122 for 8 (20 overs)

Rory Simpson 30 ret, Fraser Allardice 26

77 all out

Fraser Christie 2 for 3, Keshav Arvind 2 for 13, Fraser Allardice 2 for 15

Carlton batted first and were soon in trouble with Craig, Mattthew and Ruari out early on. However an excellent partnership between Rory Simpson and Fraser Allardice, who returned to the middle after retiring earlier with cramp, put Carlton back on track and a good late innings knock by Cheeky Gosain took the home team to a decent total of 122.

Opener Zohaib took the game to the Carlton bowlers from the start and exposed some early season fielding lapses from the Grange Loan youngsters . However, once Zohaib retired, the inexperienced Edinburgh middle order struggled against some accurate Carlton bowling, with the excellent Matthew Wells picking up no fewer than 4 stumpings.

In the end a comfortable win for a rusty Carlton Under 13 side against a young Edinburgh team..

121 for 6

Haris Aslam 4 for 16

111 for 5

Fraser Allardice 30

Watsonians batted first in this 22 overs a side friendly game against a very young Carlton side missing skipper Matthew Wells and Rory Simpson.

D Cockburn and C.Spiteri batted well putting on 41 for the first wicket before the introduction of Chayank broke the partnership by dismissing both openers in successive overs and finishing with 2 for 14. The older Watsonians batsmen were coping well with the younger Carlton seam bowlers. Haris then joined the attack bowling his leg spinners and turned the innings around with a great spell. He turned the ball a long way and managed to bowl a good full length. He ended up taking 4 wickets for 16 runs in 3 overs including the prized wicket of Chris Cash the Scotland U15 player from a fine catch by Ruari. (You have real potential, Haris, as a spin bowler because you can turn it sharply and it is now down to you to practise hard at grooving your bowling action to become more consistent and you will have more great days like this!)

Michael Bunker batted well for his 26 before he too fell to a Haris, this time to a good return catch. Keshav then made it three young spinners by bowling two very tidy overs with a slightly longer and quicker runup to help him get a bit more pace and rotation on the ball.

The very young side, including 5 boys in the under 12 age bracket , fielded well and coped impressively with the pace at which the bigger and stronger Watsonians boys hit the ball. To restrict the opposition to a final total of 121 in their 22 overs was a very good all round effort.

Craig and Fraser then got the reply off to a solid start before Craig played early to a full toss and was caught. Ruari then joined Fraser in an excellent partnership of about 70. Tight bowling and excellent fielding put pressure on the batsmen but they stuck to their task and gradually increased the run rate by pinching more singles and turning ones into twos. Ruari was bowled for 23 and Fraser run out for a hard fought 30; an innings during which I think he again showed to himself that he is a much better  batsman when he is being positive and imposing himself on the bowlers. The range of deliveries he then is able to potentially score from increases greatly and batting becomes easier and more enjoyable. There is a lesson to us all from Fraser's experience.

Euan, Haris and Chayank tried hard in  the last couple of overs to increase the run rate but eventually ran out of overs 10 runs short at 111 for 5.

This was an excellent match with both sides getting some good early season middle practice and the U13 team’s performance was a vast improvement from the rusty performance a couple of days before.

89 for 3 (15 overs)

Matthew Wells 30 not out

161 for 4 (20 overs)

Matthew Wells 31 retired, Fraser Allardice 28 retired, Ruari Macpherson 27, Euan Everett 26 not out

67 for 6 (20 overs)

Keshav Arvind 2 for 10

103 for 2

Fraser Allardice 30 retired, Craig Everett 30 retired

69 all out

David Loudon 3 for 14, Haris Aslam 2 for 3, Keshav Arvind 2 for 14

145 for 1

Euan Everett 31 retired, Ruari Macpherson 30 not out, Rory Simpson 29 retired, Chayank Gosain 28 retired

133 for 4

Fraser Allardice 30 retired, Rory Simpson 30 retired, Craig Everett 25, Euan Everett 17 not out

65 all out
Chayank Gosain 3 for 7, Haris Aslam 3 for 8

Openers Fraser and Craig got Carlton off to a cracking start at 8 an over until Craig was bowled playing back to a ball that stayed low.

With skipper Matthew and Ruari falling quickly Carlton were struggling a little mid-innings. However, Rory survived an early drop to keep Fraser company until the elegant left-hander retired after a finely paced 30. Cheeky joined Rory and employed his highly effective drop and run technique while Rory broke loose with a series of punishing drives. After Cheeky was out, Euan came to the wicket and hit two fours immediately with his trademark pull shots, accompanying Rory as the middle Simpson completed an entertaining 30.

The Gala reply got off to a good start before David made the vital breakthrough by bowling the dangerous opener. Rory and then Ruari bowled aggressively, backed by some fine fielding, to expose the Gala middle order. It was left to the spin trio of Cheeky, Haris and Keshav to finish things off and send Carlton through to Scottish Cup Finals day on 28th June.

94 all out

Ruari Macpherson 31, Rory Simpson 21

70 all out

Euan Everett 3 for 6, Chayank Gosain 3 for 16, Haris Aslam 2 for 12

The Carlton under 13s arrived to find the first semi-final underway in the rain, with Grange eventually overcoming a brave challenge from Largo.

