Holders North Down will be trying to retain the trophy they won in 2011.

CIYMS have continued their winter recruitment drive with the prized captures of Jeremy Bray and Ryan Butterworth.

Holders RBAI will be at home to Bangor Grammar School Seconds. Full draw and also details of U15 Schools Cup.

AMPLE evidence of the playing contribution by Davy Willis to Laurelvale�s glorious past is on display in framed photographs hanging on the clubhouse walls.

Criagavon Council rejected the initial proposal of a 575% increase on what Victoria were charged in 2011, thanks largely to the petition which amassed over 1,000 signatures in only 4 days!

All rounder Addicott replaces compatriot Obus Pienaar at The Lawn whilst CIYMS sign Zimbabwean PJ Moor.

Lagan Valley Steels to sponsor NCU T20 competitions in a three year deal.

The Northern Cricket Union have a new sponsor for their Twenty20 competitions.

Dundrum CC announce Indian Raviraj Patil as their overseas player for 2012.

Muckamore Cricket Club are hosting a first aid course on Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th April in the clubhouse from 6pm to 9pm.

Muckamore keen to put relegation nightmare behind them in 2012, as they look to challenge for trophies on all fronts.

Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup holders expected to be right in the mix for major honours again.

There is no doubt that this is a big season for Instonians as they strive to further their efforts of last year and if the top four fire with the bat and a bowling attack of Moleon, Delaney, White, Wylie, Rushe and Sheard they may not be far away.

Downpatrick now has the capability of mounting a serious challenge in all competitions this season.

The addition of a new professional means Woodvale could well challenge for promotion.

Experienced Carrickfergus targetting another year in Premier League.

The aim within Cricket Ireland is to pitch best against best and that�s the way it�s to be in an NCU season that gets way next Saturday.

Comber side dealt serious blow as Anwar Ali called into Pakistan training squad.

There's no doubt that Ballymena were very much the surprise packages in the league in 2011, with a third place finish surprising even the most ardent Eaton Park watchers.

Alistair Bushe previews the NCU Premier League.

But Hughes is hoping to win some silverware by the end of the season.

New Lisburn captain David Simpson is hoping his side can challenge for the title following disappointing 2011.

NORTH Down have signed former Sri Lankan all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon as a replacement for overseas professional Anwar Ali, who pulled out of a deal to join the Comber club last week.

Half centuries from James Hall and Lee Nelson see Waringstown record convincing seven wicket win against Ballymena.

Former Irish international Jeremy Bray scores 82 as CIYMS beat CSN by 19 runs.

Jeremy Bray may have scored the bulk of CIYMS� runs in their victory over CSN but Stephen Hughes can, rightly, point out that it was he and two of the unsung heroes who took the bulk of the wickets.

Waringstown eased to a seven wickets win over Ballymena at The Lawn in the other game to survive the midweek rains.

66 from James Hall and 60 not out by Lee Nelson see Waringstown home by 7 wickets with almost 14 overs to spare.

Early start and early wickets but CI post 180 and despite CSN adding 52 for the first wicket they failed to maintain the momentum.

Just to remind all clubs that the age limit has changed this season in line with representative age groupings and All Ireland Age Group Cups.

The NCU selectors have named their side for their opening interprovincial clash with the NWCU at Coleraine this Sunday.

Andrew Hammond of Portadown CC is featured in this week's Portadown Times.

Number of coaches required, including cricket.

Instonians, at full strength except for Sam Shannon, host all-star CI at Shaw's Bridge.

IT might be just the second week of the Ulster Bank NCU Premier League season, but today�s contest between Instonians and CIYMS could potentially reveal a great deal about the credentials of two of the likely title challengers.

Unbeaten CIYMS and Waringstown top the Premier League.

CSN's Colin Andrews breaks an ankle at Stormont.

The T20 cup game between North Down and CIYMS will now be played on Tuesday May 15.

Holywood skipper hits an unbeaten 49 to win at Moylena.

