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Ulster Bank Challenge Cup Final 2011
NCU 125th Anniversary
Ulster Bank Challenge Cup Final - Friday 29th July 2011

CSNI v Waringstown at Wallace Park, Lisburn

Waringstown 190-8 (50 overs, K McCallan 63, N Jones 3-30) CSNI 116 (34.2 overs, M Ellison 37, L Nelson 5-23) Waringstown beat CSNI by 74 runs


Ulster Bank Challenge Cup (#ncuscc)
Ulster Bank


More Challenge
Cup Final Photos


Lee Nelson receives his Ulster Bank Man of the
Match awards from Neil Cooke and NCU
President Dr Murray Power


The Victorious Waringstown team with the
Ulster Bank NCU Challenge Cup
NCU Fixtures - 2011
Champions, Promoted and Relegated - 2010
Ulster Bank Premier League
Champions: North Down
Relegated: Downpatrick and Lurgan


Ulster Bank Section One
Champions: Muckamore
Promoted: Bangor
Relegated: Laurelvale and Armagh


Ulster Bank Section Two
Champions: Donaghcloney
Promoted: Millpark
Relegated: Cregagh and Dungannon


Ulster Bank Section Three
Champions: Portadown
Promoted: BISC


Midweek League
Champions: North Down and 120th Old Boys

Division 2 Section 1
Champions: Waringstown II
Relegated: Muckamore II and CSNI II


Division 2 Section 2
Champions: Lurgan II
Promoted: CIYMS II
Relegated: Cliftonville II and Laurelvale II

Division 2 Section 3
Champions: Cooke Collegians II
Promoted: Armagh II


Division 3 Section 1
Champions: Waringstown III
Relegated: Lisburn III and Bangor IV


Division 3 Section 2
Champions: Waringstown IV
Promoted: Muckamore III
Relegated: Carrickfergus III and Armagh III


Division 3 Section 3
Champions: North Down IV
Promoted: CIYMS III
Relegated: Armagh IV and Ards III


Division 3 Section 4
Champions: Ballymena IV
Promoted: CSNI V
Relegated: Instonians IV and Derriaghy IV


Division 3 Section 5
Champions: Academy III
Promoted: CIYMS IV

Ulster Bank League Awards
Ulster Bank League Awards - 27th September 2011
Ulster Bank Headquarters, Donegall Square East, Belfast: 9.30am

The last of this season’s Ulster Bank League awards has been arranged for the above date and address. Coffee will be available from 9am in the restaurant on the ground floor and the presentations will start at 9.30am.

The period being reviewed is from Monday, August 1 to the end of the season.

The criteria for awards are, of course, confined to the four sections of the NCU Senior League and go to players who score a century, take six wickets or perform a hat trick.
Read more...
NCU Disciplinary Committee
The Union's Disciplinary Committee has considered ten disciplinary reports to date this season.
The following disciplinary awards have been made:
  • Suspension for four matches     1 player
  • Suspension for three matches   2 players
  • Suspension for two matches     2 players
  • Reprimand and warning as to future conduct   5 players
Archived NCU News
NCU Directorates 2010/11
The Union is looking for more people to help with its work by serving on the various directorates in 2010/11.
The Cricket Development Directorate
deals with issues such as grounds, child protection, club/school links, coaching, umpiring and scoring and grass roots cricket development.
The Finance and Sponsorship Directorate
is concerned with finance, sponsorship, insurance, investment arrangements, grant aid and marketing.
The Competitions Directorate
oversees all the Union's competitions including rules, registrations etc.
The Forward Planning Directorate
as its name suggests is concerned with the forward planning of the Union including research and the development of an IT strategy.
If you think you have something to offer on any of these areas contact your club secretary or speak directly to the Union's General Secretary, Bryan Milford.

Contact Bryan Milford

Ulster Bank Challenge Cup - Semi Final Draw
Click here to view photos from the drawThe draw for the Semi-Finals of the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup took place on Friday 24th June in Lisburn CC Clubhouse, Wallace Park.

The draw was as follows:
Saturday 2nd July: North Down v CSNI
Sunday 3rd July: Waringstown v Instonians (due to Irish Senior Cup on 2nd July)
Click here to view photos from the draw
Twenty20 Cup Fixtures
Twenty20 Cup Fixtures/Results (#ncuttc)
Final: 26th July (Shaw's Bridge)
North Down 151-7 (20 overs, N Russell 20, R Haire 25, P Shields 29, A Shields 36no, E Moleon 2-33,
A Dhareula 2-23, A White 2-19)
Instonians 113 (16.5 overs, J Shannon 24, J Stevenson 32, N Hamilton 25, R Haire 2-30, M Moreland 3-16)
North Down beat Instonians by 38 runs
Twenty20 Shield Fixtures
Twenty20 Shield Fixtures/Results (#ncutts)
Final: 27th July (Downpatrick CC)
Dundrum beat Derriaghy in super over after scores tied at 156

Records tumble during school match
On Saturday morning a schoolboy player from Sullivan Upper School scored 204 not out in an Under 15 cup match against Regent House.Mark Adair - click for large photo
The schoolboy in question is Mark Adair and his innings took place on the upper pitch at North Down Cricket Club in Comber. Once he had reached his double hundred he retired in the 19th over with one over to go in the innings.
To follow up his performance with the bat, in the afternoon he turned out for his club side Holywood and helped them to a 13 run victory over Woodvale by clean bowling the last 3 batsmen.
Mark's coach at Sullivan Upper, Paul Osborne, is wondering if this score is an Irish Schoolboy record or if it is a record for a 20 over a side match?
Mark represented the Belfast Inner Cities side last season and in 2011 is a member of the Northern Cricket Union's under 15 interprovincial team

