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News
Over the years, club skipper Fraser Watts has become used to hearing some poor excuses from players who claim not to be able to attend indoor nets. Undoubtedly the best ‘excuse-me note’ this year has come from 4th XI six-hitter Mike Kennedy, who emailed Fraser from overseas to apologise for not being able to attend start of nets as “I am away in India at the moment biking 4,500km from North to South. I am back March 16th and will try and get to the last few indoor nets.”
As usual, cricket has not been far from Mike’s mind as he wrote earlier in his trip: “Cricket is being played on every street corner with bats made from sticks, tennis/rubber balls and twigs for stumps. As for the pitches they share them with the cows and pigs and the unbelievable amounts of rubbish that litters the ground everywhere. I will see if I can get myself a game somewhere. It would be fun!”
Sure enough, a few days later Mike was in touch to reveal he’d managed to get himself a bit of pre-season batting practice. Judging by his short report, his trademark swing to cow has not proved overly successful on the turning wickets of the sub-continent: “Had my first "game" yesterday. The wicket was the pavement of a 14th Century fort, the stumps a 600 year old fence and the boundary the 30ft high fort walls. I was bowled 3rd ball with a rubber ball using a paddle like bat. I think I made the wee boy’s day! They are all SO keen and play on any piece of earth with any type of bat & ball. This is true grass roots cricket but without the grass!”
No doubt 4th XI skipper Bob Irvine is hoping that this will be the only instance of Mike being bowled by a junior during 2012.
The opposition celebrate the dismissal of the famous Scottish batsman Carlton qualified for the finals of the Cricket Media Indoor 6s by beating Grange for the second time in this year’s competition at the MES Sports Centre. Batting first, Carlton’s total of 124 for 4 was based around unbeaten knocks from internationalists Fraser Watts (35) and Preston Mommsen (32). Gregor Maiden hit an undefeated 55 for Grange but they fell short on 110 for 5, with Watts the unlikely bowling hero, taking 3 for 20. Having already sealed qualification, Carlton completed the qualifying group with a 100% record following a comfortable win over Stenhousemuir. Preston Mommsen picked up 2 for 9 as Stenny were dismissed for just 82. Teenagers Matt Wells (26*) and Kyle Macpherson (22*) then knocked off the runs in 6.5 overs to seal Carlton’s fourth win of the competition. Carlton, minus Watts and Mommsen, who will be on international duty for Scotland, will now play on finals night on Friday 2nd March. On the same weekend a young Carlton Under 13 side got their first wins of their indoor tournament with back to back wins over SMRH. Determined to bounce back after playing well but falling to two narrow defeats against Grange in Week 1, the Carlton youngsters bowled and fielded well in both games to ensure a gettable total each time. In both innings, sensible batting and sharp running between the wickets saw the U13s through to comfortable wins. Results & Tables Cricket Media Super Sixes Carlton 124/4 10 overs (Fraser Watts 35* Preston Mommsen 32*) beat Grange 111/5 10 overs (Fraser Watts 3/20) Stenhousemuir 82/5 9.4 overs (Preston Mommsen 2/9) lost to Carlton 83/0 6.5 overs (Matthew Wells 26* Kyle Macpherson 25*)
Lothian Under 13 Indoor 8s Week 1 Carlton 309 lost to Grange 316 Week 3 Carlton 272 beat SMRH 238
With Carlton planning to field a regular women's side for the first time this season, pre-season recruitment gets underway with girls' and women's taster sessions on Sunday 12th February at the Gracemount High School games hall. The indoor taster sessions will run from 2pm to 3.30pm (for girls P3 to S1/2) and 3.30 pm to 5pm (for women and girls from S2/3 upwards). The sessions will be run as a basic and fun introduction to cricket for girls and women of all abilities - no experience necessary. Just turn up; you'll be made very welcome. if you'd like more information please drop Helen Blair a line at women@carltoncc.co.uk.
Cedric first arrived at Grange Loan in 1998 as a fresh-faced 24 year old from South Africa, having been hired by the club as their overseas professional. After qualifying to play for Scotland, Cedric became a key member of the international side that won both the Inter-Continental Cup and the ICC Trophy. Domestically, his performances were instrumental in keeping Carlton in the top league of the SNCL throughout its existence – one of only two clubs to do so. In recent years, Cedric helped the club to three Murgitroyd National T20 titles in four years and his crowning moment came when hitting a superb undefeated 72 against Forfarshire last August to effectively clinch Carlton’s first ever national league title. Cedric has now reached the stage in his career when he's ready for a new challenge, but he is clearly sad to be leaving a club that has meant so much to him over the years:
One team mate in the Carlton side of 1998 was a seventeen year-old by the name of Fraser Watts. The current Carlton club captain is in no doubt of the value of the contribution made by Cedric over the years: “'It’s sad to hear that Ced has decided to leave Carlton for pastures new. He has been a brilliant servant of the club for many years and will be sorely missed.
