Issue 47

After beating Murrayfield DAFS and then Grange, we made it to the Finals Day at Inverleith. The Arrows played Gordonians in the semi-final where we lost the toss and were asked to bat. John Gill and I opened up the batting against some good bowling which claimed the early wicket of John. Oli Stones joined me at the crease where we started to build a partnership before I was out for 15. Carlton were 23 for 2 so needed a good partnership to make sure we got a good total. Hamish Foley was next in and started well with Oli, rotating the strike before scoring a couple of boundaries from the opening bowler's last overs. Two new bowlers come on and Oli hit a few more boundaries before retiring on 33. Freddie Charman came in next and attacked straight away, scoring a quick 28. Freddie and Hamish were then out on successive balls but Benji Risi avoided the hat trick. Benji, Hamish Turner and Aadi Khadse made quick contributions before Noah Moncur came in with Carlton on 131 for 7 with 3 overs left of their innings. Noah realised that we were a few runs short of what we needed on a small and quick outfield and scored a very fast 21 from 12 balls which helped the Arrows a lot. Carlton ended up with a decent total of 151-7. A good bowling performance was what was needed to see us through to the final. ‘It was a great team performance throughout the competition - we have depth in batting and lots of bowling options. It was brilliant to see how we worked together in the field. We look forward to taking on the champions of Northumberland in Newcastle in the next round. We know it’ll be tough, but if we play to our potential we can get another win for Carlton. Go the Arrows!’ U13s skipper James Stronach (seen rt receiving the trophy from CricketScotland President Phil Yelland) comments on winning the ECB Cup and looks forward to the next round. James’ report on Finals Day at Inverleith last month is below. The new ball was handed to Harrison Fontenla and Hamish F who bowled well. Harrison picked up a key wicket in the first over and then Hamish clean bowled the other opener not long after. We were on top as Gordonians were struggling against the new ball. Gordonians recovered a little before Oli got a caught and bowled to break a good partnership. A couple of overs later Oli picked up another wicket as the ball was skied a long way in the air and Aadi came running in from the boundary to take a world class catch. Tom Hathorn bowled some leggies and in his first over got 2 wickets in 2 balls from which Gordonians didn’t recover, ending up on 72 for 9. Carlton are through to the final! Our opponents were Livingston who had beaten Uddingston in their semi-final. We lost the toss and were asked to bowl. Harrison and Hamish opened again with Hamish getting the first wicket clean bowled. Oli and Tom then came on, with Oli ending up with 5 wickets for 24 runs while Tom got 2 for 3 runs. Carlton got the tail enders out and then it was time for us to bat. We needed 59 to win! John and I opened the batting again and put on a quick 21 before I was out for 18 in the second over. This brought Oli to the crease who comfortably saw the team home with John to win the match in the 5th over. Carlton are champions! U13s CUP TRIUMPH

It was deja vu for Carlton Women as they travelled across the city to Barnton in the final match of the WPL. Just as last year they knew that victory against RH Corstorphine would secure the title. The campaign, which saw them narrowly lose the first match to West of Scotland Women, has again shown the resilience and strength in depth of the Carlton Women. Key players from last year’s squad were unavailable at key times, but younger players stepped forward. A complete performance against much fancied Northern Lights in Aberdeen confirmed the depth of the squad and this was again evident than in the final match. proudly reflected on a job well done, “It’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “We were competing with a lot of good teams this season and we were missing quite a few players for various reasons, so it’s been a real full-squad effort. It’s just been fantastic to see, especially the youngsters stepping up as they have.’ Maisie Maceira was the leading bowler in the league with 15 wickets, continuing to show the all round progress she is making. Charis Scott was again Carlton’s most reliable bat scoring 224 runs. Annette’s next challenge? To retain the Scottish Cup. Who would bet against them? Nerves may have fluttered when Carlton were all out for 106, their lowest total this season, but their bowling effort swept their opponents away. Saskia Aldridge (rt) turned in bowling figures of 5-5 including a hattrick, and Zaara Dancu took 3 for 12 as they dismissed Corstorphine for a mere 39. Zaara and Saskia celebrate their demolition job. CARLTON WOMEN SCOTTISH WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2022 Photos: @DMP_Dunfermline Carlton women are supported by Jubilant skipper Annette Aitken-Drummond