Lords Taverners Inner Cities Under 14 Cup
London North 98 (Andrew Forbes 4-27, Ben McGavock 2-17)
Belfast 100-4 (John Matchett 37no, Gareth Millar 20no)
Belfast beat North London by 6 wickets

Belfast 103 (Paddy Beverland 32)
London South 23-0 after 8.3 overs
Match abandoned, Belfast win on better run rate and qualify for National Finals
ECB Sky Sports Award 2011
Cricket Ireland's Andy McCrea receives his ECB Sky Sports Coach Award from Sky Sports presenter and West Indies fast bowling legend Michael Holding The third England – India test match at Edgbaston saw the presentation of the ECB Sky Sports Coach Awards 2011. The awards are a way of saying thank you to people who have made a significant contribution to the support and development of coaches and coaching in cricket.
Attending was Ireland’s Andy McCrea who won the European Outstanding Coaching Award. Andy has been involved in many aspects of coaching since he first became qualified in 1994 and as a volunteer, has been at the forefront of many projects, becoming a key member in the development of cricket in Ireland, particularly club, player and coach development.
Read more...

Cricket BlitzCricket Blitz
Instonians under 11s hosted a 6 a side blitz between themselves, Lurgan and Waringstown with Inst fielding an A and B team.
The blitz was played with modified rules - 10 overs per innings with players retiring at 20 with the option of coming back into the action after the last man was out, everyone in the bowling team had two overs to bowl apart from the keeper.
Read more...



Lurgan Ladies CricketLurgan Ladies Cricket
Lurgan Ladies recently played against the Lurgan U13b game in their first ever match. The game was played at Pollock Park and both teams used the evening to try things out and learn more about the sport. The girls have been training hard under the watchful eye of Callum Grieve along with mum Sandra.
Read more...


Saintfield Cricket Club receive Club Accreditation Scheme statusSaintfield Cricket Club receive Club Accreditation Scheme status
Saintfield Cricket Club has become the latest club to be accredited on the Cricket Ireland / Clubmark NI Club Accreditation Scheme.
Saintfield are now the fifth club to be accredited on the Scheme’s ever-growing programme, joining North Down, Derriaghy, Templepatrick and Carrickfergus as the only cricket clubs in Northern Ireland to reach the expected levels.
The status means that the club have demonstrated they have the capacity to reach minimum operating standards in the areas of effective management, quality coaching and competition and safety.
Read more...

Solmatix are new sponsors of Quoile CupSolmatix are new sponsors of Quoile Cup
The NCU are pleased to announce that local company Solmatix who specialise in the manufacture and installation of solar heating systems are the new sponsors of The Quoile Cup.
The final of this Under 11 competition is played at Derriaghy each year and it is through David Skelton the competition secretary that this new sponsorship deal has materialised.
The final of the 2011 Quoile Cup (under 11) will be played between CSNI and Ballymena at Derriaghy Cricket Club on Wednesday 3 August starting at 5.45pm
Read more...

Clogher Cricket Club vandalised for fifth time and on this occasion the damage is the most severe yet
For reasons unknown Clogher Cricket Club has been vandalised for the fifth time and damage is very severe this time.
On Saturday night on the 2nd July 2011 persons as yet unknown entered the clubs grounds and systematically broke every bit of glass on the premises. Damage to the property included all the glass in the pavilion smashed, the toilet window smashed and the club maintenance vehicle had every window smashed with a large concrete block and damage also extended to the headlamps, rear lamps and wing mirrors. Both inside and outside the pavilion was littered with broken glass.
Read more...

ICC Europe Groundsman Association
In 2010 ICC Europe launched the ICC European Groundsman Association. Membership levels have been increasing; however ICC Europe are constantly looking for more people to join.
Read more...

The winning Leinster Under 13 squadUnder 13 Interprovincials - 2011 (#u13ip)
Day 3
LCU u13s beat NWCU u13s by 8 wickets
NCU u13s beat MCU u13s by 5 wickets

Day 2
NWCU u13s beat MCU u13s by 9 wickets
LCU u13s beat NCU u13s by 73 runs

Day 1
NWCU u13s beat NCU u13s by 28 runs
LCU u13s beat MCU u13s by 155 runs


The latest update to the NCU's list of approved transfers between clubs (update 1st July 2011)
Updated list of transfers approved to date by the Union for the 2011 season - open list (pdf)

Peter Kerr, Ian Kerr & Aaron KerrIan Kerr - 43 seasons and counting
Every club across the NCU needs its own fair share of clubmen and certainly at Cregagh we have been extremely lucky in having one of the best in the form of Ian Kerr.
I’m sure we all have ideas of what makes the ideal clubman, but for Ian, not just happy at his sons playing he will try and recruit any player who he comes across to come down to Cregagh for a game, and is now lending a hand within our junior section passing on his knowledge to the next generation.
Read more...

Under 14 Interpro - NCU v NWCU - Middle Road, Carrickfergus - 19th July 2011
NWCU 255-9 (40 overs, J Robinson 57, G McClintock 52, W McClintock 34no, A Gillespie 32, W McBrine 28,
D Waterstone 25, M Campbell 3-29, B McGavock 2-28)
NCU 217-9 (40 overs, A Dennison 66, J Matchett 27)
North West CU won by 38 runs

Templepatrick CC and Coleraine CC join forces for girls cricketTemplepatrick CC and Coleraine CC join forces for girls cricket
Templepatrick Cricket Club and Coleraine Cricket Club recently provided cricket for 40 girls aged 8 to 13 years old. Coleraine CC travelled with their Development Officer, Stephen McCartney, to Templepatrick CC in Ballyclare to play as many games of KWIK cricket as possible in 2 hours.
Read more...