Ballymena and Ireland player David Kennedy talks with Davy Holmes in the News Letter Total Cricket section.

Michael Hingston on his unbeaten double hundred for CIYMS II.

Davy Holmes examines the thorny issue of starting times in domestic cricket.

Unbeaten half century from David Gibson leads Campbell to shock one wicket win against Methody despite heroic efforts of James McCollum.

Waringstown begin their defence of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup with one of the most attractive games of the first round, against Strabane at The Lawn, and still unbeaten.

Woodvale stalwart airs his views on the newly launched National Cup.

Downpatrick Cricket Club have announced the signing of 22-year old Erik Laubscher as the club's overseas professional for the 2012 season.

Fine batting display sets up convincing win for Shaw's Bridge side despite rain curtailing play.

Waringstown will have only three other NCU teams for company in the second round after another disappointing day for their member clubs.

CIYMS record 10 run win over Comber side, while Carrick triumph 3-0 in bowl-out gainst Waringstown.

CIYMS continued their superb early season form as they defeated NCU kingpins North Down by 10 runs in a thrilling Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup tie at The Green last night.

Unbeaten 49 from Greg Thompson couldn't save Lisburn from a 31 run defeat.

Last year's finalists RBAI and Regent House will meet in the second round.

As Lisburn captain David Simpson said after his side�s latest defeat on Wednesday night: �Whoever compiled the fixture list had it in for us�.

Morgan Topping of Waringstown skippers NCU Under 13 squad for interprovincial tournament in Cork.

NCU approve transfers of Leon Moore from North Down and Rodney Ontong from Cooke Collegians.

David Simpson doesn�t even hesitate for a second when asked about his biggest regret as a Lisburn cricketer, when asked about the one result he could change if he had the choice.

North Down are flying in South African JJ Pienaar from England to take part in today's Ulster Bank Premier League match against Lisburn at Wallace Park.

Players and umpires were at loggerheads last night after yesterday�s NCU Premier League game between Lisburn and North Down was controversially called off for a second time.

Despite 48 hours without rain, Lisburn's Wallace Park ground was still unplayable yesterday so their Premier League clash with champions North Down was postponed for a second time.

IF North Down go on to lift the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup later in the summer, they will doubtless reflect on Saturday�s hard-fought 35-run win over Ballymena at The Green with a sense of relief.

Beattie Arlow, Waringstown follower, former player, umpire and groundsman.

CIYMS were on the wrong end of their first defeat of the season as Civil Service North administered a 71-run beating in the Twenty20 Cup.

North Down�s hopes of retaining the Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup are hanging by a thread after last night�s eight-wicket defeat by Instonians at The Green. Ballymena on track to make semi-finals.

Chris Dougherty is looking for his first win over Waringstown when CIYMS meet the Villagers in the match of the season so far in the Ulster Bank Premier League.

The newly-shortened 14-game NCU Premier League season has the feel of a sprint more than a marathon, so the reality is that neither CIYMS nor Waringstown can afford to lose today�s mouthwatering clash at Belmont.

After almost three long years away from their Ballygomartin Road home, the wait will finally end for Woodvale.

Skipper David Simpson blows away CI's top order. Wins also for Downpatrick, Muckamore and Lurgan who hit 350 against Holywood.

IT was billed as the game of the season to date, a day when CIYMS and Waringstown auditioned for the role of NCU Premier League title contenders.

Limavady GS and Grosveror GS through to semi finals.

Grosvenor have progressed to the semi-finals of the Ulster Bank Schools Cup with an emphatic win against Foyle and Londonderry College.

Grosvenor have home draw against Limavady while CAI or RBAI face Strabane Academy or Down HS.

James Hall smashed an unbeaten 83 from 63 balls as Waringstown beat Lisburn by 34 runs to revive their Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup hopes at The Lawn last night.

News of wins for CSN, Strabane, CIYMS and Waringstown.

CLUBTURF Ulster Cup holders Instonians will start the defence of the trophy against Glendermott today without fast bowler Mick Delaney.

