Another Positively positive season
2019 – Season Retrospective
And so the Positivelys come to the end of another season, their first in the ultra-super-elite Positively 4th Division of ESCA. The end of the season coincided with Radio 2’s Motown day – in many ways the products of the Motor City Hit Factory factory seem to define the season.
What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye) – There were occasional doubts as to whether the Positivelys would survive in the new division as a string of reverses undermined what seemed a bright start. The disappointing weather also interrupted any momentum. They played 11 matches out of a total of 16 as the league was reduced by the sad withdrawal of Fauldhouse. There were 5 wins (one through the decision of the ESCA competitions committee who determined that their opponents had broken the competition rules and accordingly awarded the points to the Positivelys). Some of the 6 losses saw the Positivelys well beaten out batted and out bowled by some distance. But the Positivelys finish a respectable 6th in the league.
I Want You Back (The Jackson 5) – There were many highlights, the biggest by far being Angus Beattie’s imperious 130* on his emotional return to the field. A Resurrection of sorts. Your correspondent was unfortunately absent that day – fittingly he was in the audience for the Festival performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony (Not a Motown album).
Superstition (Stevie Wonder) – Only 2 tosses were lost. Observers will note that the Positivelys batted first on 2 occasions, once by design in the absence of the skipper and once by instruction, and won both matches. The skipper has yet to absorb the implications of this.
Reach Out – I’ll Be There (The Four Tops) – 38 players made appearances, 16 of those were juniors, and 3 women.
Nowhere to Run (Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) – It was not a vintage season for run scoring or for batters – other than Angus’ 130*, no player passed 50 – Brian Kaczynski’s 49 being the nearest. Paul Kentish was the leading run scorer with 176 and a top score of 48*. There were excellent junior innings from Ewan Hutchison (45 vs Peebles), Keatinge Maj (35 v Broomhall) and Gavin Murray (33 v Broomhall). Eric and Anish also contributed more than 100 runs.
You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me (The Miracles) – Ewan Hutchinson led the wicket takers with 14, with Charlie Kentish close behind on 13 including best figures of 6-51 against Peebles. Isaac Foley’s long-delayed and single appearance gave him the astonishing figures of 5-3-5-5. Jamie Beattie’s 4-28 v EU Staff should also be mentioned. The skipper made a late run with 3 wicket hauls in the last 2 matches which prompted the question as to why he hadn’t bowled more often.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvyn Gaye, Tammi Terrell) – 152 wides were bowled. This prompted a concern from the authorities that overzealous application of the laws might be being applied by the umpires. The skipper had to respond that if anything umpires were generous to a fault as direction finding on occasion deserted some of Carlton’s bowlers. The skipper attributes this to the magnetic pull of the moon.
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (The Supremes) – Catches may not have won matches, but very few were spilled and some stonkers were taken, particularly by Fraser Kentish and Jaimie Beattie under the steepling high ball.
How Sweet It Is (Marvin Gaye) – Teas were a continual source of enjoyment and delight. Empire biscuits were at satisfactory levels.
Just My Imagination (The Temptations)- There are 18 Saturdays in the season. Readers have become accustomed to 18 match reports – those for rained-off matches being particularly enjoyed. There was therefore controversy when a report failed to appear for week 10 – the week that lay fallow following Fauldhouse’s withdrawal. The correspondent apparently considered that it was absurd to contemplate a match report for a match that was not on the fixture card. It would be mere fiction – the suggestion that this would be no different to his usual report hurt him to the quick.
Heaven Must Have Sent You (The Elgins) – As usual thanks are due to many who made the triumphs of the season possible and who assisted the coming to terms with the trauma of the occasional reverse.
I Second That Emotion (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles) – There is no finer testament to the club that is Carlton than Ruth Willis’s tweet following the match that saw Angus’ return to play:
‘Today was one of those days when I’m reminded why I’m so proud to call @CarltonCricket home. Teammates spanning the generations taking genuine pleasure in each other’s successes. It’s what it it is all about.’
In the words of Stevie Wonder, You are the Sunshine of Our Life.