Finding 11 players was a near impossibility for the Arrows management team on this first week of the junior season. The dilemma was solved by the brilliant ruse of rounding up all players in the vicinity of Grange Loan called Ruairidh (or Ruari, or Ruaridh…..even I don’t know how to spell the name anymore… and one of them’s mine).  

 

The Arrows batted first and struggled against the pace and spin of the opposition’s two senior u13 players who bowled their full complement of 4 overs each. Only Ruairidh (Main of that ilk) dealt with the difficult conditions, hitting a robust 25 before being caught trying to go over mid-off. Most of the other batsmen succeeded in spending some time at the crease but found runs hard to come by on a soft slow wicket with a long outfield. However, it was a good learning experience and they will all be better cricketers for it. Keir, Angus and Duncan deserve mention for their efforts, braving some fine bowling and sticking in to add some valuable runs.

 

A total of 55 was always going to be hard to defend but the Carlton boys came out very positively and had a good energy and buzz about them which they maintained throughout. Most young teams fall a bit flat when things don’t go well for them, but these guys remained positive and vocal right to the end. It was good to hear them all encouraging each other and building a good team spirit so early in the season. Gregor bowled two unplayable maiden overs. Callum bowled a good length and caused problems. Cameron took the only wicket to fall in the innings, finding an inside edge which Keir took brilliantly down the leg-side. Pete was threatening as usual but without reward today and young Ruari Shand bowled two fantastic overs. However, their two senior players had the muscle as batsmen to clear the field and scored steadily until the game was over with some overs remaining. The West Lothian coach sportingly agreed to let Hari, Ruairidh (McIntyre) and Duncan who had not bowled have a go at some of his younger lads who had neither bowled nor batted so that everyone gained some experience from the day.

 

Thanks to the brace of young Ruairidhs for turning out at the last minute and to Sanjay for scoring so meticulously.

Match postponed at the request of SMRH

Goldenacre gets no warmer. The car thermometer read 15c but out on the grass with a north east breeze it felt at least ten degrees colder….But it was dry and bright, and the groundsman had produced a belter of a wicket that had the batsmen purring with anticipation.

 

Carlton won the toss and elected to bat to make the best of the light and the pristine track. Ruairidh and Gregor opened. Ruairidh wasted no time and raced to 32 and retirement off 18 balls, including two 6s and four 4s. Gregor (25) played an important anchor role and supported Duncan through the earlier part of his innings. Duncan then began to see the ball very well and to score more rapidly hitting a number of good cricket shots in the process. Meanwhile with the score on 98 Gregor was most unfortunate to be given out LBW from a ball that bounced twice whilst trying to sweep. He was joined briefly by Lewis who looked promising but was brilliantly run out off a direct hit from the Heriots’ captain. Cameron then joined Duncan until the latter retired on 30. Cameron (12*) and Adam (7*) closed the innings well. A total of 141 was good considering that the ball was not always there to hit.

 

Ruairidh gave every player a two over spell. The bowling was generally impressive and accurate with 4 of the 5 wickets to fall being bowled. Alexander, (1 – 13), Gregor (1-1), Ruairidh (1-6), Cameron (1-11) and Robbie (1-1) all took a wicket. The other boys also bowled well but without reward on this occasion. Fielding was sharp and committed as we have come to expect from Carlton players. Gregor deserves special mention for a stunning diving catch to remove the Heriots captain 2 short of his 30. Lewis looked promising behind the stumps and we hope to see him there again. At the end of 20 overs Heriots were 45 short of the Carlton total. Again it was a great team performance and the boys deserved to win.

 

Thanks to Heriots for going to some trouble to ensure that they raised a team for the match at what is clearly a difficult time of year for them with various commitments pulling the boys in different directions. Thanks also for the privilege of playing on such a well prepared surface. Thanks to Mo for coming along to give the boys the benefit of his cricket brain. And finally thanks again to Sanjay for risking hypothermia and scoring.

There wasn’t much sign of summer at a cold and overcast Grange Loan as the Arrows and Hawks gathered for the first of their two derby encounters and BBQ evenings. It was good to see so many parents ignoring the risk of hypothermia and coming along to watch and enjoy the evening.

The Arrows won the toss and decided to have a bat, Ruairidh and Pete opening. The bowling was tight from Hawks' openers Harry and Scott. The latter particularly impressed the batsmen, who were circumspect in playing him. The two Arrows batsmen scored well, gradually increasing the rate as the innings progressed and they saw the ball better in the gloomy conditions.  In the ninth over, Ruairidh moved onto the offensive and upped the run rate with a 6 and 4 to reach 31 and a retiral. Gregor joined Pete who continued to score on his way to a patient 30. In an effort to up the pace for his team Gregor (5) was caught by Harry off Alastair. Lewis was well run out in the 16th over, whilst Nicholas took his first Carlton wicket with his first ball having Hari (1) caught. Cameron (4) and Duncan (6) helped to add vital runs in the last two overs. The Hawks bowling was tight throughout particularly with Alastair and Euan putting a stranglehold on the Arrows’ middle order. Momentum was lost and the advantage seemed to swing over to the Hawks as they successfully restricted the Arrows to a total of 89 for 3, somewhat short of what looked possible at the half way stage.