Carlton v Grange A series looking at the history of Carlton’s City rivalries. With thanks to Neil Leitch and George Burns for additional information In 1862 the land at Grove Street was sold for housing (what’s new!) and after a few peripatetic years, Grange moved to their present home at Portgower Place in 1872. The distinctive pavilion was built in 1893, at a cost of £1300. Scotland first played at Portgower Place in 1878 and since then 161 Scotland Cricket Cap Games have been played there. Carlton and Grange did not play each other until 1877, coincidentally the year the first Test Match between Australia and England was played. There have been 340 Ashes Tests since then: meanwhile Carlton and Grange have crossed swords, no less competitively, but only on 173 occasions prior to this season. The 1877 match was strongly in Carlton’s favour - they won by an innings and four runs, Grange making 45 and 59 in reply to Carlton’s 108. However Carlton had to savour that victory for many years - it took them until 1900 to notch a second victory. This too was a convincing win, also at Portgower Place, with Carlton scoring 216 all out before dismissing Grange for 60 (NL Stevenson and that season’s pro Parkes each taking 5 wickets). Of the 173 matches between the clubs prior to this season, Carlton have won 40, Grange 77, with 54 drawn matches. There have been 2 tied matches. Grange Cricket Club was formed in 1832, when some members of the Edinburgh Speculative Society became bored with the continuing discussions, left the debating hall, started talking cricket and decided to form a cricket club. The Speculative Society is still in existence. It was founded in 1764 and still pursues some rituals of that time such as meeting by candlelight. From time to time it is criticised a secretive society whose members wield undue influence in the City’s affairs and the legal profession. Grange’s first home was actually in the Grange, a cricket ball’s throw from Carlton’s present ground - a bit east and on the other side of Grange Loan. The club took its name from the area, which has ever since caused confusion to visitors and taxi drivers who regularly turn up at Carlton gates looking for the Grange. In 1836 the club moved to a ground in Grove Street (known as Spark’s Ground after the groundsman), near Haymarket. In 1849 the first match between a Scottish and English team was played there - a ‘Grand Match’ between William Clark’s All England XI and a Twenty-two of Scotland featuring a number of Grange players. In the 3-day match the the Englishmen prevailed by 161 runs.

