, which I think was a good idea, probably has to go as I don't think it works.

Maybe radical, and probably a lot of holes to be picked but just developing ideas.

Steven Hiles suggestion has a lot of merit even if it was in five over chunks instead of ten. I think you could get through 35 overs in two hours , that way games from Junior 4 and below will last a maximum of four and a half hours.
May and June even starting at 1.30pm you are home by 7pm and in July and August starting at 11am home by 5.30pm and most weeks everyone will have had a chance to contribute

Since we are getting zero coverage on the other websites or media I guess we hav to promote our own league . All section 1 final on Sunday in the Ulster shield at carrick 12 start. Would b nice to get a decent crowd down to watch Downpatrick v muckamore. Carrick always put on a great day.
Section 1 getting interesting at the top and bottom. Downpatrick, muckamore and Woodvale pushing for the title and saintfield, lurgan and ballymena trying to stay up.

In the interests of speeding the game up bowling consecutive overs from the same end (batsmen change at end of the over) every 10 overs reduces the need for fielders to forget where they are meant to be and captains to have to start thinking and wasting time.

I think reducing the number of overs constantly will improve things, however reducing the time to play the number of overs might help.

In reality, trying to create greater inclusion of friends and family is the key to longevity and perhaps making games more of a social occasion (or at least some of them) will increase and longevitise participation.

We all need to work on this as one club problems today are another clubs problems tomorrow!

Hiler (still junior)

20 over cricket is too short for a match 1 in my opinion. Not enough opportunity for all eleven to contribute.

The inner circle should definitely be introduced at all levels. I cannot think of a valid reason not to.

Can Eagleson select himself for the Northern Knights?

The border league plays 15 x 8 ball overs. Two runs for a wide or no ball and no extra delivery. It's working well so far, matches begin at 6:30 and are finished by 9pm-ish. Three from the five clubs grounds in the border league use turf pitches, and the pitches have all been very good. All games have to be played, but double points/ headers are allowed, no questions asked, rearrangements are accommodated at all costs (empathy is priceless).
Border league is a single league with a final between the top two teams, means you can win the league but lose the final and of course there is nowhere to be promoted to, so the winners just have to spend the substantial cash prize on beer and rich food.
Millpark are hosting the final this season, more beer and rich food ;-)
The teams have mixed abilities, but always competitive, some guys might have played in section two or junior 1 and some might just play for the pub team, or even an opposition team, if you're stuck for a player. However, over the two or three years that the league has been running there hasn't been a single mismatch recorded like the ones you see every week in the regular Saturday leagues these days.

I think if we have a good look at the playing regulations on www.northerncricketunion.org you will discover the Union already gives a good degree of flexibility in the Junior Leagues regarding starting times and number of overs.
I think Andy McCrea is closer to the issues than most and over the years he has probably coached more young players than most .
Let's hope that the forthcoming roadshows arranged by the NCU are well attended and views aired.
My biggest fear of this cry for 20 over games is that if that doesn't get more people playing cricket in big numbers is - "where do you go next ? ".

Another issue I think clubs need to ask and the stats maybe give us the answer is " is there any need for professionals below the PL ? ".

Are these professionals improving local club players ? Or are they stopping them taking responsibility for playing long innings or bowling tighter spells ?

Are there local coaches who could work on players mid week and then let them go and play on a Saturday knowing that they have a job to do ?