I'm very proud to have played with Cedric and seen first hand some of the amazing innings he’s played for Carlton. His performances with bat and ball during his time at the club have been second to none and provide some great memories for all of us. He’s been a prolific all rounder over the years and has done some much for the club, especially when it was really needed.
I’d personally like to wish Ced all the best in the next cricketing chapter in his life and am sure it will be as successful as those that have preceded it. He departs the club knowing that he is leaving us in a much stronger state than he found us and for that we can't thank him enough.” In his 14 seasons at Carlton Cedric scored 6630 SNCL runs at an average of 44.49, hitting 16 centuries and 34 fifties. Before eventually hanging up his bowling boots at the end of 2010, Cedric had picked up 251 SNCL wickets from 1800 overs at an average of 23.15 and an economy rate of 3.22. Figures, of course, only tell part of the story and Cedric’s influence as an on-field role model for a generation of Carlton youngsters can never be truly measured. While the word ‘legend’ is certainly overused in sport today, we can think of no better term to describe one of the finest players ever to play for Carlton. Everybody at the club wishes Cedric all the very best for the future. The Carlton 2s began their LiveSportOn.TV ESCA Indoor Sixes campaign with one win and one loss at Liberton High School.
As it was, Matt didn't disgrace himself and was more economical than a couple of his more experienced colleagues. It was veteran Brad McKay who was the tidiest bowler, though, conceding just 17 runs in his two overs as Gordon Drummond's youngsters hit 136 for 4 in their ten overs. Despite 56 from Matt, Carlton finished 23 runs short in their reply as ex Carlton youngster Kevin Meier picked up 2 for 23. In the final match of the evening Morton were bundled out for just 36, with Aussie accountant McKay again the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 3. In reply openers Nathan and Haris knocked off the runs in just 1.4 overs to leave Carlton on 11 points, 5 behind the Academy. All to play for though in the second round of fixtures in February. Results: Edinburgh Schools Academy 134 for 4 (Haris Aslam 1 for 21, Matt Wells 1 for 24) Carlton 2s 103 all out (Matt Wells 56) Morton 36 all out (Brad McKay 2 for 3, Haris Aslam 1 for 7, Nathan Pietsch 1 for 9, Steven Elder 1 for 17) Carlton 2s 37 for 0 (Nathan Pietsch 14*, Haris Aslam 15*) The social event of the year – The Carlton Ceilidh – takes place on the evening of Saturday 3rd March at the Edinburgh Academy Junior School. All Carlton members and parents are welcome; please bring along your friends for what should be a great occasion. Tickets are available at just £20 per person (£15 for juniors) with a family ticket on offer for £50. To buy your tickets, or to find out more, just email Brad McKay at treasurer@carltoncc.co.uk.
The Carlton Ceilidh Edinburgh Academy Junior School Saturday 3rd March 7.30 pm Tickets: Adults £20, Juniors £15 (Family £50) from treasurer@carltoncc.co.uk Carlton 2s skipper Nathan Pietsch leads his side into action in the LiveSportOn.TV ESCA Indoor Sixes this Friday evening. This is the first year of this event and Carlton will take on our old friends Morton CC and a side from Gordon Drummond’s Edinburgh Schools Academy squad in the first set of matches at Liberton High School.
The Carlton side will be 50% youth and 50% experience, with the side sporting their new Steedman & Co sponsored indoor coloured tops (left) in an event that promises plenty of high-scoring, frantic running and constant action. Skipper Pietsch is clearly a fan of the razzmatazz of this form of cricket as can be seen with his official team announcement:
“Team for Friday's "LiveSportOn.TV ESCA Indoor Cricket Sixes is: Nathan 'Old Man' Pietsch Brad 'The Camel' McKay
With five senior league teams, including a women’s team, turning out during the summer we’re always delighted to welcome new players at all levels. For more information, email Martin Flynn at secretary@carltoncc.co.uk or turn up and say hello at one of our sessions.
It was a big 24 hours for two Carlton teenagers on both sides of the world this weekend, as 19 year old women’s international Leigh Kasperek hit an unbeaten 50 in Australian State cricket, while 16 year old Kyle Macpherson starred with the bat as Carlton began their indoor season with two wins. Leigh, who is spending the Scottish winter coaching cricket and playing for the Western Australian women’s state side Western Fury, starred in a 50 over match against Queensland Fire. Chasing 106 to win, Leigh hit the winning boundary to complete a 9 wicket win, at the same time bringing up her fifty and completing a century partnership with her captain Nicole Bolton.
In the second match of the evening Carlton posted an imposing 167 against Stenhousemuir, with Preston Mommsen hitting 53*, Kyle 38*, Jamie Kerr 27* and teenager Mo Ahmed 20. Stenhousemuir were then dismissed for 98 to leave Carlton at the top of their group at the halfway stage. The final round of matches in the group will be played on 3rd February.