Carlton batted first and immediately found themselves batting on a tricky wicket against quality bowling from young Majhu, and after the first over both Craig and Matthew were back on the sidelines having been clean bowled.  When Fraser followed in similar fashion shortly afterwards Carlton were in big trouble. However, a quality 4th wicket partnership between Ruari and Rory took Carlton back into the game, with Rory finding the boundary regularly before he perished for 21. That left Ruari to shepherd the Carlton innings and he did so with great skill although losing partners on a regular basis. Eventually he was last man out with a fine 31 to his name and the total on just 94.

West opened with Majhu and Scotland under 15 star Andrew Umeed, and the talented pair soon had their side on 26 for no wicket after 4 overs. Enter Carlton’s saviour Cheeky. After his first three balls yielded 6 runs, he flighted a beauty, drawing Umeed forward to slice the ball back to him and he took a comfortable catch. Cheeky picked up three wickets in his spell and when Matthew took a good catch off Ruari to dismiss Majhu the game had turned Carlton’s way.

Young Euan then bowled an excellent spell to pick up three wickets and Haris mesmerised the West tail with his leg spin to take Carlton to a great win and a place in the final against old rivals Grange.

96 for 5

Rory Simpson 33 retired, Craig Everett 25

137 for 5

Haris Aslam 2 for 14

Carlton Under 13s took to the field in the Scottish Cup Final for the third year in a row. Unfortunately, after their monumental effort in the field against West, the Carlton youngsters found themselves back in the field against Grange less than 30 minutes later and it was clear the boys' concentration was not 100% as they got off to a loose start against the Grange openers Sole and Player, who were in fine form and punished anything loose.

After both openers retired and Ruari took a fine catch off Haris to dismiss William Edwards for a lightening 26, Carlton began to look more like themselves, but by then the damage had been done. Haris was probably the pick of the Carlton bowlers with 2 for 14 off his 3 overs.

138 to win looked a tough challenge and so it proved with the Grange opening bowlers giving absolutely nothing away. Fraser and Craig put on 29 for the first wicket before Fraser was out in the 7th over.

Craig (left) batted manfully and had scored an impressive 25 before he was stumped. Rory then continued the fight, retiring on an unbeaten 33 as Carlton ended their innings beaten but unbowed on 96 for 5.

Once again a great effort from the Carlton youngsters who did the club proud and if they continue to develop as they have over the last 12 months we will be hearing a lot more from them in the future.

119 (20 overs)

Ruari Macpherson 31 retired, Fraser Allardice 19 not out

60 all out

Haris Aslam 3 for 6, David Louden 2 for 11

105 for 4

Fraser Allardice 20

54 for 6

Euan Everett 4 for 4

Once again Fraser played an effective anchor role, allowing Craig, Matthew and Rory to keep the scoreboard moving. After Fraser was bowled for 20, Euan joined Dougal in a good unbroken 5th wicket partnership to take Carlton to 105 for 4.

Any hopes of a West Lothian win were quickly extinguished by a fiery opening spell from Euan, who finished with figures of 4 overs, 1 maiden, 4 wickets for 4 runs. David also picked up an early wicket, thanks to a fine stumping from Matthew.

David and Gavin then chipped in with a wicket apiece as Carlton ran out comfortable winners.

117 for 8 (35 overs)

116 for 8 (35 overs)

Largo arrived at a sun-baked Grange Loan for the final match of the 2009 season.

The Largo skipper won the toss and immediately decided that he wanted to make Carlton sweat in the field for 35 overs. The Carlton 4th XI opening bowling attack of Euan Everett and Ruari Macpherson clamped down on any thoughts the visitors may have had of getting off to a flyer as the first eight overs went for very little for the loss of one wicket, clean bowled by Euan. The introduction of Cheeky brought immediate success, with his impeccable flight bringing him two wickets in two balls. Drinks came at 17 overs with Largo on 33 for 3. Thereafter skipper Matt Wells, ‘under advisement’ from his coach, made sure the bowling was spread around, with 11 year old Rory Allardice the pick of the attack, picking up two wickets in his spell as the visitors ended on 116 for 8.

After a sumptuous tea, the opening pair of Fraser Allardice and Craig Everett began the Carlton reply. An eventful opening over saw Fraser hit two impressive shots with impeccable timing before being bowled off the last ball. David Mitchell and skipper Wells departed quickly to leave Carlton in trouble. Craig, however, clung limpet like to the crease to defy the visiting attack in a good partnership with Ruari and have the home side well placed at drinks. Shortly afterwards, coach Macpherson made the bravest decision of his career when he forcibly retired Craig on 27. Macpherson knew now that his team had to win; if they didn’t, an entire winter of  the oldest Everett bending his ear was sure to follow. Middle Everett, Euan, then hit a mightily impressive 28 before being stumped to precipitate a late collapse, which left the Carlton final pair of Gavin Rittoo and 10 year old Calum Everett with 11 runs to get in 3 overs. While Craig was rehearsing his “I told you so” speech for the coach, his youngest brother played a blinder in support of Gavin.  It all came down to the last ball of the season. Two to win and Gavin on strike.  A cracking drive through mid-off was enough for the youngsters to scamper two runs, young Calum waving his bat in triumph as he completed the final run. Craig, meanwhile, was praising the tactical genius of his coach.

Many thanks to Largo for providing the opposition for a great game played out in perfect summer sunshine. A great way to bring the curtain down on the 2009 season.