Refurbishment of the cricket square at The Castle Grounds
Refurbishment of the cricket square at The Castle GroundsBancroft Amenities Ltd a Manchester based firm specializing in sportturf particularly cricket have won the contract to refurbish the cricket square at The Castle Grounds, 690 Antrim Road, Belfast.
The works will comprise of stripping of the existing surface with a Koro Field Top Marker before leveling works and the import of new loam is placed on the square. Boughton County Loam has been selected for the project.
Read more...

NCU Senior Cricket Working Group
The NCU have formed a Working Group who has met to discuss the main issues relating to senior cricket in the NCU.
This follows the Junior Working Group last year and, following more meetings of the Senior Group, the NCU will visit clubs with Road-shows to determine the opinions of all clubs.
The purpose of the group is to gauge the feeling of clubs from each section of NCU cricket. 
Read more...

Ulster Schools' U19s Cricket team
The Ulster Schools' U19s Cricket team for the Inter-pro v Southern Schools' at Rathmines on 29th-30th June and the tour of Northern England on 14th-18th August has been announced.
Read more...

Ulster Bank Schools Cup 2011 - Final Report and ScorecardUlster Bank Schools Cup 2011 - Final Report and Scorecard
The column in a scorecard devoted to "Extras" dominated yesterday's Ulster Bank Schools Cup final - and ultimately gave RBAI victory by 12 runs over a Regent House side that was literally wide of the mark.
Regent conceded a remarkable 56 extras in 40 overs to boost an "Inst" total to 180 for 6 - and 35 of them came from wides. In all, the Newtownards side gave away 23 extras more than "Inst" - as well as the equivalent of five overs - and that, in the end saw the trophy return to the Belfast school after an absence of four years.
Read more...

Lurgan Tigers Kwik Cricket BlitzLurgan Tigers Kwik Cricket Blitz
On Friday 17th June Lurgan Tigers held their annual Kwik Cricket blitz at Pollock Park.
The blitz involved 85 P6/7 children, girls and boys from local schools.
The teams got to play three group matches before taking a quick lunch break in the club house before finishing off a final round of matches.
Read more...

Ulster Schools' XI defeat MCC
Simon Thompson the Ulster Schools' Coach reports on the their match against MCC.
" MCC batted first but D Kennedy, M Nixon and A Nixon all went cheaply with some tight bowling from R McKinley, S Shannon, A Shields and G McCarter. For MCC A Kirkpatrick accumulated runs steadily to take MCC to 140 for 4."
Read more...

Cregagh Cricket Club embarks upon its 4th European tourCregagh Cricket Club embarks upon its 4th European tour
On Thursday 9th June 2011 Cregagh Cricket Club will embark upon its 4th European tour with the destination this time being Croatia.
This year's tour sees our largest tour party to date as 20 members make the trip.
Read more...

Cregagh Cricket Club runs kwik cricket competition with Sport NI
They say the sun always shines on The East, and it certainly did last Friday (3rd June) as Cregagh Cricket Club in association with Simon Johnston from SportNI hosted a Kwik Cricket competition for East Belfast primary schools.
In what has been the best day of the summer so far, over 60 kids turned up and played in a mini tournament for over 4 hours. The games were all very competitive with some exciting last ball finishes as boys and girls from each school battled hard to get to the final.
Read more...
Ulster Bank Challenge Cup - Third Round Draw
The top teams in the NCU have been kept apart in the quarter finals of the Ulster Bank Senior Challenge Cup.
Holders North Down have a home draw against Carrickfergus and Premier League leaders Waringstown also have home advantage over neighbours Lurgan, the only Section 1 league side still in the tournament.
Both Instonians and Ballymena, who also sit in the top half of the Premiership, have home draws as well - the Belfast side against Muckamore and Ballymena against Civil Service North.
The games are scheduled for June 18 and reserve dates have been set aside on June 25 and 26.
The draw is as follows:
    Ballymena v CSNI
    Instonians v Muckamore
    North Down v Carrick
    Waringstown v Lurgan
(Robin Walsh)
Junior League 1 Select side will play Lisburn 2nd XI
Friday 8th July sees the continuation of the 175 year anniversary celebrations for Lisburn Cricket Club as a NCU Junior League 1 Select side will play Lisburn 2nd XI.
UPDATE: This game has fallen victim to the unrelenting rain that fell today and has had to be postponed. A new date wll be announced shortly.
Read more...

Festival of cricket proves a big hit at Templepatrick Cricket Club
MORE than 200 people gathered at The Cloughan, Ballyclare on Sunday May 29th for Templepatrick Cricket Club’s official pitch opening and family fun day.
Despite a strong breeze that forced some of the activities indoors, the sun shone and the event proved a big hit with players, past players, parents and club supporters who gathered for a great day’s cricket.
Read more...

Sponsorship deal aims to make Templepatrick Cricket Club the Holm of youth cricket
TEMPLEPATRICK Cricket Club has teamed up with Holm NI to further the promotion of youth cricket within Ballyclare and beyond.
Officials at the Ballyclare-based club were delighted to welcome Holm NI Managing Director, Kevin Lynch to The Cloughan on Sunday (May 29) for the club’s official pitch opening, family fun day and ‘cricket blitz’ event involving more than 100 boys and girls aged 5 - 11 years.
Read more...