W J PROUDFOOT In Carlton’s momentous 1877 triumph, W J Proudfoot (above, back second left) returned the remarkable analysis of 9 wickets in each innings, giving him match figures of 29.1-9-43-18. (Although this was far from a First Class match, there are no instances in first class cricket of a bowler taking 18 wickets - only Laker’s 19 wicket Test in 1956 better this return). The remaining wicket in each innings was taken by H Fraenkel (not in photo). Despite this return, Proudfoot was not awarded the club’s best bowler award that season - it went to Fraenkel who took 82 wickets at a cost of 6.15. Proudfoot’s season yielded a mere 51 wickets at 7.68. But Proudfoot was Best Bowler in 1878,79 and 81 and was vice-captain in 1880. In the words of NL Stevenson, Proudfoot was ‘long and thin, took a long run and slung them down very fast, half round arm, with a quick nip off the pitch.’ LESLIE BALFOUR-MELVILLE It is occasionally suggested that for their first match against Carlton, Grange were weakened by the absence of a number of their stronger players on representative duty in Glasgow that day. In particular they were without Leslie Balfour-Melville, who in 1872, at the age of 18, had scored 150 in his first game at Portgower Place (playing for Edinburgh against Glasgow). In his playing career for Grange between 1870 and 1926, he scored 11,815 runs including 29 centuries, 2 of which were against Carlton - 147* in 1894 and 124* in 1901 (which was not enough to secure victory in a high scoring game). Balfour-Melville can justly claim to be Scotland's greatest ever sportsman. Cricket was his main sport, but he also played for Scotland at rugby, was Scottish and British Amateur Golf Champion, Scottish Lawn Tennis Champion and Scottish Billiards Champion. After his playing career he was at various times President of the Scottish Rugby Union, President of the Scottish Cricket Union, and Captain of The Royal and Ancient. He was an inaugural inductee into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Carlton v Grange Record Breakers Jamie Kerr has the most appearances for Carlton against Grange, playing 31 matches, in which he took 31 catches and made 7 stumpings. Highest run scorer is Cedric English with 945. He also shares wth Fraser Watts the highest single innings of 120*. Cedric’s innings was at Portgower Place in May 2007, one of 3 centuries he scored against Grange. That match was one of many nail-biters between the sides (see subsequent pages). English’s innings helped Carlton post a decent total of 243. Grange's top-order failed to fire but the middle order fought back strongly. With Grange 6 behind at the start of the last over, Peter Wooden took two wickets to steal a win, literally by the narrowest of margins - 1 run. Fraser Watts scored 120* at GL in July 2014, in slightly less nerve-wracking encounter. Carlton made 233-7. Grange fell short of the revised DL target of 131 by 8 runs. Alun Davies bowled 380.2 overs (111 maidens) against Grange in his long career, to be the leading wicket taker with 62. His best return was 7-17 at GL in May 1965, which is also, barring Proudfoot, the best performance of any Carlton bowler against Grange. In all Davies had 3 5fers against Grange, a feat equalled by George Innes and Bruce Dixon. Mommsen: 116* for Carlton (above); 156* for Grange (below) Carlton v Grange Highs and Lows Carlton’s highest total against Grange is 273-5, scored at GL in June 2015. The innings owed much to Preston Mommsen’s unbeaten 116, and might have been more had Stevie Gilmour not had to retire hurt on 59. But it was not enough as Grange, turbo-charged by a brutal 177* from George Munsey, overtook it with 8 overs to spare. Carlton’s lowest total is a paltry 30 all out at GL in July 1953. The highest total Grange have achieved against Carlton was at GL in May 2017. Their 310-4 was powered by a stand of 157 between Mommsen and fellow internationalist Neil McCallum. In reply, Carlton fell well short despite 96 from Michael Herdman. Since their nadir in the 1877 match, Grange’s more recent lowest total is 50 in a 1972 Masterton tie and, in the league, 58, at GL in July 1965.

Carlton v Grange - Players Several players have donned the colours of both Carlton and Grange during their careers. In 1994 Jamie Kerr transferred from Grange to Carlton to get first team cricket. His first match for his new club was, appropriately, against the club he had just left. Batting at 8 he scored an aggressive 37, took 2 catches and conceded no byes. He played the last of his 31 matches against Grange in August 2013 - Carlton losing the Scottish Cup Final to their old rivals. A more recent transferee from Grange, who has also become an essential part of the Carlton team, is Arun Pillai (seen below catching Neil McCallum at GL in 2017). Arun arrived in 2016, Carlton’s Championship winning season. Since Grange were 2015 champions, Pillai has the unique distinction of winning the Championship with different clubs in successive years. Current Carlton head coach Peter Steindl (rt in action for Scotland - Getty Images) skippered Grange to a cup and league double in 1996. Going the other way in 2016 was Preston Mommsen, who moved to Grange after 6 highly successful seasons at Grange Loan. During his Carlton career he had scored 2 centuries against his new club. He returned the honour in 2017 scoring 156* at Grange Loan. However his first match against Carlton was not so successful, he made only 7 as Grange succumbed to the power of Mario Olivier (5-21). and former Scotland skipper George Salmond - in 4 subsequent innings against Carlton his highest score was 45. Bobby Frazer, President of Grange 2004-2007, had previously played for Carlton. Bobby is pictured below representing the Cricket Scotland Development Trust, congratulating then Carlton President Dave Carter at the opening of Carlton’s nets in 2009. Can you recognise the youngsters? Other players with dual loyalties include Harris Aslam (seen right on his way to 46 for Grange at GL in 2017), who has now returned to Carlton following a spell at Portgower Place;

