Drumaness CC are excited to announce that the club will be returning to the NCU for competitive cricket for the 2017 season.

It was a year to remember for Carrickfergus even though there was no silverware at Middle Road.

The final issues across the top sections of the NCU season were decided at the weekend.

Season 2016 saw the inaugural Ladies Challenge Cup , a competitive Premier League and a Division One.

Newly-capped Ireland international Jacob Mulder has rejoined CIYMS from North Down.

With only a few matches remaining and the main issues all but decided there is very much an end-of-term feel to the cricket season, but has anyone told the weather?

With the last Premier League match completed today CricketEurope list the top stats for the 2016 season. These stats are for the performances of the leading players playing in the Premier League and the Challenge Cup only.

Just two seasons after playing in the Premier League, Ballymena will be in Section Two next year after being relegated for the second successive time.

It will be eight years and 27 days since Thompson last pulled on the Irish sweater but his outstanding club form for Waringstown this summer could not be ignored by the international selectors and, 12 days shy of his 29th birthday, a second career could be just beginning.

Neil Russell will probably never forget the day he first met Imad Wasim two years ago at Belfast City Airport.

Waringstown captain Lee Nelson has stepped down after Saturday’s defeat to CSNI. It was a sad end to a season that had promised so much but only delivered the Lagan Valley Steels T20 trophy in the cabinet.

The 2016 Ulster Bank Premier League season might not be officially over yet, but all the big issues have been decided.

Preparation for 2016/2017 Coach Education and Development Programme.

As the 2016 season draws to a close we identify the top performances of the leading players playing in the Premier League and the Challenge Cup only. Matches up to 1 September only.

Teenager James Hunter had the honour of sealing the Ulster Bank Premier League title for Instonians at Shaw’s Bridge last night.

Right to the end, Instonians won the games that mattered and last night skipper Nikolai Smith lifted the Ulster Bank Premier League trophy.

A 'MOM' performance of 42 runs and 4 for 15 from Harry Warke sees Carrick overcome Waringstown.

LESS than a year after gaining promotion to the Premier League, Derriaghy have been relegated following their comprehensive 10 wickets defeat at Stormont.

WARINGSTOWN captain Lee Nelson says tomorrow evening’s Premier League clash with Instonians is perfectly timed for his team, after the disappointment of surrendering their Irish Cup crown on Saturday.

Yesterday’s 10-wicket thumping at Stormont confirmed that Derriaghy’s stay in the Ulster Bank Premier League was a brief single-season affair.

WARINGSTOWN failed in their attempt to retain the Irish Senior Cup as Merrion gained revenge for last year’s final defeat with a comfortable 56 runs victory at Clontarf.

INSTONIANS have moved quickly to ensure they do not have an idle Saturday while defending Premier League champions Waringstown are playing in the Irish Cup final.

Ireland return to Stormont next week for the first multi-day match there for two years, the Intercontinental Cup fixture against Hong Kong, starting on Tuesday.

There are only five survivors from the World Twenty20 squad for Ireland's return to the shortest format when they face Hong Kong at Bready next month.

The reaction was predictably cynical in many corners of the NCU when Justin Kemp was announced as CIYMS’ new overseas professional last autumn.

Two Ulster Bank Premier League games were completed and it left Instonians clear at the top of the table after two dramatic finishes literally within a minute of each other.

The Northern Knights Development XI suffered two defeats in their games with Munster Reds at Terenure CC on Friday 19th.

'As part of the Union’s continuing development programme, an NCU XI will play two T20 games against Munster on Friday 19th August in Dublin.'

Century for Jonathan Waite in Waringstown's 70 run win at The Lawn.

To many observers, one man above any other epitomised the great North Down team who dominated NCU cricket for more than a decade.

CIYMS completed another double at the weekend.

It’s Colts Cup action all this week as the competition heads towards its Final this coming Friday.

CIYMS completed back-to-back weekend doubles by beating Civil Service North and Derriaghy in the Ulster Bank Premier League to make it four victories in nine days and dismiss any relegation threat.

Holders Waringstown impressively secured a third Irish Cup final appearance in six seasons as Greg Thompson put Instonians to the sword.

Bottom three all lose as this weekend's victors ease their relegation worries.

Ulster Bank Section 1 is all tied up at the top while Ballymena find themselves alone at the bottom.

Sometimes in life you just have to acknowledge brilliance and Greg Thompson's innings on Friday night certainly fitted into that category.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man and Ben Beattie proved he is one to watch for the future with a brilliant unbeaten 49 to steer Instonians to victory over fierce rivals Waringstown in the final of the Banoge Cup.

The NCU Junior Knights clinched the Under 11 InterProvincial crown with a thrilling 38 runs win over Leinster in a thrilling contest at Balbriggan.

Holders Waringstown yet to play a match but are in the last eight.