Ulster Schools' U19 Cricket Trial at Ballyclare HS
The sun was shining all day for the Ulster Schools’ U19 Cricket Trial on Friday 10th June, held for the first time at Ballyclare High School’s Hollinger Park. The extremely wet conditions in the days leading up to the trial meant the wicket was damp but it would be a good test for the techniques of the leading Ulster Schools’ batsmen.
Read more...

Ulster Schools' XI team to play The MCC selected
The Ulster Schools' XI to take on the MCC team at Campbell College on Tuesday 14th June has been announced.
Adam Berry, from Methodist College, will captain the team and after the game the 12 man squad for the Inter-Provincial v The Southern Schools will be finalised.
Read more...

NCU Under 13 and 15 squads selected for outdoor training
The NCU Under 13 and 15 squads have been selected to go to the outdoor training with their coaches.
The Under 15s started with 90 participants and have now been reduced down to the last 15.
The Under 13s started with 68 and are now down to last 15.
Read more...

Tom Flintoft visits NCU groundsTom Flintoft visits NCU grounds
Tom Flintoft, the ex Durham and Hampshire groundsman, visited the NCU area on the 6th and 7th April to give advice to club and school groundsmen.

Among the clubs and schools he visited were Bangor (including Ward Park), Bangor GS, CIYMS, Campbell College, Civil Service, B.R.A. / Castle Grounds, Shaw's Bridge, Muckamore, Templepatrick, Mallusk, Carrick, Downpatrick, Millpark, Lurgan and Derriaghy.
Read more...

Templepatrick and Carrickfergus Cricket Clubs receive Club Accreditation Scheme status
Templepatrick and Carrickfergus Cricket Clubs receive Club Accreditation Scheme statusTemplepatrick and Carrickfergus Cricket Clubs receive Club Accreditation Scheme statusTemplepatrick and Carrickfergus Cricket Clubs have become the latest clubs to be accredited on the Cricket Ireland / Clubmark NI Club Accreditation Scheme.
As part of the Scheme's ever-expanding programme, the two Northern Cricket Union clubs have joined North Down and Derriaghy as the only cricket clubs in Northern Ireland to reach accreditation status.
The status means that the club have demonstrated they have the capacity to reach minimum operating standards in the areas of effective management, quality coaching and competition and safety.
Read more...

Ulster Bank Schools Cup 2011 - First Round Report
Last year's finalists of the Ulster Bank Schools Cup, Foyle & Londonderry College and Sullivan Upper, are through to the second round of this year's competition.
An undefeated 70 by Andrew Clarke helped holders Foyle to a crushing 161-run win over Bangor Grammar School's 2nd XI and Sullivan's 72-run victory over Belfast Royal Academy was mainly due to 13 year-old John Matchett. He top scored with 37 - the last wicket put on 54 - and then took three BRA wickets for 13.
Read more...

Templepatrick Cricket Club host Cricket Ireland Coach Education Course
April 27th saw Templepatrick Cricket Club host an Introduction to Cricket Coaching Course. 18 enthusiastic, budding new cricket coaches attended and were put through their paces by English Cricket Board and Cricket Ireland Tutors Andy McCrea and Michael Hingston.
Read more...

Pitch opening planned for Templepatrick Cricket Club
To celebrate the massive investment in playing and practice facilities at Templepatrick Cricket Club over the past two years, the Ballyclare based club will be holding an official pitch opening at The Cloughan on Sunday, May 29.
Club officials would like to see as many current players, past players, friends, family and cricket supporters there as possible to hopefully enjoy a festival of cricket and plenty of craic.
Read more...

Rotary Charity Cricket Match at Comber
North Down Cricket Club, in conjunction with Rotary International and the Ulster Grasshoppers, is hosting a charity Twenty20 cricket match on Friday May 27th at The Green in Comber.
North Down players Taimur Khan and Neil Russell will captain the respective teams but there is a very international flavour to both sides.
Khan will have a number of overseas ‘pros’ in his ‘Rotary International XI’ line-up while Russell’s Grasshoppers team is made up of some of the top local players.
Read more...

NIACUSWould we really expect to play senior cricket without Umpires?
The 2011 season is now upon us, and as all Northern Cricket Union clubs look forward with anticipation and enthusiasm to the new season's challenges, could I (Noel McCarey, Chairman NIACUS) politely ask the perennial question, "Can we play senior cricket without Umpires?".
As cricket enthusiasts we usually approach the start of every cricket season here in Northern Ireland after a winter of reading websites as well as having listened intently to the whispers between club members on the excitement and expectations for the new season.
Players moving clubs, overseas professionals, ground conditions and which teams are going to get relegated, strongly focus our minds long before the season actually starts.
Throughout these thought processes do we ever wonder how, as cricket enthusiasts, we are ever going to provide the umpires to officiate at the Ulster Bank Premier League, Section 1, Section 2, Section 3 and Junior League Section 1 matches?
Read more...

Clogher Cricket ClubCriminal Damage At Clogher Cricket Club Continues For The Fourth Year In Succession
It would appear that a person or persons have some sort of unfounded grudge against Clogher Cricket Club at Moss Monaghan, Clogher or that they have nothing better to do than wreck valuable property and machinery at the club.
On Tuesday last one of the volunteer groundsmen at the club arrived to discover that a pane of glass had been smashed in the pavilion and entry gained after a clumsy but unsuccessful attempt was made to force the locked door open.
Upon entering the premises the criminal(s) tore off a cupboard door which was not even locked.
Read more...