Round 1 scores: Carlton 129-4 (K Macpherson 47no, F Watts 36no) beat Grange 51 by 78 runs. Carlton 167-3 (P Mommsen 53no, K Macpherson 38no, J Kerr 27 no) beat Stenhousemuir 98 (I MacDonald 30no, S Olivier 2-13) by 69 runs. Grange 141-4 (G Maiden 30no, M Powell 27no) beat Stenhousemuir 120-3 (I Kirk 32no R Jones 25no) by 21 runs. Carlton are involved in their first action of the season on Friday when they take to the floor at the MES Centre for the first round of matches in the Cricket Media Indoor 6s. The opening match in the tournament is a cracker, with defending champions Grange taking on 2010 winners Carlton at 6.30pm.
Carlton are into action again immediately after the first match, when they take on Western First Division side Stenhousemuir at 7.30 pm. The three sides meet again in February, with the best placed side from the group qualifying for the semi finals in early March. Carlton are delighted to announce the appointment of former Northamptonshire wicket-keeper Toby Bailey as the club’s new Head Coach. Toby is the current national coach of Argentina and is an ECB Level 3 qualified coach, intending to start his Level 4 qualification next winter. He will join the club at the beginning of April, once his contract with the Argentinian Cricket Association comes to an end.
“I have heard from former team mates how strong league cricket is in Scotland and I’m relishing the challenge of helping to repeat the success of recent seasons at the club. Joining Carlton is a fantastic opportunity and I look forward to meeting everyone in pre-season.” Club captain Fraser Watts, who was one of Toby’s 218 ‘List A’ and First Class victims behind the stumps during his county career, said: “I'm very excited about Toby joining the club, I think his appointment says a great deal about the club and our aspirations. He comes with a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch and I am sure he will help push the club, and in particularly the coaching setup, to a new level. His CV speaks for itself and having had various conversations with him he has some great new ideas and methods that can only improve the club and the players.” Toby, who is 35, will also play for the club as a batsman and plans to pay a visit to Edinburgh in February to meet club members and to finalise his move back to the UK. The latest incarnation of the domestic cricket setup has been unveiled with the publication of the cup and league fixtures for 2012. Constant tinkering of the league setup over the last few years has been followed by a controversial period of uncertainty over the winter, which has surely done the image of Scottish club cricket no good whatsoever. Despite Cricket Scotland becoming vocal in their belief that the way forward for the club game in Scotland was to return to regional cricket, a clear majority of SNCL league clubs voted in October to retain the national league format. Nevertheless, the governing body proceeded to implement a new regional structure. While it has been no secret that Carlton remain fully in favour of a national premier league, the decision has been made and everybody at the club is looking forward to the new season. On the plus side, there is very little change to the strength of the league in which Carlton will be playing, as all 8 teams in the new ‘Eastern Premier League’ would have been in the originally planned national premier league (the two other clubs, Clydesdale and Uddingston, having been ‘recalled’ to the West).
The new Eastern Premier League opens on Saturday May 12th and Carlton begin with a tough trip across the city to take on a revitalised Heriot’s side, before hosting Arbroath United the following week. After the first round of league matches, which ends with the always keenly anticipated trip to Grange, the reverse Scottish Cup group fixtures are played across three weeks, before the final seven league matches take place. At the end of the season the two top sides in the Eastern and Western Premier leagues will play-off for the national league title, currently held by Carlton. |
After 14 years of magnificent service to Carlton, ex-Scottish internationalist Cedric English has decided to leave the club. 
A hamstring injury to Edinburgh Schools Academy 's Craig Everett during their victory over Morton meant that Carlton all-rounder Ruari Macpherson was 'nabbed' by the Academy. Luckily, watching Glenrothes keeper Cammy Ross stepped in to keep for Carlton meaning that Matt Wells (left) would be employed to bowl in the first match against the Academy. 
Drummo’s Academy squad have already won an indoor title this winter – the Legget&Coe Edinburgh University Sixes. And with a side that includes some of our Carlton youngsters they’ll be keen to win out over our 2s.
The season begins in earnest at the beginning of February with the start of the Carlton indoor nets. The first session takes place on Sunday 5th February at Edinburgh Academy Sports Hall (6 to 8pm). Nets will then run at the same time weekly until the end of March.
A few hours earlier, Carlton began their indoor season with a match against Grange in the Cricket Media Indoor 6s at the MES Centre. Batting first, Carlton amassed 129 for 4 with teenager Macpherson (left) hitting an unbeaten 47, supported by his club captain Fraser Watts with 36*. In reply, Grange were skittled for just 51 with Kyle also picking up a wicket with his leg spin.
Skipper for the first round of matches is Scotland all-rounder Preston Mommsen (left), who takes charge of a 7-man squad that is an interesting blend of experience and youth. ‘Old’ heads Gordon Drummond, Jamie Kerr and Sean Olivier are joined in the squad by youngsters Mo Ahmed, Kyle Macpherson and Matt Wells.
The 2012 season opens on 21st April with the start of the Scottish Cup. Carlton have been drawn in Group E and open the season with a home match against Glasgow side Poloc. The next two Saturdays see them travel to old rivals Greenock before hosting Fife outfit Falkland.