We continue the round-up of Ulster Cup action with news of wins for North Down and Instonians, but exits for Carrickfergus and Lisburn.

NCU sides dominate their NW counterparts in the first round of the Ulster Shield.

In the painstaking four weeks that it took for Gayan Wijekoon�s UK visa to be processed, North Down might have lost their nerve and pulled the plug on the deal to bring the Sri Lankan to Comber.

WARINGSTOWN will be making a familiar trek to Londonderry over the next two weeks after being drawn away to Brigade in the quarter finals of the ClubTurf Ulster Cup on Sunday week.

Back in the bad old days the ground was a stone�s throw, (quite literally!) from some of the city�s trouble spots, but it always seemed to be an oasis of calm, oblivious to the storms around it. Sometimes smoke in the background and helicopters overhead, almost akin to watching Rome burn.

NCU Vice-Chairman and Director of Cricket comes under the spotlight.

Stormont witnessed another piece of history on 6 June as it staged the first ever Northern Ireland all girl Asda Kwik Cricket Finals.

Peter Shields wouldn�t be human if he hadn�t been even slightly envious watching events unfold in last year�s Bob Kerr Irish Cup final at The Green.

CAI have knocked holders RBAI out of this year�s Ulster Bank Schools� Cup competition.

Rory McCann leads Instonians to important win against Carrickfergus.

Easy victory for Civil Service North against Derriaghy.

North County prevail in tight encounter, while YMCA overcome Terenure.

Holders RBAI are narrowly beaten by two wickets by Coleraine AI.

Instonians have announced that their Australian professional Mick Delaney is flying home today following injury.

ONLY 13 overs were possible throughout Northern Ireland with the Northern Cricket Union a complete wipe-out.

North Down batsman Ryan Haire ended CIYMS� Ulster Cup hopes with a sublime innings in yesterday�s quarter-final at The Green, while Griffin Nieuwoudt proved the scourge of Strabane.

Brigade gained revenge for their Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup defeat eight days earlier to reach the semi finals of the ClubTurf Ulster Cup.

Stormont groundsman Philip McCormick on the challenges of preparing a track for the number one side in the world.

The NCU Cricket Development Officer, Nigel Jones is a busy man these days.

The semi finalists in the Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup will be decided this week with an extra two matches confirmed after last week�s chaotic post-match scenes at Carrickfergus and Stormont.

Downpatrick will switch tomorrow�s NCU Challenge Cup quarter-final with North Down to Comber should their Strangford Road ground be unplayable.

Lisburn refuse Waringstown's offer of playing at The Lawn as Wallace Park deemed unplayable.

Grosvenor defeat Limavady and Coleraine beat Down High in semi-finals.

Total Cricket spoke to Keith Smith who was appointed as third umpire for the game - the two men in the middle were Richard Kettleborough and Mark Hawthorne.

The Ulster Bank NCU Challenge Cup was reduced to farce yesterday as holders Waringstown crashed out to Lisburn in a controversial bowl-out at Wallace Park.

Rain affected final but Grosvenor GS deserved winners over Coleraine Inst.

The NCU youth selectors have named the following squad of 13 players for this year�s U15 Interprovincial Tournament which runs from the 4th to 6th July at the Stormont grounds in Belfast.

The NCU youth selectors have named the following squad of 13 players for this year�s U13 Interprovincial Tournament which runs from the 2nd to 4th July in Cork.

North Down record massive 152 run win against Lisburn to reach cup final.

How the selectors of the Ireland under-19 squad may rue not backing the credentials of North Down�s precocious young all-rounder Peter Eakin.

Both losing teams will have their gripes, North Down at the Beechgrove surface and Donemana at the umpiring, but the margins in both games were decisive enough to ensure that the best team won on the day.

As the NCU rules stand after two attempts to complete any cup match on the field, the final resort is a bowl out. Why is this rule in place? Very simply because the member clubs of the Union voted on this solution at their AGM.