FROM THE ASHES - a new documentary
FROM THE ASHES celebrates the 30th anniversary of the most memorable Ashes series - and the incredible events of that summer that saw the greatest turnaround in sporting history as England overcame odds of 500-1, Botham's career was resurrected and the country united around cricket.
Featuring in-depth interviews with players including: Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Rod Marsh.

Queen's Film Theatre, 20 University Square, Belfast BT7 1PA
Mon 16 - Thurs 19 May, 8.40pm
Read more...

Foyle Seek Ulster Bank Schools' Cup Hat TrickDr Murray Power (left), President of the NCU and Chairman of the Ulster Schools' Committee, with Paul Thompson of sponsors Ulster Bank at the draw for this season's Ulster Schools' and Under 15 Schools' Cup
Foyle & Londonderry College have been given what should be a gentle opener as they strive for a hat trick of Ulster Bank Schools' Cricket Cup wins this season.
They have been drawn away to Bangor Grammar School's second string as 32 teams line up for first round ties to be played by May 11.
Read more...

Ulster Bank Schools Cricket - Saturday League Fixtures 2011
The NCU Schools Committee has published the latest version of their Saturday league fixtures for schools.
Clubs may find these useful when putting their own fixtures together at the January fixture meetings.
Read more...

Introduction to Cricket Coaching Courses
Following Ireland’s historic success over England during the World Cup and the all-round growth in  interest in the game, Cricket Ireland are delighted to announce that during the next few weeks there are ICC Introduction to Cricket Courses being run with the support of the ‘Pepsi ICC Development Programme for Europe.’
Wednesday April 27th 5.30pm till 9pm in Northern Cricket Union at Templepatrick Cricket Club, Ballyclare - cost £10
Read more...

Andy McCrea wins ICC Europe Outstanding Coaching AwardAndy McCrea
The European winners of the ECB Sky Sports Coach Awards 2011 have been announced today with three outstanding talents being recognised in Europe, one of them being Andy McCrea from Templepatrick Cricket Club.
Read more...

NCU Courses 2011
The following courses are available in the NCU area in 2011
1. Child Protection Course - Wednesday 13th April, 6pm - 9pm (Sport Northern Ireland) : Cost: £20
2. First Aid Course - Wednesday 20th April, 5pm - 9pm (British Red Cross) - Max 15 people : Cost: £25
Read more...

Jake Torrans to run in London Marathon againJake Torrans
On the 17th April Jake Torrans from Derriaghy Cricket Club will be running his second Virgin London Marathon, this time in aid of The Lord's Taverners.
The Lord's Taverners is an organisation which is the official charity for recreational cricket and the UK's leading youth cricket and disability charity. Sport and recreation are essential for young people and The Taverners mission is "to give a sporting chance to those in need".
Donations: http://justgiving.com/john-torrans62 or contact Jake on 07841466462
Read more...

Another local cricketer raises money for charity by running in the London MarathonRalph Coetzee
Another one of our local cricketers will be running the Virgin London Marathon on the 17th April 2011. This time it is Ralph Coetzee latterly playing for Muckamore Cricket Club. Ralph is raising money for 'Children with Leukaemia'- the UK's leading charity dedicated to fighting Britain's biggest childhood cancer.
Donations: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ralphcoetzee.
Read more...

Millpark Cricket Club are looking for a scorer for the 2011 season.
Anyone who is interested is asked to contact the club's Honorary Secretary Nigel Smith on mrn16smith@btinternet.com

Millpark Cricket Club are seeking a player coach for the upcoming season.
If anyone is interested in this position could they please email millparkpro@hotmail.co.uk or Darrell.Martin@dfpni.gov.uk for further information on the post.

Lisburn Cricket Club 175th Anniversary Dinner - 8th October 2
Lisburn Cricket Club have announced that tickets for their Gala Dinner (special guest speaker David Lloyd) will go on general sale on Monday 7th February 2011.
Details of how to order and prices will be posted on the Lisburn Cricket Club Website on Sunday 6th February.

NIACUS Announcements
1. The NIACUS Annual Dinner will take place on Friday 8th April 2011 at the La Mon Country House Hotel.
2. Short sleeved and long sleeved shirts will be available for the 2011 season for all umpires and scorers.
They are made of a lighter material than the ones offered in 2010. Umpires jackets are also available to order.
Read more...

ICC Europe Introductory Scorer CourseICC Europe Introductory Scorer Course
The Irish Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers is delighted to offer, for the first time in Northern Ireland, the ICC Europe Introductory Scorer Course at The Pavilion, Stormont on Saturday 26 March 2011 from 9 am to 6 pm.
The fee for this course will be £25.
Read more...

NCU Women's Cricket League Last season four NCU clubs fielded a women’s team (as far as I am aware) at one time or another. This increase in interest in the women’s game is very welcome and we wish to see it encouraged as much as possible.
With that in mind the four clubs in question have been approached with a view to starting a women’s league in 2011 and CSNI, North Down and Waringstown have been very positive to this idea.
Read More . . .

Woodvale 6s Tournament - Week 7 Results
The final round of matches in Woodvale Cricket Clubs indoor 6 a side competition took place on Sunday in Shankill Leisure Centre.
North Down maintained their unbeaten record in the competition with a win over Holywood and are 2011 Woodvale 6s Champions.
The other winning teams on Sunday were CIYMS, Muckamore and Saintfield.
Results and Table...

"Powerplays and Pushing Boundaries"
An open forum for all interested in women's cricket.
Wednesday 23 March 2011, 2000hrs - Pembroke CC, Park Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4, Ireland.
[Tea and coffee will be available from 1930hrs]
Read more...

