Overnight rain, a chilly wind across the plains of Goldenacre, low temperatures and an early morning start, welcome to the Primary team cricket season.

The Carlton primary team’s first match of the season, against a young Heriots side was played under softball/kwik cricket rules which in the conditions was a benefit as it kept everyone on their toes and involved. (A neat excuse for the co-ordinator who had “co-ordinated” a team of 11 players for a hardball match prior to checking the finer details of the fixture at 8am on matchday).

Captain for the day Rory lost the toss, and Carlton were invited to bat.  First pair in were Calum E and Sam who patiently added  20 runs with some good running,  losing only one wicket (minus 6 runs in this scoring system) as a result of a very sharp catch.

Dougal and Calum S went for their shots adding 16 runs (less 6 for one wicket) before Tom and Angus came together and batted carefully to pinch singles where possible in total adding 16 (again only one wicket).

It was unlucky for Max and Alexander that they faced bowlers who found their range and after losing a couple of wickets in the first over batted carefully to claw back 9 runs to keep close to par for their 4 overs.

Rohan and Ruairidh applied themselves well and with only one wicket conceded added 10 runs.

The final pairing was a makeshift affair as Rory had 4 separate partners (the eagle eyed will have noted that a team of 11 does not split into pairs without any remainders) and whilst intent on despatching the ball to far flung corners of the field for a grandstand finish to the innings conspired to lose their wickets 3 times.  A final total of 233 looked defendable.

The rotational system of fielding was adopted (move round one position after each over) allowing all the boys to bowl and field in a variety of positions throughout the innings. The overall level of bowling was good to see, winter nets and the couple of outdoor sessions already this year showing their benefits and allied with some enthusiastic fielding: flips back to supporting fielders, “nuclear” arms (not to be confused with the military type which typically are also guided), diving stops and backing up made for a good overall team performance, a total of 12 wickets severely restricted the Heriots score that ended on 190.

A good win to start the season and it really will be hard ball next week.

126 for 2

Despite missing experienced players on U13 Scottish Cup duty, the Carlton SMPS side still gave Watson's a run for their money.  

Watson's won the toss and elected to bat. All Carlton's bowlers had learnt from Thursday and bowled a much tighter line conceding few extras. There were wickets for Sam, Angus (both clean bowled) and Calum S (an edge to wicket keeper Bailey taking a good catch). A long, accurate throw by Ruairidh from the boundary led to a sharp run out. All in all, the boys did well to limit a good batting side to 94 off 20 overs.  

In reply, Hari and Tom got off to a good start with some positive running between the wickets but attempted one too many leading to Hari (2) being run out. The intention to go for the runs was maintained when Angus (4) came in but had the same result. A good partnership followed between Tom and Sam (14) adding 25 for the third wicket. Contributions followed from Alexander (3), Maxwell (1), Bailey (5), George (4, off the shot of the day - a good straight drive) with Callum S (6) and Ruairidh (4) the two not out batsmen. Tom retired with the top score of 25.

However, 82 was not quite enough; Watson's total proved to be just out of reach.   All the Carlton players can take encouragement from an improved performance.

Fettes proved to be tough opponents. Carlton won the toss and put Fettes in to bat. Good economical bowling by Dougal, George and Angus was kept at bay by sound technique from the Fettes boys who continued to score slowly but surely. The highlights in the field were two great runouts, one by George and one by Angus.  

The Carlton / SMPS innings started with very solid defensive batting by Dougal and Tom who did very well to keep the accurate Fettes bowlers at bay but runs were slow to come. Once Dougal was out for a hard fought 14 and Tom retired the Carlton batting crumpled in the face of some accurate bowling. Congratulations though to Robert and Sakib who both scored a run on their debut for the side, and to Ruairidh who protected his wicket well for 3 overs up to the last ball runout.  

Thanks to Fettes for letting the boys go down to the nets to meet (and have a bowl at) the Nottinghamshire squad who were preparing for their match with the Saltires.

Ruairidh explains the mystery of leg-spin to Ally Brown

More photos and video clips

The Carlton boys went down valiantly against an older and more experienced home side.

Against normal protocol the Carlton coach allowed young Calum Everett to bat until he was dismissed ... on 50!  Next top score was Tom Simpson on 4.

All in all a good match in which all boys contributed.

A weakened home side found the crack Academy side just to hot to handle in this enjoyable encounter.

Calum got the home side's innings off to a flying start with a couple of  cracking back foot shots that sped to the boundary. After he departed the scoring rate slowed and it was left to Dougal to take his side to a respectable score with a fine 28 retured, ably supported by a stoic anchor innings by Callum.

In reply, a couple of early wickets and some fine fielding offered the boys some hope but the difference between the sides was Academy opener Harry who raced to 28 before being bowled by Dougal. The fact that Harry is one of Carlton Juniors'  finest offered us all some consolation!