Harry and Murray opened for the Hawks and looked comfortable until Calum bowled Hawks' dangerman Murray at the end of his first over. The Arrow’s celebrations showed how important the wicket was to them and how much they respected the batting prowess of the Whitakers. Advantage Arrows…but this game was by no means over. Harry (22) and Ben (16) patiently accumulated runs keeping the Hawks within the overall required run-rate of 4.5 an over and very much in contention. Nor was their momentum lost when Harry was run out calling Ben through for a risky single, as Euan picked up where he had left off. Duncan removed Ben with a smart caught and bowled. After 16 overs the Hawks were 76 for 3 and requiring a further 14 off 4 overs to win……Advantage Hawks. Tight bowling was called for and Pete delivered with a maiden in the 17th though one bye moved the score to 77 and 13 required from 3. Ruairidh bowled an over that went for 4. .....81 for 3......9 required from 2. Anybody’s game! Robbie came back for the penultimate over as he had impressed his captain with his opening spell. Good move. Dot…dot…wicket!…Euan bowled for a useful 12…dot…a couple of wides and two dots to finish. 83 for 3……7 runs for the Hawks to win required off the last over. Hari to bowl…Wide…Hawks require 6….1 run…1 run…..Hawks require 4 to win….One blow will do it….Wicket!...…Hari bowls Benji as he tries to hit out. 86 for 5. Three balls to come, 4 runs required. Single …..Single …..88 for 5….Last ball......Hawks need 1 to tie, 2 to win………. Hari bowls.........Scott hits..........the batsmen scamper........ the ball is fielded .... Keir collects to run Angus out by a whisker and the Hawks fall agonisingly short; the Arrows snatch a victory.

A great game of cricket. The boys couldn’t have played their part better if it had been scripted giving the spectating parents the most exciting finish possible. Thanks to Miles, Mo and Kyle for helping out with coaching and scoring, and to Alasdair for preparing to excellent strip. Lets hope the return game will be just as exciting.

RAINED OFF

West Lothian batted first on the artificial at Peffermill on a warm and sunny evening. They scored at a steady rate of 5 an over throughout the innings, primarily through the efforts of key players Blumski and Anderson who both retired in the 17th over on 32. All the Arrows had a bowl, but the key contribution came from Fabien who returned figures of 5 wickets for 7 runs from his three overs, including a double wicket maiden in the final over! There were great spells also from Nicholas, William, Duncan and Cameron, with John and Vinay chipping in with a wicket each toward the end, Vinay keeping his cool to take a caught and bowled. The target was 104.

Pete and Cameron opened and from the outset kept the run-rate up and around the required 5 an over with aggressive running that put the pressure onto the fielding side. They both did well to cope with the rapid opening bowler and Cameron in particular did well to bravely bat on after a nasty blow to the side of his knee. Cameron (6) was dismissed in the 5th over bringing Duncan to the crease. He and Pete continued to score at the required rate, with Duncan playing the free scoring role to Pete's anchor. Duncan's retiral on 30 in the 15th over brought Ruairidh in and his rapid 17* off 8 balls ensured that Carlton got over the line with overs to spare. When the target was reached Pete was 25*. This was a well paced run chase with the batsmen ensuring that they were on target all the way along.

A great team effort and a good result to win by 9 wickets.

The Carlton innings was built around Euan's 28, dropping the ball into gaps and running well for lots of 1s and 2. Brodie played an innings of great potential, playing lovely shots around the wicket with good loud calling and running as well.

In the SMRH reply, Pete ensured everybody got a couple of overs with Theo taking two wickets for 8.

Cancelled - Heriot's unable to raise a team

Gregor Mac stepped into the captain's shoes for tonight's match and immediately carried on the good Arrows' tradition of winning the toss.....and, Fantasy Bob take note, by a handsome margin. Electing to bat first Carlton were very soon in trouble.....The Grange opener soon showed his credentials: Gregor received a Jaffa of a ball first delivery and edged behind. One ball, one down. Three balls later Pete was gone, clean bowled...another snorter of a delivery. Neither batsman should feel any shame in getting out to those deliveries. After four balls we were two down with one run on the board and Ruairidh, who we had intended to come in mid-innings to keep the score ticking along found himself in in the first over with a job to do. In the third over Duncan (4) was bowled, and young Harry F (2) coming in at 5 joined him back in the pavilion in the sixth. 4 down, 28 on the board.

Fabian joined Ruairidh and they built a partnership of 22 before the former was bowled for 4. By the 9th over Ruairidh reached 33 and retiral with a colossal six and a straight four. Sadly William was run out without facing in an effort to up the rate. Cameron now stepped up to play the role of senior anchor and batted very maturely and with some sharp running the score edged upwards towards a defendable total. Theo, Lewis and John all helped build partnerships with Cameron until the 9th wicket fell and Ruairidh returned at the end of the 18th over. Cameron continued to grow in confidence and exploited the slowness of the spinner to take 9 off the last over, finishing on 22 not out with Ruairidh on 39*. A total of 91 was good in the circumstances and was certainly more than seemed likely after four balls!

Carlton then set about the business of bowling and soon had Grange in trouble, Cameron having our batsmens' nemesis caught for 0 in his first over. Grange rebuilt with their numbers 1 and 3 each adding 15 to the total before being dismissed by Theo and Will, with John joining the wicket takers by removing their dangerous wicket keeper-batsman. Young Harry F bowled a great line and length in his u13 debut. Ruairidh then bowled possibly the worst ball of his season but mysteriously clean bowled the batsman. He then proceeded to bowl a three wicket maiden in his next over including a stunning caught and bowled. Gregor then finished off proceedings by bowling Grange's best batsman who mysteriously did not bat until number 7 and had found himself stranded at the non-strikers' end as the wickets tumbled at the other. A win by 12 runs that just goes to show that nothing is finished in cricket if you decide to keep faith and keep trying.

Carlton can take encouragement from the fact that most of these players will still be u13 next year and should go on to make further improvements in their game in readiness for the next season.