NIACUS / ECB ACO Level 1a and Level 1 umpire training NIACUS / ECB ACO Level 1a and Level 1 umpire training courses (updated 20/03)
NIACUS are running ECB ACO Level 1a and Level 1 umpire training courses March and April respectively.
Level 1a Course - Friday 4th March to Sunday 6th March 2011 (CANCELLED)
Level 1 Course - Friday 1st April to Sunday 3rd April 2011
Read more...

The NCU this winter have organized Regional Development Squads at Under 11, 13, 15, & 17 age-groups.

This is essential to ensure that talent continues to flow from the union through to the national under age squads and in the years to come to the National side.
Read More . . .
The draw for the First and Second Rounds of the NCU Challenge Cup has taken place at Newforge Country Club and was made by NCU President Dr Murray Power and Chairman Roger Bell
    First Round (May 14)
    Cliftonville v Saintfield
    Derriaghy v Dundrum
    Donaghcloney v Woodvale
    Lurgan v Holywood
    (Downpatrick and Millpark receive byes)
    Second Round (May 28)
    Ballymena v CIYMS
    Carrickfergus v Bangor
    CSNI v Downpatrick
    Instonians v Lisburn
    Lurgan/Holywood v Donaghcloney/Woodvale
    Millpark v North Down
    Muckamore v Cliftonville/Saintfield
    Waringstown v Derriaghy/Dundrum

    Third Round (June 18)
    Semi Finals (July 2)
    Final (July 29 - Wallace Park, Lisburn)

The draw was also made for the First and Second Rounds of the NCU Junior Cup (sponsored by Goldblatt McGuigan)
    First Round (May 14)
    A  Dunmurry v North Down II
    B  Ballymena II v Cregagh
    C  Larne v Academy
    D  Lurgan II v CIYMS II
    E  Waringstown II v PSNI
    F  Cooke Collegians v BISC
    G  Clogher v Armagh
    H  Bangor II v Drumaness
    I  Victoria v Donaghadee
    J  Woodvale II v Ards
    K  Carrickfergus II v Dungannon
    Second Round (May 28)
    L  Instonians II v Laurelvale
    M  A v B
    N  C v D
    O  E v F
    P  G v H
    Q  I v J
    R  K v Lisburn II
    S  Portadown v Templepatrick

    Third Round (June 18)
    Semi Finals (July 16)
    Final (August 6)


2011 Coaching Courses
There are a number of coaching courses taking place in the coming weeks and Stephen Moreton from Cricket Ireland has provided details.
Read more...

Derriaghy Cricket Club receive Club Accreditation Scheme status
Derriaghy Cricket Club has become the latest club to be accredited on the Cricket Ireland / Clubmark NI Club Accreditation Scheme.
Read more...


Cliftonville Cricket Club Cliftonville Cricket Club has announced that it is to host a Reunion Dinner with its Inaugural Hall of Fame at Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Saturday 16th April 2011. The purpose of the dinner is to bring together all people for whom Cliftonville has played a part in their lives and to meet up with old friends and former team mates who you may have lost contact with over the last few years. It is also to celebrate Cliftonville’s on-going success inspite of all the adversity it has faced over the years and to recognise some of the people who have helped to make Cliftonville one of the great clubs of NCU cricket
Read More . . .

NCU AGM 2010
The Northern Cricket Union's Annual General Meeting has passed a motion to restructure the Ulster Bank League with all Sections being of eight teams (apart from the last Section) in 2012.

The other major decision taken by the AGM was to amalgamate the Division 2 and 3 leagues into a new Junior League.
Summary of the outcome of NCU AGM Notices of Motion 2010

Two NCU umpires promoted to ICC Europe Elite Umpires Panel
NIACUS has announced that Alan Neill and Keith Smith have gained places on the ICC Europe Elite Umpires Panel for 2011.

Woodvale CC Indoor Sixes TournamentThe inaugural Woodvale CC indoor sixes tournament will commence on the 9th January 2011 at the newly refurbished Shankill Leisure Centre, Belfast.

Participating in the inaugural tournament in the centre, which boasts top class cricketing facilities, will be sides from local clubs Woodvale, Instonians, CIYMS, Nomads, North Down, Holywood, Saintfield and Muckamore cricket clubs.
Read more...

Cregagh Cricket Club Tour - 2010 In June 2010 Cregagh C.C. embarked on their most ambitious tour to date, by playing in two different countries in two days.
Read more...

For the first time, Cricket Ireland is in a position to offer a thorough Winter Programme of Coach Education courses. We are now in a position to offer Coach Education courses throughout the country, using our own tutors to deliver all of the available courses.
The aim of these courses is to encourage clubs to develop coaching teams, and develop their existing coaches - Cricket Ireland is currently offering three entry level courses:
ICC Introduction to Cricket
UKCC Level One (Coaching Assistant)
UKCC Level Two (Coach)
Read More . . .

Sport NI have released details of a new funding programme open to clubs. Further details can be found at:
http://www.sportni.net/Funding/Sport+Matters/

Before you throw the kitbag into the back of the garage or on top of the wardrobe or into the attic space, may I ask that you take a quick look inside to see if there is anything you would regard as surplus to requirements - a bat with no middle, a ball with no spin, whites not suitable for the athletic build you now have after five months of play!

KitAid Whatever you have will not go to waste and will always be appreciated by KitAid and its partners to promote the game to those that do not have the means or facilities to play cricket.
Read More . . .

Autumn Renovation of Squares Its the time of year when groundsmen are getting ready to do the most important thing for next season . . . thats putting the bed to square.

When Tom Flintoff visited in April, he said the biggest mistake that groundsmen make is that they don't scarify wickets hard enough at the end of the season.