It�s freezing here, but the one think I will say is that it is amazing that we have been able to get so close to the Australian team and get signed autographs and pictures. In Australia the only way that you would get this close at an international would be if you had platinum level tickets

Waringstown beat Instonians by six wickets at Belmont to claim the Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup for the second time.

With Sion Mills and St Johnston exiting the National Cup on the bowl-out the North West's hopes rested in the hands of Drummond as they attempted to see off a strong Muckamore outfit.

If anyone is in doubt about the continuing importance of professionals when it comes to winning cricket matches, they should study Ballymena�s crucial NCU Premier League victory over Instonians at Eaton Park on Saturday.

The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced a series of 'Play Smart' Workshops for young club cricketers and their coaches to help improve their cricket and coaching skills.

As the weather shows little sign of abating two village sides in Co. Down have been worse hit than most.

Ben Wylie is living the dream and there is so much more to come.

Carrickfergus captain Ross Gelderbloem is candid enough to admit that just about everyone at Middle Road regards today�s NCU Premier League match with Ballymena as a must-win for his side.

Ballymena took a significant step towards safety after winning arguably the finest match in NCU Premier League history in astonishing fashion at Middle Road on Saturday.

�The umpires ruined the best game of cricket I�ve ever seen�. That was the comment of one Carrickfergus CC member after Saturday�s extraordinary finale to their Premier League game against Ballymena at Middle Road.

When Noah was around he built an ark because it was going to rain for forty days and forty nights. When I spoke to Lurgan�s Niranjan Godbole for my article on 30 May he had just made successive centuries against Holywood the previous weekend.

You see not only is the company�s managing director Tommy Anderson a sponsor to the NCU he is also a club sponsor at Waringstown and their President to boot; so you might argue that Friday night was a bit of a treble whammy for him.

Lisburn went into this weekend�s NCU Premier League double-header against North Down and Carrickfergus seemingly in the middle of a desperate struggle against relegation.

So if I was to give you the following destinations, Monaco, Budapest, Bratislava, Austria, Croatia and Portugal and then ask what the link is, I suspect you would conclude that I have finally lost the plot!

Putting it mildly, it�s not been the best of summers so far for the Northern Cricket Union or its main sponsor, Ulster Bank.

JAMES Shannon will take his place in the Instonians line-up for the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup final against hosts North Down today (11am), despite missing the club�s last two games.

Instonians have had to pull replacement professional Farooq Iqbal out of today�s Ulster Bank Challenge Cup final against North Down because of a doubt over his registration.

In this, the soggiest summer in memory, cricket has been dogged by the weather at every turn and consequently there have been rather more talking points off the field than on it.

James Shannon might have failed by just a matter of feet to reach a richly-deserved century at The Green yesterday but no-one could dispute that his unbeaten 99 from 93 balls was not one of the great NCU Challenge Cup final innings.

Instonians just love playing North Down in cup finals. For the third time in four years Eugene Moleon�s team won the big match and, as in 2009, they beat the Comber side on their own ground, to win the NCU�s Challenge Cup for the only the third time.

Instonians just love playing North Down in cup finals. For the third time in four years Eugene Moleon�s team won the big match and, as in 2009, they beat the Comber side on their own ground, to win the NCU�s Challenge Cup for the only the third time.

James Shannon might have failed by just a matter of feet to reach a richly-deserved century at The Green yesterday but no-one could dispute that his unbeaten 99 from 93 balls was not one of the great NCU Challenge Cup final innings.

Peter Shields has insisted he made the decision to resign the North Down captaincy before Friday�s Challenge Cup final loss to Instonians.

Every time Carrickfergus get a glimpse of their maiden NCU Premier League victory of the season, the door is firmly shut in their faces.

In recent weeks those who follow this column will know I have been charting the progress of Muckamore Cricket Club first eleven in the various cup competitions.

A look back at the action in last week's semi finals of the Junior Cup.

Another massive weekend is in prospect for Waringstown as they fight to retain the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup.