THERE will be no fewer than four debutants in the Northern Knights team for tonght’s Twenty20 inter-provincial against the North West Warriors at Strabane, including two from Derriaghy.

Ryan Hunter scores 68 not out as CSN cruise to victory in the Under 11 Cup.

THE NCU Under 14 side pulled off a famous win over English county side Essex at the Taunton Festival.

ONE Civil Service North player who could not take part in last week’s AJG Challenge Cup final win was Christopher McMorran – but there was a very good reason.

THE final of the Minor (Lindsay) Cup on August 20 will be between Academy III and Woodvale III after convincing semi-final victories.

Five 50-over matches in 5 days will be a stern test for the U14s at the Taunton cricket festival.

It may be only the middle of July but this could be a season-defining weekend for Carrickfergus.

Great experience for the squad of 13 playing the Danish U17s in two 50 over and one T20 match.

The team will play two 50 over matches and one T20 game at Svanholm Cricket Club against representative opposition.

A flurry of emails landed in my inbox last week from Alan Waite, vice-chairman of the Northern Cricket Union. They were the squads for four different NCU teams who are all in action over the next week.

Outdoor coaching programme is supporting the winter Active Clubs initiative.

Lurgan’s Niranjan Godbole’s record breaking haul of prestigious Northern Cricket Union ‘s Ulster Bank League awards keeps growing.

Adam Berry the Lisburn captain missed out on selection for the Northern Knights emerging players fixture this week due to work commitments, but again it highlights the difficult work life balance faced by many of the better players.

GREG Thompson remains the batsman that all teams currently fear and Carrickfergus and Strabane will provide the next bowlers into the firing line.

On the first day of the MCC’s tour game against an NCU Development XI at Carrickfergus, Instonians pace bowler James Magee impressed, taking two wickets in 11 overs with the new ball.

CARRICKFERGUS wicket-keeper Gordon Browne was last night in Antrim Hospital after collapsing during his side’s Arthur J Gallagher Challenge Cup game at Moylena

Morgan Topping to Captain the NCU team on their English tour at the end of June.

Jonny Terrett of Cliftonville will Captain NCU XI at Middle Road Carrick on 22 and 23 June.

Once upon a time in a bygone era, before we had sponsors, professionals, coloured clothing, black sight screens and white balls there was a team called North of Ireland Cricket Club and they ruled the NCU.

James Hall has come a long way since a summer’s day in 1999 when his late father Steve walked him through the gates of The Lawn for the first time as a young boy.

To watch Greg Thompson flail Graeme McCarter to all parts of Stormont on Saturday was to wonder why the Waringstown all-rounder hasn’t been given an opportunity in Ireland’s limited-overs side.

JAMES Shannon made his return to cricket at the weekend for Instonians and will take his place in the Ireland A team for the three-day game against their Scottish counterparts at Ayr.

The allegations posted on a cricket website forum this week alleging biased selections in NCU under-age cricket are plain ridiculous.

IT is not just the Ireland international players who get the chance to rub shoulders with the big names of the game as umpire Michael Foster proved last week.

JOHN Caldwell, who died when on holiday in Grenada last Friday, was one of the most influential administrators in both the Northern Cricket Union and Cricket Ireland.

JAMES Shannon is almost certainly out of Instonians’ big double header against North Down and, in the Irish Cup, against Pembroke due to the after-effects of the injury he suffered in the Ireland A game against MCC.

NIACUS umpire Michael Foster honoured as he reflects on his exceptional experience at Old Trafford over four days.

Saturday is just the fourth scheduled Saturday of the cricket season, but already North Down, for so long the kingpins of the NCU, are out of the two most prestigious cup competitions, and have lost their only league game.

Carrickfergus ‘Cowboys’ completed a double at the weekend with wins against Derriaghy and Bangor on ‘Tonto’s last pitch’

INSTONIANS captain Nikolai Smith has hailed the instant impression made by his namesake Nathan ahead of Saturday's AJG Challenge Cup first round clash at Muckamore.

A unlikely to be repeated feat for Campbell schoolboy Rahul Gondhia in Under 14 match.

Ulster University have named a team that could provide a stiff test for the NCU XI

A chance for both Ulster University and NCU players to build on their winter programmes.

Last season Armagh struck a rich vein of form and completed an unprecedented treble of the Ulster Bank Section Two title, Goldblatt McGuigan Junior Cup and Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Shield.

Brian Walsh, the former NCU Chairman and manager of the Ireland Under-19 side which qualified for four successive World Cups will succeed Henry Tighe as President of Cricket Ireland in 2017.

Matthew Palmer will skipper Academy who have opted to have no overseas professional and have lost the highly rated New Zealand pair of Mitchell Atkins and Andre Halbert.

The success of last season was built on a tremendous team spirit and togetherness. This will be needed more than ever this season, but there may well be a few teams that have their pride dented by the boys from Queensway.