Toms golden rules are as follows:
    Only scarify when your square is damp
    Each wicket should be scarified 6 to 10 times
    Only scarify in the direction of play. NEVER scarify across the square
Read square renovation quidelines...

Chris Beattie and his two sons Jack (13) and Sam (11)Alan McIlwaine from CIYMS IVs sent this photo in of Chris Beattie and his two sons Jack (13) and Sam (11) who all played together in the last match of the season against Victoria III






Donaghcloney 1st XI - Winners of Ulster Bank Section 2 - with NCU Chairman Roger BellDonaghcloney - Winners of Ulster Bank Section - Photos
Donaghcloney, winners of Ulster Bank Section 2 - photos
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Under 11
Alec Dunlop Memorial Cup Final
Pollock Park, Lurgan - 24th August
Bready beat Lurgan by 7 wickets

MATCH REPORT AND PHOTOS...

Under 13
D R Pigot Memorial Cup Final
The Lawn, Waringstown - 25th August
Donemana beat Waringstown by 22 runs


Under 15
Ian Lewis Cup Final
YMCA CC - 26th August
North Down beat YMCA by 2 wickets

Read more...

Lurgan A under 11s who won the Charles Beverland Under 11 league Shield (sponsored by Norman Shannon & Co Solicitors)
Shield Final - August 23 (Lower Pitch at Shaw's Bridge)
Lurgan A beat Ballymena by 10 runs

MATCH REPORT AND PHOTOS (updated)...

Plate Final - August 23 (Upper Pitch at Shaw's Bridge)
Cregagh beat CIYMS
Read More...

NCU Colts Cup Winners - CIYMS
Laurevale CC - 25 August 25
CIYMS 120
North Down 117
CIYMS beat North Down by 3 run
s
Colts Cup...



Bangor III 134 (P Mcilwaine 40, A Andrews 31, J Stewart 25no, F Taylor 2-17, T McBurney 2-17)
Ballymena III 135-5 (F Taylor 31, B McGookin 27, P Harshaw 25, J Stewart 2-27)
Ballymena III beat Bangor III by 5 wickets
Man of the Match - Fergus Taylor (Ballymena)

Read more...

Academy III 173 (B Rea 53no, CC Magarajappa 33, J Ryles 29, M Monteith 3-34, N Bell 2-28, M Caithness 2-36)
Ballymena IV 88 (A Gibson 28, D Ryles 6-22, J Ryles 2-17)
Academy III beat Ballymena IV 85 runs
Man of the Match - Brian Rea (Academy)

Read more...

The under 13 NCU League Final, for the Tom Greenwood Memorial Trophy, was played at Ballymena Cricket Club on Monday 16 August between Armagh and CSNI A.

Unfortunately the game was reduced to 15 overs per team due to inclement weather.

CSNI A won the game by 71 runs, scoring 102 for 3 with M Corry scoring 46 and Captain P Beverland scoring 34 not out against Armagh's score of 31 all out. B McGavock took 3 Armagh wickets for 15, and C Ross had figures of 2 for 9.
Read More and Photos from the match...

North Down 212-6 (R Burgess 22, P Eakin 93, G Anderson 36no, D McFadden 2-17)
Templepatrick 145 (J Hunter 73, D Gibson 21, P Davidson 5-29)
North Down beat Templepatrick by 67 runs

Read more...

15 August - Fox Lodge CC, Ballymagorry
Muckamore 323-5 (40 overs, W Horwood 141, I Kamtekar 83, D Curry 2-59)
Bond's Glen 126 (28.2 overs, R Coetzee 3-16, T Neill 3-36, I Kamtekar 2-20, A McCulloch 2-20)
Muckamore beat Bond's Glen by 197 runs
Man of the Match - Wayne Horwood
Read more...


Derriaghy II 133 (I Crothers 46, J Torrans 28, M Fell 26,
B Mullan 4-23, I McGowan 2-41)
Saintfield II 137-4 (I McGowan 66no, C Patterson 22)
Saintfield II beat Derriaghy II by six wickets
Man of the Match – Ian McGowan

Read more...

This week saw Lurgan Cricket Club visit Templepatrick Cricket Club in Ballyclare to initiate both clubs first Under 11 Cricket Blitz. This saw 70 Under 11 boys and girls from both clubs participate in cricket with children as young as 5 years old getting a chance to enjoy the game.

This idea was put together by both Clubs' Cricket Development Officers, Jonny Gillespie of Lurgan CC and Andy McCrea of Templepatrick CC.
Read more...

8 August
Limavady 160 (39.5 overs, Dean Curry 47no, N Thompson 28, S Shannon 4-43, A White 3-15)
Instonians 161-6 (33.5 overs, J Stevenson 30, R McCann 33, A White 47no, S Thompson 2-37, Decker Curry 3-35)
Instonians beat Limavady by 4 wickets


The Management Committee of Lisburn Cricket Club are delighted to confirm that Sky Sports pundit and former Test Cricketer David Lloyd has agreed to be the special guest speaker at the Gala dinner on 8th October 2011 as part of the season of celebration to mark the clubs 175th Anniversary in 2011.
Read more...

