The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) Senior League is the provincial cricket league within the NCU jurisdiction in Ireland, which covers counties Antrim, Armagh, Down and south Tyrone of Northern Ireland. The league was formed in 1897 and is currently divided into four sections, namely the Premier League, Sections 1, 2 and 3. It is sponsored by Robinson Services and marketed as the Robinson Services Premier League, Robinson Services Section 1, etc.
There are a total of 32 league members: ten in the Premier League; ten in League 1; and twelve in League 2. There is promotion and relegation of two clubs between each division.
Teams play each other twice per season, once at home and once away, each season, with four points awarded for a win and two for a tie or for "no result". When two or more teams finish with the same number of points, the team with the best net run rate is placed highest. Matches consist of one innings per side, with a maximum of fifty, and a minimum of twenty overs bowled per innings.
Waringstown are the most successful side in the Premier League with 31 wins (6 shared). The current champions are Waringstown after winning the 2024 competition. This was their first title since 2021.
In 2020, the season was abridged due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Premier League was played as a single round of fixtures with the top four teams progressing to semi-finals and the champions declared after a final.
Members for 2022 season
editAs of 2022, the clubs in the NCU Senior League included:[needs update]
|
Premier League
|
League 1 |
League 2
|
Source: Northern Cricket Union
List of champions
editPerformance by club
editSummary of winners
edit| Team | Wins |
|---|---|
| Waringstown | 32 (6 shared) |
| North Down | 24 (1 shared) |
| North of Ireland | 20 (5 shared) |
| Lisburn | 14 (2 shared) |
| Cliftonville | 6 (1 shared) |
| Downpatrick | 6 (1 shared) |
| Holywood | 6 (1 shared) |
| Woodvale | 6 (1 shared) |
| Instonians | 5 (2 shared) |
| Armagh | 3 |
| CIYMS | 3 |
| Cregagh | 2 |
| Ballymena | 1 |
| Banbridge | 1 |
| Bangor | 1 |
| Queen's University | 1 |
| Ulster | 1 |
| Lurgan | 1 (shared) |
| Muckamore | 1 (shared) |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ North Down champions yet again
- ^ Historic CIYMS crowned NCU Premier Champions, News-Letter, 10 September 2012
- ^ News Letter, 2 September 2013
- ^ News Letter, 15 September 2014
- ^ Northern Cricket Union
- ^ Northern Cricket Union
- ^ Cricket Europe
- ^ News Letter
- ^ NCU
- ^ News Letter
- ^ Cricket Europe
- ^ News Letter
- ^ Belfast Telegraph
- ^ Belfast Telegraph