The first fixture of the season was, as ever, against the Heriots p6 boys. This year they accepted the challenge of playing hardball cricket but to Kwik cricket rules. This is an excellent introduction to hardball for those new to it as it allows everyone to spend time at the crease and to bowl, so everyone gains experience. Teams start on 100 and work up (and sometimes down) from there. Batsmen bat in pairs for a set number of overs, adding to the total and losing 5 runs each time they are 'out'. The Heriots' boys were all new to hardball and we had hoped to field a relatively inexperienced team too to give new boys an introduction but as chance would have it the 10 boys who made themselves available composed a formidable group of cricketers, combining the experience of a few 'old' hands with relative newcomers. All proved to be good players and did the team proud.

Carlton SMPS won the toss and put Heriots in to bat and they struggled to get the ball away from the outset against some excellent, accurate bowling from all the boys. Young Harry ended with excellent figures of 2 wickets for 3 runs off 3 (including a wicket maiden), both wickets clean bowled. Alastair impressed with his pace and bounce finishing with 0 for 5 off 2. Peter announced his presence with 3 splendid overs including a double wicket maiden to finish with 3 wickets for 4. Tom, obligingly slowing things down at the coach's request, still looked very dangerous with 1 for 5 off 2. Jori grew in confidence as the game progressed and bowled well but with no reward going for 11 off his 3 overs. Matthew also impressed on his debut with 1 for 8 off 3 overs. Gregor also held back his pace a little but still finished with economical figures of 1 for 4 off 2 including one maiden. Finally, Rory, who had kept wicket splendidly and without fear for the first 12 overs, came on to bowl 2 overs for 6 without reward. Many thanks to Ruairidh and Angus who stood aside and allowed the newer boys to get some bowling experience. In the field the boys were all sharp and had clearly learnt the lessons of the Monday coaching sessions.  The Heriots' boys would have done well to note how they stopped the ball with a long barrier and not their ankles! There were no wild throws at the stumps. Everybody backed up well and I cannot remember there being any overthrow runs taken at all. An excellent performance from all.

Carlton's batting was just as impresive as the bowling. Ruairidh and Angus opened and got the score board ticking over with some sharp running for byes, each taking two off the bat in the first over. With their eye in, they set about plundering runs from the Heriots attack each scoring 11 off 3 deliveries in over 2, Angus with a 3 and two 4s, Ruairidh a single, a 4 and a 6 that scattered the crowd of watching parents. Subsequent pairings continued to steadily (but not so frenetically) add to the total. Tom and Gregor put on 19; Harry and Rory 12; Peter and Jori 10; Matthew and Alastair 15; Gregor and Peter returned to ensure that all the Heriots boys had bowled their two overs and added a further 20, with Gregor looking particularly impressive. All in all, there was some good technique on display and clearly the team have the potential to score runs off the bat and make good decisions about taking quick singles.

Overall, a fine victory albeit against an inexperienced side. Credit should go to the Heriots' boys who had their hardball coaching sessions cancelled owing to rain. They came with little preparation but acquitted themselves very well indeed, at all times playing with determination and enthusiasm in the face of a much stronger Carlton side.

Having frozen at the New Field ground the previous evening, the coach cunningly donned his winter mountaineering thermals for the morning game against the Academy only to see the sun shine and the temperature climb to something close to summer. As the coach sweated in the unaccustomed heat, the Academy boys proved too hot for the SMPS lads.  

Carlton won the toss and put the Academy in to bat. The New Field ground is small and the Academy openers lived a charmed life. The first few overs saw the bowlers beat the batsmen but with pace on the ball, edges sped away for 4s to the short boundaries. A moral victory for the bowlers perhaps, but runs to the batsmen. Pete was the pick of the Carlton bowlers, picking up two wickets in successive balls. Old hands Ruairidh and Angus both took one, whilst new boy Matthew also picked up one. 

Unfortunately our catching was not as it might have been and a couple of chances went down. A sharp runout was the highlight in the field. Special mention should go to Finley who kept wicket for the first time in his first game of hardball cricket and he did a fine job, early nerves being dispelled as he quickly learnt the game on the job.  

With the Academy closing on 107 and a relatively inexperienced middle and lower order we were always going to require the top order to stick in and score. Alas, Angus was unlucky to edge a ball onto his stumps early doors and a minor collapse followed with Alastair and Matthew both finding it hard to get bat on ball. The score was 20 for 4 when young Harry came to the crease and batted with sound technique with Ruairidh who sensibly restrained himself to anchor the innings. The partnership was worth 22 when Ruairidh decided to up the tempo in the 13th over and was well caught at long off  for 18 whilst trying to clear the field.

Harry then took up the 'senior pro' and anchor role playing his way to an unbeaten 12. Two wickets in the last over saw Carlton finish on 67 for 9.   The Academy were a stronger side than we have met at this fixture in previous years and they ran out deserved victors. All the boys on both sides played the game in a good spirit and victors and losers alike enjoyed the day.