Carlton v Grange - Juniors Rivalry between the clubs may be intense at senior level, but at junior level it is red hot. Many close and tense encounters happen each season at multiple age levels. This season there have been good victories for both the u13s and u15s. But when the clubs meet in junior finals, the rivalry becomes even hotter. In 2014 the u15s met Grange in the final of the ECB Cup Scottish Final at Merchiston. A compelling bowling performance - Calum Everett 4 for 9, Tristram Holden 3 for 4, Angus Beattie 2 for 4 meant Grange could only muster 53 all out. It wasn’t plain sailing for Carlton but they got over the line with 4 wickets in hand. They then went on to win against South Shields and Tynedale before coming unstuck against Plumtree in Round 3 of the National Championship. In 2015, Carlton and Grange u15s met again in the final of the now Nat West Club Championship Scottish Final at Inverleith. Batting first, Carlton recovered from a shaky start when skipper Angus Beattie was run out without facing a ball, through a partnership of 68 between Ruairidh Main (47) and Gregor McIntyre (36) (and the club has been pleased to welcome them back to cricket this season after a couple of years away). Their total of 110-6 was too much for Grange who scored 89 in reply with Angus taking 3-11. The team repeated the victory in the Quarter Final of the Scottish Cup a month later but unfortunately were beaten by a very strong Clydesdale outfit on finals day. In 2018 the u13s met in the final of the ECB Vitality Cup, also at Inverleith. Things looked grim for Carlton supporters as wickets tumbled leaving them 32-5, but middle order aggression from Murray Johnston (33 ret) and an excellent partnership of 52 between Isaac Foley (26) and Jamie Beattie (24*) brought Carlton to a total of 132. It was too much for Grange whose batters had no response to the accuracy of Carlton’s bowling - Rudi Adair took 3-8 and Jamie Beattie capped a fine all round performance with 2-7 as Grange were skittled for 35. The team delivered another solid victory against the old rivals in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final. But finals day did not go to plan - in the semi-final against Ferguslie scores were tied but Ferguslie won through by virtue of having one retired batsman in their innings. We look forward to the rivalry continuing with many close encounters in coming years.

Carlton v Grange Matches to Remember Among the many memorable matches between the clubs, there have been some which have left the nerves of players and fingernails of spectators well and truly shredded. Carlton’s astonishing 1 run victory at Portgower Place in July 2007 has already been described but even closer have been 2 tied matches. In a Masterton tie in 1972 Carlton batted first and went from 101-5 to 101-9 in the 25th and last over. Grange’s openers were both run out to leave them 3-2, but the next wicket did not fall until 76. However wickets fell regularly from then on. Two wickets to Bruce Dixon in the penultimate left Grange on 97-9, but they could only manage 4 off the last over to leave the match all square. There was no super-over or other modern contrivance in those days so the tie was replayed a week later. Having bowled their rivals out for 50, Carlton may have felt confident of victory as they went in to bat. However they could only muster 44 in reply. ‘We knew that the Grange game away was going to be a big one in terms of competing for the league title back in 2011. We were without Fraggle who was away representing Scotland so I was stepping up as captain for the day. Our warm ups were slightly delayed as I was late having been stopped by the police on the way across town (I can’t remember what for!). ‘Having restricted them to 260odd on a pretty flat batting wicket we were pretty optimistic about the run chase. After the loss of Nick [Hunt] I came in to Join Cedric who was having a run fest of a season. Having struck one through mid on to get off the mark I was feeling pretty good about sticking around to support Cedi. 203 runs later we were both walking off with centuries to our name. A proud moment and important victory in a league winning season.’ In May 2009 at Portgower Place, Gordon Drummond (left) made his debut for Carlton and took 3-43 in Grange’s innings of 209ao. A century partnership for the second wicket between Cedric English and Bryn Lockie put Carlton in a strong position, but they were each dismissed in rapid succession. Grange then fought back and with wickets falling, the light fading and a slow outfield, Carlton’s batters had to work hard to keep in touch. Ten runs were wanted from the final over with Drummond on strike. He got it down to 2 required off the last delivery, but the ball deflected off his thigh pad for a single leg bye, leaving Carlton on 209-8 and the match tied. Ties and narrow wins aside, a memorable victory took place in May 2011 also at Portgower Place. Stevie Gilmour (pictured below) recalls: Grange 261-9 (A Evans 3-47) Carlton 262-1 (C English 119*, S Gilmour 108*. The partnership of 203 for the second wicket is the highest unbeaten partnership in Carlton’s history and the 6th highest ever. In that season English scored 619 runs with 3 centuries and averaged 61.90. It was Stevie’s highest score for Carlton.