31 July
North Down 262-6 (50 overs, T Khan 89, N Russell 57)
CIYMS 188 (42.1 overs, C McMllan 49, M Hingston 49, T Khan 3-14)
North Down beat CIYMS by 74 runs
Man of the Match: T Khan (North Down)

1 August (The Green, Comber)
11.30am - Shield Final
Cliftonville beat Saintfield by 18 runs

3.00pm - Cup Final
CIYMS beat Muckamore by 3 wickets

The Banoge Cup Final was played tonight (Wednesday 4th August) at Stormont and the winners were Waringstown

CSNI won the toss and put Waringstown in to bat first.
Waringstown 94-6 (A Dennison 57)
CSNI 47-8
Waringstown beat CSNI by 47 runs
The victorious Lurgan team

Lurgan Under 11s lifted the BB Consultants sponsored Quoile Cup at Derriaghy CC on 4 August with a fine 38 run victory over Armagh
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The Cricket Development Directorate recently established a Taskforce to consider the future of Junior Cricket. A report of its work and its recommendations can be found here.

Before bringing proposals to the 2010 AGM the Directorate would like to hear the views of clubs on the Taskforce Report. A series of meetings will be held:
    Tuesday 24 August Lurgan CC Clubhouse
    Tuesday 31 August Carrickfergus CC Clubhouse
    Thursday 2 September Shaws Bridge Clubhouse
All meetings will commence at 7.30pm. It is hoped every club will attend one meeting. It would be helpful if a senior official plus junior team captains etc would represent clubs.

NOTE: 2 changes have been made to the previously published report:
Teams permitted to schedule no more than 2 fixtures on days other than a Saturday at fixture meetings except for the bottom team in the club
It is recommended that the number of players to be starred for each team below the 2nd XI be increased from 7 to 9
Read more...

The Task Force was set up by the NCU Cricket Development Directorate to consider the future of Junior cricket (below Division 1) and in particular how to encourage adults to continue / resume playing. 

Other factors to be considered were the failure of teams to fulfil fixtures and a perceived desire for shorter matches in the more junior games.
Read more...

NCU Under 13 League Final
The NCU Under 13 League Final (for the Tom Greenwood Trophy) will be played on Monday 16 August at 2.00pm at Ballymena Cricket Club between Armagh and CSNI A (The reserve day is Wednesday 18 August)

Armagh defeated Academy in the first semi final played on 6 August by 44 runs with Andrew Hoey top scoring with 78.

CSNI A defeated North Down last night by 8 wickets in the second semi final, with Jack Biggerstaff taking 5 wickets for 4 runs.

The Northern Cricket Union in conjunction with the family of the late Jim McMorran (Past Chairman, President and Life Member of the NCU) is instigating an annual award for voluntary service to cricket
Read more...

Competition
Under 11
Semi Final:
Monday 9th August
Lurgan CC 109 (27 overs, C Gibson 20, S Wilson 11, S McCollum 12, E Currie 10)
Leinster CC 24 (9.2 overs, C Gibson 5-9, J Hunter 4-14, N Allen 1-0)
Lurgan beat Leinster by 85 runs

Final: Lurgan v Bready at Lurgan

Under 13
Semi Final: Donemana beat North County on Sunday 8th August
Final: Waringstown v Donemana at Waringstown on Wednesday 25th August at 3pm

Under 15
Semi Final: North Down/Templepatrick (13th August) v Donemana
Final: YMCA v winners
Read more...

In the Norman Shannon & Co Solicitors sponsored Charles Beverland Under 11 league the final placings have now been agreed and the draw for the 1/4 finals of the knock out Shield competition are as follows
    A Instonians A v Lurgan A
    B Waringstown v Downpatrick
    C CSNI v Carrickfergus
    D Ballymena v Saintfield

(Games to be played on or before 13 August)

Semi final draw - games to be played by 19 Aug
    Winner of A v Winner of C
    Winner of D v Winner of B
In the Plate competition the 1/4 final draw is
    A Cregagh v Instonians B
    B Lisburn v Ards
    C North Down v Academy
    D Muckamore v CIYMS

As with the Shield competition the above games are to be played on or before 13 August

Semi final draw - games to be played by 19 August
    Winner of C v Winner of A
    Winner of B v Winner of D
The finals of Under 11 Shield and Plate competitions will both take place on Monday 23 August at Shaw's Bridge starting at 5.15 pm

8 August
Limavady 160 (39.5 overs, Dean Curry 47no, N Thompson 28, S Shannon 4-43, A White 3-15)
Instonians 161-6 (33.5 overs, J Stevenson 30, R McCann 33, A White 47no, S Thompson 2-37, Decker Curry 3-35)
Instonians beat Limavady by 4 wickets

7 August
Merrion 202-9 (50 overs, J Anderson 104, V Mpitsang 4-26)
Waringstown 121 (41.2 overs)
Merrion beat Waringstown by 81 runs

Railway Union 315-6 (50 overs, T Fisher 123, K Carroll 92)
Fox Lodge 192 (38.1 overs, J Heywood 47, A McGinnis 41, B Allen 40, P Conliffe 3-59)
Railway Union beat Fox Lodge by 123 runs

The Management Committee of Lisburn Cricket Club are delighted to confirm that Sky Sports pundit and former Test Cricketer David Lloyd has agreed to be the special guest speaker at the Gala dinner on 8th October 2011 as part of the season of celebration to mark the clubs 175th Anniversary in 2011.
Read more...


Ex-Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga will be making a visit to Ballymena Cricket Club from about 5.45pm on Tuesday the 24th August where he plans to take a fast bowling net with 10 cricketers from clubs in Northern Ireland.
Read more...

Sport NI/University of Ulster have setup three evening conferences with Paul MacKinnon, the New Zealand All Blacks High Performance Player Manager.
Read more...

31 July
North Down 262-6 (50 overs, T Khan 89, N Russell 57)
CIYMS 188 (42.1 overs, C McMllan 49, M Hingston 49, T Khan 3-14)
North Down beat CIYMS by 74 runs
Man of the Match: T Khan (North Down)