Northern Universities Student Club-Community Cricketers Elite (NUSC) has confirmed that Leinster Cricket Union, Ireland’s premier sporting union, has agreed to send a squad to participate in their prestigious Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Cricket Championship during June 2011.
The 12-man squad will again be led by Brian O'Rourke, Cricket Ireland's Development Manager for the Leinster region. This year, Brian will select a side solely from the Leinster region of Ireland, where sporting excellence was again witnessed by their all conquering rugby union side.
The international stars to have ‘graduated’ from previous tours include Ireland World Cup stand-outs George Dockrell and Kevin O’Brien, demonstrating not only the playing strength but how the festival truly is a stepping stone to higher honours.
The championship has always shown players the intensive nature of the professional game on and off the field, and 2011 will be no different. The five-day, five-star tour of the North East of England is based out of the luxury surroundings of the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. With a gruelling schedule of four matches, training camps, evening fitness and recovery programmes along with hosting a junior coaching evening, the players will welcome the R&R of the Hilton.
For 2011, the championship, sponsored by Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Ellwoods and Kookaburra, sees matches played at two new venues. Brandon CC in Durham City welcomes the two sides on Monday for morning training camps along with an opening night full of the colour of T20 cricket. Tuesday will see the first “ODI” between the two sides at the same venue before the festival switches to the impressive Norton Sports Complex for the final two “ODIs”. Kookaburra Readers have also announced they will be sponsoring this years Player of the Championship award. The award was won by George Dockrell at the tournament held at Sunderland two years ago.
John D Holland, NUSC Director of Cricket was pleased to see the negotiations completed adding: "Our partnership with Brian O’Rourke and Leinster Cricket is truly special to NUSC.
"We are confident the 2011 tour will be their finest as no effort has been spared and in Brandon and Norton we have two great match venues. It is going to need a supreme squad effort to compete with them on the field but we are looking forward to the challenge."
O’Rourke was delighted with the arrangements in place noting, "We are deeply touched by everyone’s efforts from title sponsors Hilton Newcastle Gateshead to the local community - in particular Brandon and Norton who have really rallied behind NUSC to make the festival possible.
"My players are already in training for the week and we are looking forward to showing the North East just why Irish cricket is so highly rated."
Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Series 2011 – Brandon CC & Norton, Durham
Monday 20th June Leinster training session 1pm (Brandon CC, Durham
Leinster v’s NUSC-CC T-20 5pm (Brandon CC)
Tuesday 21st June NUSC-CC v’s Leinster 50 overs 10.30am (Brandon CC)
Wednesday 22nd June NUSC-CC v’s Leinster 50 overs 10.45am (Norton)
Thursday 23rd June NUSC-CC v’s Leinster 50 overs 10.45am (Norton)
Friday 24th June Durham v’s Lancashire T-20 match – Chester Le Street
Leinster players invited to act as ‘net bowlers’ to the Durham squad prior to game
Squad
Eoghan Conway (Rush) Capt.
Mathew Auret (Laois)
Peter Chase (Malahide)
Richard Forrest (Clontarf)
Robert Garth (YMCA)
Louis Hofmeyr (Laois)
Tyrone Kane (Merrion)
Paul Lawson (Pembroke)
Cormac McLoughlin (North County)
Sean Monks (Rush)
Darren Nicol (Pembroke)
Patrick Tice (Merrion)
Management: Brian O’Rourke and Nigel Pyne
Boys involved in state examinations were not considered for selection