CARLTON V GRANGE NOW FOR THE WOMEN This season saw the first fixture between Carlton Women and the newly established Grange Women. Like the first fixture between the mens’ XIs in 1877, it ended in a decisive victory for Carlton. Undefeated centuries for Charis Scott and Abbi Aitken-Drummond allowed Carlton to power to a commanding total of 293-6, before 5 wickets for Maisie Maceira put the skids under Grange’s reply. Carlton won by 191 runs. Everyone at the club hopes that the Women can do better than their male counterparts of the late 19th Century and don’t have to wait 23 years to notch another victory. MASTERTON MASTERS Between them Carlton and Grange have won the Masterton Trophy on 27 occasions - Carlton 15 times and Grange 12. In all, prior to this season, they have met 18 times in this competition with honours even at 9 wins each. However when it comes to the final itself, Carlton are clearly the Masterton Masters - in 8 finals against Grange they have come out on top in 7, the most recent being last season’s victory (see NL 36). Their solitary loss was in 1993, when set to chase 142 they could only reach 115. A few more boundaries might have helped - Carlton only managed 3 in their 22 over innings! Jamie Kerr with the Masterton Trophy following victory over Grange in 2007. COMING UP - CUP ACTION! Carlton v Heriot’s Masterton Trophy Final Portgower Place Thursday 14 July Carlton u13 v S Nothumberland u13 ECB Vitality Cup Newcastle Sunday 17 July Carlton Women v Watsonian Women Beyond Boundaries Cup Craiglockhart Sunday 24 July

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE The slope at Lords may be the most famous slope in world cricket. But the hill at Grange Loan runs it a close second. The sharp rise in the outfield is a distinctive feature of the ground and torments visiting fielders who struggle to chase the ball up hill or are catapulted down the slope. But there are other grounds around the world which make Grange Loan’s contours seem flat and even. In Scotland many a batsman at the charming Scroggie Park (rt), home of Falkland CC, has been surprised when a previously unseen fielder suddenly appears up the slope which descends sharply at one end. At the relatively recently created ground of Kinross CC (rt, 3rd from top) there is a steady rise at one end. The slope ends at the Loch Leven Larder Restaurant, where, following an arduous ascent in pursuit of a straight drive, a tiring fielder has the compensation of being able to seek some refreshment before returning downhill. Furth of Scotland, Babbacombe CC in Torquay, (below and in this video) has an outfield slope to rival that at Grange Loan - on both sides of the wicket! It is no surprise that the ground is known as the Babbacombe Bowl.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE - Contd Also in Devon, the extremely picturesque Lynton and Lynmouth CC has a sharp rise at one end. The ground seems to be carved out of the rocks on the edge of Exmoor and is regularly described as the most beautiful setting in cricket. More unusual still is Spout House CC in North Yorkshire, whose ground is a working sheep farm on a 1 in 7 slope. Further afield is the hilltop Chail Cricket Ground built in the 1890s by a cricket loving Maharajah. At 2444 metres above sea level it is the highest cricket ground in the world, with views of the Himalayas where flat areas are rare. However even Spout House and Chail are pancake flat compared to the challenges faced by fielders in the terraces of the Himalayas (below) or in Abbottabad, Pakistan (below rt) and featured in this video. Let us know of any other grounds you know with distinctive outfields to rival Grange Loan. Newsletter@carltoncricket.co.uk