117 for 4

Harry 2 for 10

69 for 3

Angus 27 ret, Gregor 15

After the summer sunshine of the previous week we were back to the normal Arctic conditions at Heriots on Saturday.  Also, thanks to a mix up (well 2 men unable to find their way around a SIBCAS at Carlton) there were no fleece tops for any of the players. Tom was captain for the first time and lost the toss; however, we were put into bat. The format was kwik cricket so everyone was assured 4 overs batting as part of a pair. 

Peter and Alastair C-W made a solid start. However ,despite some strong drives and pull shots, there was nothing that managed to get over the boundary for four - the outfield resembling the second cut of rough at the local golf course rather than a finely prepared Grange Loan outfield.  We knew it was going to be tough to get runs so good running between the wickets was the order of the day.   Good start was made with the pair scoring 19 runs except an unlucky run out meant they were recorded as 14.

Matthew and Finley joined the crease and made a tentative start , however they both found their batting form and started scoring nicely with some good running between the wickets.  They eventually made 15 with the loss of one wicket so a net 10. 

Tom and Ben then batted and Tom managed to hit the first and only 4 of the innings (and match) – well done and if you can tell the others what you had for breakfast that would be appreciated.  Despite some good running there were a few good fielding efforts by Heriots and despite 12 runs a net 2 was recorded. 

Harry and Alastair McW joined with grand plans to push on the run rate with Harry eyeing off a full toss on his first delivery only to miss and be clean bowled (not a great start!).  After that there was some good shots and Alastair hit some strong drives and the score ticked over nicely despite another run out. 17 scored but a net 7 recorded.

Lastly, Gregor and Cameron came to the wicket and made a solid start with some good running between the wickets and managed to score 14 and not have any deductions for wickets. Well done.

Total score was 77 with 30 runs deducted and a net 47.  Not a big total but one that could be defended with tight bowling and good fielding.  The boys were up to the challenge.  Firstly, Tom did a great job at rotating the bowlers and mixing up experienced with less experienced bowlers.  Secondly, all the bowlers were accurate with a good line and length resulting in several wickets bowled (and only one wide in the first 19 overs). Thirdly, the fielding was excellent – some great catches and Finley as wicket keeper was great behind the stumps only letting one bye through.  Eventually Heriots succumbed with no pair making any runs after deducting for wickets.

Great sportsmanship was shown by both teams and all the Carlton SMPS team should be proud of their efforts.  The pre match fielding practice definitely paid off and it is obvious that each player is improving.  Keep up the good work and get to the nets as much as possible.

Match abandoned

This was an excellent game of cricket played between two evenly matched sides. Stewarts won the toss and inserted Carlton to bat on a strip that had been cut between two of their proper pitches ... so not exactly Grange Loan then.

Tom and captain Ruairidh opened and looked comfortable against the bowling despite the vagaries of the bounce. It was a bit of a disappointment, not least to himself, when Ruairidh called Tom through for a quick single in the second over only to be sharply run out for 6. Tight fielding was to be a hallmark of the Stewarts side. Angus joined Tom at the crease and the two put on a good batting display before Angus (16) was brilliantly caught by long-off trying to loft the field. Alastair was run out in exactly the same manner as Ruairidh for 1. Gregor was bowled for 3 whilst Tom retired on a fine ,composed 32, never looking like he was in danger.

Further valuable runs were added down the order by Harry (11), Rory (5) ,Pete (2*) and Robert (3*). 101 was a respectable score but the bowling would have to be tight and the fielding sharp on a pitch with short boundaries.  

The Carlton SMPS attack was led by Pete (1-4) who opened with a maiden and demonstrated the virtues of a good line and length when he took a wicket, clean bowled, in his second. He was ably supported by Matthew (0-8) who went wicketless in his two overs despite beating the bat on many occasions. Next up were Alastair and Robert. Alas their exact figures have been obliterated by the rain that fell which smudged the score book beyond reading. Suffice it to say both bowled well, and Robert picked up a wicket in his second over, brilliantly caught by Ruairidh at mid-wicket diving full stretch towards the ball which he picked up cleanly only a matter of centimetres from the ground. With a run out reducing Stewarts to 3 for 29 they looked in trouble.

However, a partnership of 41 brought them back into the game before Tom's pace proved too much for their in form batsman and wicket keeper Finley ably assisted in a second run out. A further wicket, clean bowled, by Gregor meant that Stewarts had two new batsmen at the crease and the momentum had swung Carlton's way with Stewarts now on 74 for 6.

Perhaps the advantage had begun to tip away from us a little when the rains came and the match abandoned with Stewarts on 90 for 6 after 17.4 overs, but in truth, it was anyone's game. It was a shame that the boys were deprived an exciting finish, whether they'd have won or lost, it was going to be a thriller.

In some ways it was fitting to end on a draw as there was nothing between the sides. Our thanks to Stewarts for being hospitable hosts and for an exciting game played in good spirit. Thanks also to Simon Kujawa and Dale Garbutt for scoring - sorry the rain obliterated much of your hard work!

91

Ruairidh Main