Waringstown captain Kyle McCallan has warned his team that they will need to be at their best today to secure a place in the Bob Kerr Irish Cup final for the second successive year.

When Ballymena were last NCU champions way back in 1998 they sprung one of the biggest surprises in club cricket. Try as they might to deny it, Simon McDowell�s men are now right in the hunt to repeat that remarkable feat of 14 years ago.

NCU champions North Down will have to play the rest of the season without an overseas professional.

Glen Addicott crashed a breathtaking century from just 46 balls as Waringstown took the outright lead of the NCU Premier League last night.

If ever a team needed a captain�s innings it was at The Lawn yesterday against CSN. As Waringstown�s Kyle McCallan strode out to join Glen Addicott his team�s title aspirations seemed increasingly remote.

And then there were four! This morning the picture at the top of the Ulster Bank Premier League is a lot clearer as the weekend�s fixtures reduced the list of contenders from seven down to four.

Saturday will be a special day for the Johnson family as Cooke Collegians attempt to retain the Goldblatt McGuigan Junior Cup.

Wins over Edinburgh and Glasgow secure victory in inaugural U14 competition at Ayr.

At the end of a tremendous day�s cricket on Saturday the Goldblatt McGuigan Junior Cup was back in the trophy cabinet of Cooke Collegians at Shaw�s Bridge where it will reside for the second successive year

At the start of May I reported on Woodvale�s return to their home ground at Ballygomartin Road; so as the business end of the season approaches I thought it was time to give a progress report on the season to date.

There may be only four weekends left in the most exciting Ulster Bank Premier League title race for years but it is looking like a survival of the fittest.

NORTH Down have signed English seam bowler Danny Evans as a replacement professional for the rest of the season.

North Down are back on top of the NCU Premier League after a thrilling last-over victory at already relegated Carrickfergus last night.

NORTH Down are back on top of the Ulster Bank Premier League table after a dream weekend when they defeated Waringstown and Carrickfergus and then saw their perennial rivals for the title crash at home to Lisburn to leave the Villagers in a four-way tie for second place.

Muckamore win on fewer wickets lost after scores are tied at 183 runs apiece.

North Down�s fortunes on the field may have taken a temporary dip over the last few weeks but off it they are certainly building for the future with a superb new practice area as Peter Shields explains

From Major to Minor, from Kiawah to Cregagh, it�s all they are talking about in Holywood this week.

However last weekend was a dream for Ivan McCombe who celebrated his 55th birthday on the Sunday of the Ulster Plate final. �If Carlsberg did birthday's"; those celebrations went on late into the night.

Waringstown skipper Adam Dennison leads villagers to victory at The Green.

THIS weekend will not decide the champions of the Ulster Bank Premier League but it should go a long way to deciding who will be the team to beat.

North Down and CIYMS are due to meet in the most important match of the NCU Premier League season so far at The Green today, but the fixture is in major doubt because of the weather.

After Ireland opted not to practice in County Wicklow yesterday, Connell appeared instead at The Lawn, and with rich dividends for his club side.

In what has been a life changing experience Andrew a former French teacher in Ballymena Academy, has moved to the west of France.

Another weekend another trophy for Holywood�s finest , the Wanamaker Trophy and now the Minor Qualifying Trophy, just looking for a photo opportunity to get them both together, who knows!

CIYMS III�s eventually got the better of Muckamore III�s at Eaton Park; Ballymena on Saturday to bring the Cleaver Black sponsored Minor (Lindsay) Cup back to Belmont.

As Muckamore captain Neil Gill put it, it would be hard to write a script that would match up to the drama of their dramatic victory in the Ulster Shield Final against Eglinton at Limavady.

CIYMS moved to within one victory of guaranteeing themselves at least a share of the NCU Premier League title with a crushing eight-wicket win over Ballymena at Eaton Park last night.

CIYMS have moved a step closer to the Ulster Bank Senior League title with an eight wickets victory over Ballymena at Eaton Park to move eight points clear with just three games remaining.

