Secretary's Report - 1999

Following the strong finish with which the 1st XI ended the previous season, there was much to look forward to when the new season got under way in April. Ralph Coetzee from South Africa replaced Wasim Haider as professional, and the side was again captained by Simon Redpath.

Simon must be congratulated on his commitment to North cricket both on and off the field and on his captaincy in a difficult season. Despite struggling with injury he never spared himself and it was fitting that he should lift the Senior Cup after a protracted final and much delayed presentation. Jim Patterson scored the highest aggregate runs, 718, at the highest average, 35.90, and Simon Redpath scored 516 at 25.80 and took 17 wickets at 21.65. Johnny Bouyens was the leading bowler with 24 at 20.50. Simon Redpath also represented the NCU.

A special mention for David Finlay, who was man of the match in the Cup Final, wherein victory over Woodvale was achieved by 15 runs. We wish Simon success in his degree course in psychiatry, which could prove useful in the future.

The 2nd XI began the season with two comprehensive league victories which gave great promise for the campaigns to come. Unfortunately a first round Junior Cup defeat at the hands of eventual joint winners, Millpark, brought things into perspective, and indeed proved to be a watershed in terms of availability of their strongest potential side and an indicator of the fragility of the batting. Further League victories were then interrupted by a hefty defeat by Instonians and at the half-way stage the team had won 8 out of 9 games. A weekend which saw the defeat of North Down also brought a second heavy loss to Instonians, which left the team needing to win their last six games to share the title. Defeat at the hands of Bangor left the team as runners up in the final league standings.

Player of the Year, Bill Kirk, took some 41 wickets at an average of just over 11 and significantly gave away only 2.74 runs per over. Philip Black and Trevor Dalzell were the main support bowlers with significant contributions from Danny Lewis, Chris Fuller, Chris Corlett, Davy Johnston and Neil Black. Peter Law scored most runs, 291 at 24.24, Neil McCall scored 138 against Downpatrick, and Paul Jackson topped the batting averages with 209 runs at 41.8, but despite these highlights the batsmen generally struggled to dominate the opposition bowling.

Neil McCall took 15 catches and 3 stumpings while in the outfield, skipper Ian Heron took 10 catches. Although the younger players did not make telling contributions, in the case of Chris Corlett and Chris Fuller this was due to playing more 1st XI games than for the 2nds, and we look forward to having the opening bowling of Neil Black and the exciting batting (and the occasional wicket keeping) talent of Gary Wilson next season. The side was again captained by Ian Heron in his customary polished style.

It was a season of old and new for the 3rd XI. The playing record shows P14; W7; L7. Much of the responsibility for this must go to the dream team leadership of Heaney and Patterson. The former took 9 wickets in 123 overs (no bunnies at this level). The latter with his many dying swan impersonations showed that hand eye co-ordination has finally gone.

The records will show that the 3rd XI narrowly avoided relegation and made a triumphant march to the Cup Final where they came second. Thanks are due to Richard Finlay Senior and Rory Wallace for getting them there. Congratulations are due to Neil Black and Gary Wilson on representing Ireland with distinction and to all the other young players who always performed to the best of their abilities and with unfailing good humour. Thanks also to the stalwarts, Watson, Terrington, McAskie, Hamilton and Wallace who always answered the clarion call. The captain extends his personal thanks to the other captains in one of the best Cricket Committees in which he has been involved.

Finally, as the dream team return to the obscurity from where they were plucked, no annual report would be complete without expressing Captain Brian's admiration for the Shadow. His batting average has been omitted for fear of litigation. Nevertheless his exuberance is undiminished and he has provided us with more champagne moments than any cricketer in living memory.

For the 4th XI, it was a year of what could have been. Close defeats by Carrickfergus (the eventual winners) and Muckamore meant that the fours were consigned to mid-table obscurity instead of challenging for the league title. The year was notable for the number of high-pitched appeals as the fours became the development ground for North's stars of the future. Gary Wilson made an inglorious start to his North career with a first ball duck but showed such promise that he ended the season on the first XI. Paddy Boyd continues to improve behind the stumps and is fearless. Provided that Ben Price can actually see the ball he can hit it a long way as shown by his lightning 50 against Instonians. He was also a devastating quick bowler on his day.

Special mention has to be made of such players as Paul Marshall, Richard Watters, Richard McKee, Tim Black and Neil Hutchinson all of whom were completely unfazed playing at this standard. Coupled with this raw talent was the experience of some old stagers. Led by fours stalwarts Goodfellow and Babington the emphasis was on hard but fair play. Keith Scarlett had his best bowling season for years, often unplayable. Brian Gillespie flirted with Rugby League before remembering his cricket roots to take a hatfull of wickets late in the season. David McClelland and Richard Irvine as ever gave their all without much luck and Goodfellow, the skipper, who shockingly overbowled himself, was the top wicket taker with 20.