A SPECIAL DAY FOR IAIN AND TOM Carlton Mixed Development XI’s fixture against Edinburgh Accies at Newfield turned out to be a very special day for Iain Harthorn and his 11 year old son Tom. Invited to open Carlton’s innings Iain racked up 51 off 27 balls before retiring to watch his son steadily and chancelessly proceed to the same total. He brought his half century up in the final over of the innings. Speaking after the match, Iain said, ‘It was great fun to open the batting with Tom and spend some time in the middle together. It was a very proud moment to watch him score his first 50 in senior cricket, aged only 11!’ While Tom commented, ‘I really enjoyed batting with my dad for the first time this season, and to both score 51* was awesome. I also loved being given a Guard of Honour at the end of the match by the Accies team.’ See Tom clapped off the field by the Accies on this link. Thanks to Paul Bailey for photo and video. Everyone deserves to find a welcome place within the cricketing community and we all have a role to play in showing that we are united against racism, inequalities and discrimination in the sport that we love. Carlton prides itself as a fully inclusive community and is pleased to join others in pledging their support for CricketScotland’s national campaign to end racism in our sport. Congratulations to Charis Scott who has been selected for the Achieve Programme. The Programme, supported by the Team Scotland Youth Trust and sportscotland gives young athletes and coaches the opportunity to participate in sport sessions and workshops during the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The Games which start on 28 July include Womens’ T20 Cricket for the first time. Speaking about her role Charis said, ‘To be selected as part of the Commonwealth games Achieve programme is a fantastic opportunity. I’m really excited to see and learn about everything from Team Scotland. The experience is going to be a great chance to meet top class athletes and get a behind the scenes view’.

Alan and Bill Borthwick played for the 1st XI: Alan 1968 to 1971 (back row 3rd left) and Bill 1968 to 1969 (back row 5th left). Bill has been a match sponsor for many years. The date commemorates a family anniversary. Steve Alleyne came to University in Edinburgh from Barbados and played several seasons at Carlton. He was capped by Scotland in 1985. A Place to Sit - More Grange Loan Benches In over 40 years with Carlton, Alasdair McLeod’s contribution to the club is the stuff of legend: first as a player (110 matches for the 2nd XI - one outing for the 1st XI) then as Head Groundsman and more recently as assistant to Colin Smith. As well as donating the bench, Alasdair has made, anonymously at the time, many significant donations to club projects such as the nets, new machinery and the repeater scoreboard on the pavilion. Ground work came early to Alasdair who was brought up opposite West of Scotland’s ground in Glasgow - ‘Not overlooking’, he says, ’because we were on the ground floor’. He recalls that the groundsman used to let kids in to play in the ground on condition that they gave him some help. A lifetime’s interest was sparked, for which all players are deeply grateful. Steve became President of the Barbados Cricket Association in 2000. He headed the Barbados organising committee for the 2007 World Cup and was adamant that the country must play a major role in the first World Cup in the West Indies. He drove the bid to stage the final at Kensington Oval, and oversaw the ground reconstruction that made it possible.Alleyne was a highly respected administrator and seen as a future president of the West Indian Cricket Board. The day before he died, he was playing for Empire, his Bridgetown club.