THE Ulster Bank Premier League trophy was at Belmont yesterday but, wisely as it turned out, the NCU kept it safely under lock and key.

Muckamore skipper pays tribute to team after claiming historic win against Balbriggan.

THE Premier League battle goes to the final weekend and Instonians get the opportunity to force league leaders CIYMS to win their last game to claim the title.

The NCU Premier League trophy has been won at Belmont in each of the last two seasons and whatever the outcome of this weekend�s matches, the east Belfast venue will once again host the presentation ceremony tomorrow.

A third-tier club as recently as 2005, CI beat reigning champions North Down by seven wickets in a thrilling season�s finale to secure the title outright, in the process dashing Instonians� hopes of sharing the trophy.

WARINGSTOWN have made the first big signing of the NCU close season after announcing that Greg Thompson has joined from Lisburn.

With Lurgan 1st eleven clinching promotion to the Premier League it was interesting to hear how things were faring at the junior end of affairs.

Current NIACUS Chairman Alan Neill looks to raise the profile of umpiring.

Limited and mainly technical changes proposed for NCU AGM on 17 October

Historic season for the Belmont club as the Ulster Bank Premier League is captured for the first time.

Ballymena achieved their ultimate goal yet again in 2012 - survival!

2012 was the season which saw Carrickfergus fall out of top flight cricket after brief flirtations with relegation in previous years.

A season of mid table respectability for the Stormont side who won and lost seven of their league games, reached the quarter finals of the Irish and NCU cups, and threw away a great chance of a trophy.

2012 was another successful year for Instonians cementing their place as one of the top teams not only in the NCU but also Ireland, as they collected the NCU Senior Cup and gained a runners up slot in the Premier League.

2012 wasn't the greatest of seasons on or off the field for Lisburn, with the club attracting widespread criticism over their decision to opt for a bowl-out rather than switch their cup game to Waringstown.

2012 will not go down as one of the finest in the annals of North Down history.

There's no doubt that Waringstown will look back at the 2012 season with a sense of failure. A miserable campaign by their high standards saw a joint 4th place with seven games won and lost in the league.

Recently members of the NCU Board and Development Directorate held a successful meeting with representatives of Senior League 3 clubs in Lisburn CC Clubhouse.

Seven Primary Schools from across Fermanagh and Tyrone took part in the Clogher Cricket Club Kwik Cricket Finals day.

New Premier League champions CIYMS and Challenge Cup winners Instonians dominate the News Letter�s 2012 NCU Team of the Year.

NCU reports another year of solid progress and outlines plans to continue the development of cricket.

Iain Parkhill has been named as 1st XI captain of Carrick CC for the 2013 season.

It's been another successful season for Lurgan both on and off the field as they put the foundations in place for a successful cricket club from the bottom as well as the top - something sadly lacking in too many clubs throughout Ireland.

North Down have returned to Australia for their new professional with 24 year old seam bowler Tim Ley already signed up for 2013.

It's hard to fathom just how quickly the side has fallen - they were Premier league champions as recently as 2004. The stats don't lie though - they have only won three games in the past two seasons.

2012 will go down as a season in which Derriaghy managed to cement their place in Section One with no real relegation alarms.

Cliftonville Cricket Academy gets under way next week.

The Northern Cricket Union in association with Cricket Ireland has formed a new Groundsman Association as part on the ongoing development of cricket within the Union.

Dundrum and Laurelvale receive home ties in the Senior Cup. Details of Junior , Intermediate and Minor Cup draws.

Cup holders Instonians drawn at home to League champions CIYMS.

The Green, Comber was confirmed as the regular home of the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup final on the day the sponsors extended their support of the competition into 2013.

NCU Premier League club Waringstown have confirmed the re-signing of the prolific South African professional Obus Pienaar.

Paul Stirling, Ireland Player of the Year for 2012, has given his support and is very excited about Belfast Cricket Academy.