Having gained promotion from Section Two in 2015, Saintfield are well aware of the strength of opposition they will encounter this season.

The Ballygomartin side go into the new season full of confidence for a successful campaign.

The NCU are recruiting a temporary full-time Cricket Development Officer for May to August 2016.

There's a solid look to Donaghcloney who despite winning seven games last year just escaped relegation.

A blow for NCU cricket as another senior club calls time on participation.

Muckamore started 2015 as favourites for promotion and despite beating eventual champions Derriaghy twice and knocking NW Champions Coleraine out of the Irish Senior Cup crucial defeats at the wrong time means they again play in Section One .

Aaron Johnston, the outstanding young batsman, and seam bowler Adam Beattie have had their transfer forms signed by CI. The pair are set to move to Section Two club Cregagh.

Nigel Jones has taken over as captain of CIYMS with the new Premier League season just over two weeks’ away.

Instonians are expected to be amongst the race for honours again in 2016 with a number of exciting new signings.

Irish passport holder Nathan Smith, who plays for Central Districts in Sydney, arrives in Belfast next week and will be Instonians’ second non-resident player alongside South African all-rounder Juan Theron.

A successful treble winning 2015 sees Armagh playing their cricket in Section One this time around.

Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club (CSNI) recently held their annual fundraiser at Drumbo Park, Lisburn, where they held 'A night at the Dogs'.

Ballymena's seven-year stay in the Premier League came to an end in 2015 as retirements, injuries, and unavailability took their toll on a squad that, despite losing none of its spirit or camaraderie, no longer had the quality to survive in the top flight.

The Ulster Cup holders are expected to be right in the mix again when the trophies are dished out at the end of the season.

CIYMS have added depth to their batting with the signing of Stephen Chambers from Lurgan.

CSNI have enjoyed cup success in recent times and are hopeful of gaining silverware in 2016.

It was a case of survival for Carrickfergus in top flight cricket in 2015 after their all conquering campaign of 2014.

It's very much a case of as you were for the Strangford Road club.

Neil Russell has put paid to speculation about a possible return to North Down by confirming he will be playing his cricket for Instonians this summer.

It was a difficult 2015 for Lisburn but the new season brings refreshed optimism.

North Down have strengthened their squad ahead of the NCU Premier League season with the surprise signing of CIYMS batsman Nathan Burns.

It's the Irish and NCU champions Waringstown who start our previews of the top flights in NCU cricket.

Lisburn have won the race to sign talented all-rounder Steve Lazars.

Trevor Britton is leaving CIYMS and returning to play his cricket in the North West this summer. The off-spinner, who has been at Belmont for the last three seasons, is joining Bonds Glen as player-coach.

Alan Blain is joining from Cliftonville and 19 year old Dylan Agnew from Durban will be making his playing and coaching debut in Ireland.

As the season approaches an update on the activities of the Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy

Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club (CSNICC) are celebrating after winning three awards at the recent Belfast City Council Sports Awards.

In what is believed to be a first for the local game, Carrickfergus Cricket Club have announced a partnership with local cancer charity Pretty ’n’ Pink for the coming season.

There was double success for cricket at the Belfast Sports Awards.

Instonians have announced that Robert McKinley has joined the club from Ballymena Cricket Club.

This Summer will see the young players of the NCU play more matches than ever before.

The 24-year-old batsman, who represents the Sunfoil Dolphins in the South African franchise competition, is a replacement for his compatriot Heinrich Klaasen, who pulled out of a switch to Wallace Park because of injury.

Lisburn have been dealt a blow ahead of the new cricket season after South African professional Heinrich Klaasen pulled out of his move to Wallace Park.

Templepatrick Cricket Club have confirmed the signing of Indian all-rounder Mansingh Nigade as their overseas player/coach for the coming season.

The 27-year-old prolific opening batsman, who topped the NCU’s run-scoring charts last season, has long been a target for the Belmont club.

Civil Service North fast bowler Allen Coulter has made the switch to the club’s deadly rivals and neighbours CIYMS.

Templepatrick Cricket Club (TCC) coach Artie Campbell has been selected by Cricket Ireland to embark on his ECB Level 3 coaching qualification.

We catch up with Mark Patterson, who though exiled in England is able to help this year's NCU youth development programme.

The Instonians bowler has moved across Belfast to Belmont to fill the gap left by South African James Cameron-Dow.

A 'no-cost' opportunity for Clubs to meet Club Accreditation expectations

NCU beef up their Youth Interprovincial preparations with trips outside the province at three different age-levels.

The NCU has increased the amount and breadth of its youth coaching programme

Taimur Khan has left North Down to become the new player-coach at Section One Bangor.

A stalwart of the local cricket scene has had his seven decades of playing and behind-the-scenes involvement recognised with an MBE.