In an exciting game at Goldenacre, the Primary Team beat Heriot’s by 4 runs.  As a hard-ball contest had been declined by the home team, Carlton/SMPS used the opportunity to focus on their calling and sharpness in the field.

Batting first, openers Callum S and Sam (7) gave the innings a platform, enabling Angus (top score 15) and Alex to accelerate and Ruairidh and Kasim (5) to consolidate in the middle order.  Final pairs of Rohan/Robert and Sakhib/Alexander batted steadily to leave the team on 20 (or 220 depending on your point of view).  A steady batting display on a favourable emerald-green pitch which offered bowlers little early movement of the orange squishy ball, but with a few too many run-outs reducing the final score.

In reply, Carlton turned in a dynamic fielding performance that surprised spectators with its energy and accuracy – the boys were on fire!  Excellent throwing and backing up throughout, three catches in the deep from Sam ‘The Arm’ Marchbank, three for captain Callum, a first wicket for Robert and some tight bowling by Kasim being particular highlights.  Wicket keeping team Angus and Alexander maintained a steady stream of patter to keep the field on their toes, but with some steady scoring from the Heriot’s middle order just eight were needed off the final two overs. A flurry of runs brought hearts into mouths, but some fine death bowling from Ruairidh and Sam, plus two further wickets from the fielding dynamos, brought Carlton home.

Treated to a grass pitch by the Carlton groundsman (thanks Alasdair) and a glorious sunny day by the gods, the primary team took to the field for the penultimate match of their season.

Watsons won the toss and obliged Carlton by giving them what they would have chosen had they won the toss themselves - first bat.   The innings got offf to an inauspicious start as Tom was bowled by a good ball in the first over before he could get his eye in. However, Dougal and Calum E steadied the ship and were soon cracking fours and running up the singles. They retired on 30 and 33 respectively. Valuable knocks from Angus (11) and George (12) brought the Carlton total up to a competitive 107.  

The Watsons reply was built around a fine innings by Keshav (more often seen at Grange Loan playing for our U13s!). However, his team mates found it difficult sticking around to give him support and from over 8 onwards there was a steady fall of wickets precipitated by a devastating spell from the young Everett which saw him take two wickets in successive balls, both clean bowled. Thereafter, wickets fell steadily with some fine fielding efforts by Carlton, Calum E and Dougal both taking a couple of catches each. Calum taking a particularly excellent sharp catch off Dougal's bowling. Ruairidh, Callum S and David took a wicket each. Bailey as wicket keeper completed a sharp run-out. 

However, all of this was a mixed blessing as it brought the retired Keshav back to the crease with 3 overs to go and 19 required by Watsons. A tense last three overs saw Dougal changing his field each ball to suit the facing batsman: close in for the number 11 and out restricting boundaries for the in form number 3. The tactic paid off with the first ball of the final over as the number 11 fell to a catch off Angus' bowling which was spooned up to short mid on.   Calum ended with figures of 3 for 18, with Angus picking up 2 for 22.

A great game in which the boys all played very well indeed.

Loretto are always tough opposition and today was no exception. Calum E captained the Carlton side and elected to put Loretto in to bat upon winning the toss. Loretto set out with intent and batted aggressively. The early loss of one of their openers to a good catch by Calum E off Dougal's second over did not halt their progress as we soon learnt that their best batting was to come. Four of the Loretto batsmen passed 20 indicating their depth of talent. The boys did well to dislodge two of them, one to a sharp runout by Dougal, the other caught by Angus off Calum S's first over. However, the Loretto boys were well schooled in the art of batting by their coach and they amassed a hefty total of 149 for the loss of just three wickets.  

7.5 an over was always going to be a tough ask but Dougal came out to open the Carlton batting with a firecracker of an innings: within four and a half overs he had scored 32 and retired with the run rate at 8 an over and on target. Calum E (9)came in at number 3 and showed similar aggressive intent until he holed out trying to hoist an excellent leg break bowler over mid-off. With Tom clean bowled to an fine ball that defeated his sound technique, Carlton were pushed on to the back foot. There followed a period where runs were hard to come by against some fine bowling. Angus steadied the innings and built a patient 13 before falling to one of three runouts, George and Bailey being the other victims of our own lack of clear calling. Ruairidh was unfortunate to get a ball cannon off his legs to dislodge a bail and Maxwell was clean bowled next ball by the pick of Loretto's bowlers on the day. Alexander did very well to survive the next ball showing nerves of steel not to be intimidated by the close fielders crowding in for the hat-trick ball before adding two to the total with Calum S on one. 81 for 8 at the end of twenty overs.  

Overall this was a creditable performance by the boys against an excellent side that could clearly bat and bowl all the way down the order