The top order batting was a weakness until bolstered by Wally Graham, who always sold his wicket dearly. Simon Wallace returned to the confident stylish left hander of a few years ago to earn the player of the year award as top run scorer. David Dickson's belated return to the game showed that he had lost none of his passion and skill and David Robinson's concentration was an example to all.

The Cup was a sobering experience for all involved; after a stirring quarter-final win over Ballymena, a combination of poor fielding and sheer exhaustion led to a heavy semi-final defeat at the hands of Armagh. Highlights of the year were the three run win over Woodvale, defending a total of 73, John Hamilton's superb century against Armagh and Daisy Gillespie's 6 for 8 off 13 overs against Instonians. On a less happy note, the honesty of umpiring at this level has, in some corners, spiralled downwards and it is sad to see young players being denied success by unfair means.

Eamon Goodfellow led the side with good sense and multiple team talks . He had an excellent rapport with the young players and must take credit for making the season so enjoyable for all who played under him. The boys' teams had a successful season without actually winning anything. The Colt's XI reached their Cup Final, losing to Downpatrick by 7 wickets, in which match Andrew Pannell scored a very good 38.

Tragically, Nick Kirkwood, who played in the quarter final and was a promising bowler, lost his life in a car accident. The Committee extends its sympathy to his family. His loss touched us all.

The Under 15 XI were beaten by Instonians in the qualifying group and lost to Waringstown by 13 runs in the first round of the Graham Cup. The Under 13's lost to Instonians by 3 runs in the qualifying group. Gary Wilson, Richard McKee and Michael Fetherstone were the pick of the batsmen. Three boys gained representative honours;- Chris Fuller played for Ulster Schools and Schools of Ireland; Neil Black played for NCU Under 15's and Ireland U 15's, and Gary Wilson played for NCU U 13's and Ireland U 13's. He scored a century for NCU against Munster. They are a credit to themselves and bring credit to the Club and deserve congratulation.

The Committee is grateful to those who looked after the boys cricket, especially Philip Black, Colin McKee and D C Gillespie as well as the professional. It is encouraging to see good young players emerging and who enjoy their cricket. It is vital that they get the chance to fulfil their potential. Once again Henry Harrison produced quality pitches, helped by the acquisition of new and much-needed pitch covers, for which the Cricket Committee thank the Club. In August the Club hosted two international fixtures. The first was the European Colts Cup Final, in which England defeated Ireland, and at the end of the month Ireland played Scotland in a three day first-class fixture, won by Ireland after some alarms on the final morning. The Club received many compliments from the ICU on the arrangements for the match and good relations between the ICU and the Club have been restored after the 1996 NatWest affair. The organisation was excellently carried out by Simon Corlett, to whom we owe a large debt of thanks.

Andrew McAskie succeeded David Heaney as honorary treasurer. David's years in the post cannot be overpraised. His sheer hard work in a thankless task enabled the cricket section to operate largely within budget. We are lucky to have Andrew to replace him. Despite a drop in income of nearly £4000 compared to last year, having lost our main sponsor, the deficit to budget was only £1900. Thanks are due to Mark Marais and Stephen Dyer who ran the Social Committee so energetically, and to Brian Patterson who organised the ball sponsorship. Every member should make it his business to support fund-raising events.

A debt of thanks is due to Lion Sports for their sponsorship, to Michael Moreland who again provided the professional's car, and to Nicholson Bass and Brian Stafford for sponsoring two cricket teas. The Committee is deeply grateful for their support. We also thank Campbell College for the use of thier ground during the season.

As has been referred to above, Ros McMullan is retiring as 1st XI scorer after 13 seasons and we thank her for her superb work and dedication to North cricket. Brian Fitzgerald, the Secretary/Manager, retired during the season and we can hardly thank him enough for all he has done for us over the years in countless ways. We wish him a happy retirement and his successor, Peter Bates, good fortune. Gilbert Paton, the Club President, has been a generous, enthusiastic and attentive supporter.

The future direction of the Club is still not entirely certain. The merger with Collegians should take place during the coming winter but cricket will probably continue at Ormeau until the end of the 2001 season. The extra time will ensure that the cricket pitches at Deramore will be of the best quality possible. The Committee would like to thank the players on all the teams and all those who came to support them during a season of both highs and lows and wish all those involved in cricket at Ormeau a successful 2000.

Andrew Babington
Cricket Section Secretary - 1999
October 1999