My dad was always into cricket since he played as a boy in India. He spent his weekends watching cricket; although I didn’t like it much at first, I eventually switched from cartoons to cricket and before you know it, I started following games. The passion we had for watching cricket was insane, even when we moved to Russia. I remember we once traveled around 50km to get a cable from a dodgy store so that it would connect my dad’s old computer to a TV to watch cricket as it was not broadcast in Russia. I can remember waking up at 3am to watch the India vs Australia 07/08 test series. I also remember in 2007 at the T20CWC , there was an India vs Scotland game that got rained off. Frag was actually going to be playing that game; who could have known that 10 years later he was going to be my coach? Then we moved to Nigeria around 2009. We had a big Indian community, and a lot of days were spent playing cricket with a tennis ball with my friends. It was a lot of fun. We even had Sundays dedicated to dads and sons playing cricket together. When we moved to Malaysia in 2011, I was first introduced to hard ball cricket in Royal Selangor Club (pics below). This is where I learned to play the game and went through proper coaching. Around 2013, I moved back to India and got to experience the craze and passion of the game for real. When I came to Edinburgh for university, I really wanted to continue playing cricket. Because I played in Malaysia, I naturally followed a lot of associate cricket including Scotland. When I found out that Evo, whom I’d seen in games before, played at Carlton Cricket Club, I was very eager to join. I am very very grateful to Carlton. This is the longest I have ever stayed in one place since 2008, and Carlton has become like a second home. I have had the opportunity to play cricket at a high standard and learn more about the game from people like Evo, Gilly, Frag, (just to name a few) and help me improve my game. I also want to thank the people at Carlton for the friendships that I have created. I really have enjoyed my time at Carlton so far, and hopefully, I can continue to play for the club and try to win more matches. I think my overall cricketing experience in Scotland has been amazing. The only thing that I would wish for is that it didn’t rain as much :), and that more people in Scotland take up cricket. I hope that Scotland qualifying for the T20CWC and performing really well and Carlton’s performance at the ECN tournament will motivate more people to play and watch the sport, and hopefully grow cricket in Scotland altogether. GLOBETROTTER From India to Russia to Nigeria to Malaysia to India to Carlton with Shivam Gupta

Carlton U13’s are Kings of the Castle as seen by Dominic Risi On a sun baked, rain sodden, windy and at times hailstone Sunday in early June Carlton U13’s ran out comfortable winners at The Merchiston Castle annual Super 8’s U13’s competition. The team coached, managed and cajoled by the evergreen Ian Thompson, grew in confidence throughout the day and ended up as a very well organised and highly effective unit. Carlton’s first match was against the hosts, Merchiston. Carlton started with gusto, batted first and put on a credible 72 runs for 5 wickets. This total would have been much higher but for the swashbuckling approach by some of the Carlton batsmen. Merchiston started well and had it not been for some excellent fielding and bowling by Carlton, Merchiston would have had this match sewn-up. An excellent final over by Benji R. salvaged a tie from the jaws of defeat. Wise parents, nodding wisely, wisely agreed that this over was likely to be pivotal in the outcome of the tournament. And the wise men proved to be correct! Carlton, having tempered their over-confidence and, with the wind both metaphorically and literally behind them, settled very well into their second match against Belhaven School. Carlton put on 104 runs for the loss of only one wicket, realising that you can’t get caught out if the ball travels along the ground! Excellent bowling and fielding meant that Belhaven were whittled out for 54 runs. So, this meant that Carlton went into a bowl-off against Merchiston for a place in the final, Merchiston having also beaten Belhaven school. Ian Thompson called for steady heads and arms and the five Carlton bowlers, led by Noah M. stepped forward to bowl at the stumps. The nervous group of Carlton parents fell silent, for the first time, and were rewarded by Carlton winning the bowl-off 2-1 with hits from both Tom H. and Harrison F. So, the scene was set, the sky calmed, and a hush descended. Carlton, scenting victory, despatched Grange for 64 runs, excellent catches from Harrison F. and Finlay T. as well as some very nifty footwork from John G. kept Grange’s total manageable. Tom D’s excellent wicket keeping once again played an integral part in keeping the opposition’s total under control. Carlton went about their innings in a calm and ruthless manner scoring 88 in the allotted 12 overs. The steady partnership of Theo G. and Aadi K. guided Carlton over the line to a comfortable win. As always when playing Grange, the game was played in good spirit and there was absolutely no hi-fives or over the top celebrations by the players or, for that matter and more surprisingly, the assembled group of parents. The squad for the day was: Harrison F. Finlay T. John G. Benji R. Tom H. Aadi K. Tom D. Noah M. Theo G.

Club Members and friends enjoyed the recent Pizza Night at Grange Loan, with first Team sponsors Pizza Geeks. Many thanks to Fin Clarkson and his team, and for his generosity in donating the proceeds of the evening to the club. Another event is planned for Friday 22 July.