NO MORAL HIGH GROUND WHEN THE FIELD IS LEVEL

I only managed to get to Stormont on the first day of this week's game but as a Warriors fan at least I can content myself that I chose well.

Once again our guys' batting came up short in the second innings but despite that there is still solid signs of improvement and in Bobby we trust.

The flack that has been flying around recently about the standard of North West cricket however has been a bit disappointing, especially since it seems to have come on the back of one day's results- the first round of the Ulster Cup.

It was a horror show, there's no denying that, but we've had plenty of those in the past.

Folk seem to have conveniently forgotten that there will be six North West sides playing in Sunday's second round of the Irish Senior Cup so it seems a bit rich to be claiming the moral high ground based on just one day.

Yes we know we don't have the same “conveyor belt” of youngsters coming from the likes of Donemana the way they used to, but then who does?

The bottom line is that there are so many distractions (sporting and otherwise) nowadays that few clubs are flourishing however it is the same right throughout the North.

Everyone played within the rules at Stormont so it has nothing to do with the result but judging by the Knights team that took the field on Tuesday, the Belfast clubs don't seem to have much coming through either.

On a brighter note I had a chance to catch up for a minute or two with some of the NCU's finest this week- Robin Walsh obviously among them, but also two guys that I have loads of time for there in Ryan Eagleson and Eeugene Moleon.

The Knights couldn't ask for a better figure-head than the Instonians man, still emotionally scarred from his recent meeting with the Donemana locals but he is deservedly one of the game's popular individuals.

The same can be said for Ryan who has obviously had plenty going on outside the sport for the past couple of years and the continued best wishes of everyone up here goes out to him, Justine and the family.

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The new North West T20 competition got under way this week with Sion Mills playing both Burndennett and Killyclooney and the “big guns” will enter stage left next Tuesday and Thursday nights as the tournament clicks into gear.

North West chairman Andrew Fleming is hopeful of announcing a sponsor for the Faughan Valley Cup in the coming days while the family of the late Eric Cooke will sponsor the Plate competition in memory of the former International umpire.

It is imperative that the local cricket community lends its support to the competition- set up primarily because spectators were keen to see midweek cricket in the height of the summer.

With all monies collected still going to the Derry Midweek charity fund there is no reason why the venture shouldn't be a success. And on the subject of T20's, the popular North West Warriors v Chairman's Select XI challenge match looks set to go ahead shortly following the success of last season's fixture.

The Warriors have no match now until their T20 day at Bready and Bobby Rao is keen for some competitive work for his side between now and then.

This year's contest has been provisionally set for Wednesday evening, 18 June at Drummond but details will be finalised and confirmed in due course.

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Finally for now I'd just like to give a shout out to Jason Milligan and his fiancée Jill Hamilton who are getting married in Strabane on Saturday.

Jason is one of the players to have come on a barrow-load as a result of his involvement on the Interprovincial team but he is also a guy who has time to talk to ourselves in the press/media if we're looking to fill the odd column.

The Foxies are struggling for a bit of form at the moment and have come in for some serious flack from outside the North West but with players like Tabish Khan, Brian Allen and Jason in the team I'd happily bet they will turn things around soon.

In the meantime though, best wishes to yourself and the new missus, Jasy. Hope this doesn't mean you're in the “not allowed to play midweek cricket” club.

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