MONDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2011.

The wind whistled, the autumn dark had set in as Carlton captain Mick Garton came steaming in for the final ball of the season, such was his entusiasm, he went a tumbling and what was suppose to be the last ball, turned out to be a wide, no worries, the stone had been set, the deed had been done and the unbeaten record had been maintained for the second year in a row.

With ever ageing legs, one suspects this wonderful run will come to it's natural conclusion, probably next spring or early next summer but while it lasts, these old timers deserve a merry christmas indeed!

Garton made the first good move of the night by letting vice captain Alan Roome take the toss and Carlton finally won one.

They decided to bat and the naturally agressive White (16) with one dismissal and Last who was some what subdued scored 8, no swash buckling tonight and only one boundary but no dismissal for the flamboyant one.

Flamboyant is not a word that can be used to describe Garton and Roome but with nice pulls and cuts, Garton scored a tidy ten while Roome scratched about without bothering to trouble the scorers but no dismissals was the key for the back together Brearley and Boycott combination.

Rob and John Newton upped the tempo with Newton crashing three maxiums and Rob three boundries and only the silly run out of Rob caused by a suicidal call from Newton blotted the copy book.

Debutant Chris Chappo struggled to make connection at the end but some how held on to his wicket and a score of 91 was always going to put pressure on the super market giants.

Two maidens from Newton and White with a perfect response as Tesco began their reply before the Carlton Captain stepped up to the plate.

3 wickets in 6 balls didn't as much turn the game, it thundered it onto a different planet and despite dropping two skyers in the next over from the unlucky but Excellent Roome, Garton had made his place in folk law.

Not to be outdone there was a maiden for Greg who once again impressed behind the stumps and a second ever hatrick at the ground for Rob. No guessing who got the first but a trip through the archives will tell that story!

Sharky hit one towering 6 for Tesco and both Lee's put in tidy spells for them. Garton with 4-17 from 3 overs and Rob with 4-2 were the pick of the Carlton bowlers but John Newton despite the crazy run out with figures of 1 for nought and the top score of 20 was man of the match. A special mention for the grinning Chris Chappo with 2 for twenty which wasn't at all bad for the colourful one and he can walk away with his head held high.

Umpire Tim Bee tucked away his smile, his arm signals and his note pad for another year and Rob, Last, Garton and Roome all tucked away their knees and battered bodies and we have to say as neutral observers, Garton and Roome's decision  not to run any singles was a wise one, Greg is still sprightly and Whitey will run all day, he can still play for many years. As for the others, well Tesco and Reprotec will come back stronger and one will expect to see the excellent "real ale lover" Tim Bee in 2012 and one feels that Garton, Roome and West who was away for this contest still have a little more to give, we will see!

Merry Christmas everyone and love thy neighbour baby!

It was a warm autumn evening and Ian White's bat came clattering down towards the boundary edge which was his Matt Prior moment but luckily there was not a window or a spectator insight and no press pack either althought umpire Tim Bee did wave an angry finger.

It had not been the greatest day for the white hot one at the crease. Three boundries and then dismissed with the final ball. The big hitting Last had also been removed with little in reply, it was a good start for Nick and Mike as Reprotec hit the ground running, Captain Mick Garton appeared  and squared cut his first ball to the fence, that is about as good as it got for the skipper, out twice and he had partner John newton to thank for a useful seven.

Alan 'Geoff boycott" Roome  also faired badly out twice while Pep nurdled his way to six.

There was a clattering of fours from Mark West at the end but he too had conceded his wicket along with Coz and a score of minus 2 meant Carlton were on the rack.

Outstanding figures of 2-10 Charlie, 2-6 Mike B, 1-2 Nick C being the pick of an allround excellent bowling display from a rampant Reprotec.

Carlton however do not know when they are beaten and John Newton came steaming in with the new ball conceding just four runs in 2 super overs.

The 2 Nicks had come up against Carlton's best bowlers and they returned with the scores neutral.

A tidy over followed from Pep with a wicket before Garton bowled a maiden and then 2 wickets for Roome put Reprotec on the back foot and then a pivotal moment in the captain's second over and it was Ian White who provided it with his Freddie Flintoff ashes moment, throwing down the stumps in thrilling fashion from a far distance and when Garton picked up a wicket with his next ball thanks to the wonderful reflexes of Last, it was going only one way for Reprotec.

Last continued to provided inspiration behind the stumps,stumpings and catches a plenty as Reprotec fell apart. Some late blows from the talented Mick were too little too late as he and Charlie put on a decent last stand but Tim Bee's finger had been raised too many times.

Reprotec captain Nathan thought they had been a touch unlucky with a couple of decisions and he may have been right with one of them but with no tv replays available for this particular series, one could only except the envitable Carlton Town win.

Reprotec will take heart from this outing however, it was an inspired performance and one which bodes well for the future.

After all the two big Italians couldn't win a game at one time, but they just changed sides, seems a smart move but one which Nathan won't be following.

His loyalty to Reprotec runs deep through his veins and he'll be hoping they can turn this positive into a victory next time round as 4 of the Warriors notch a year closer to the big 50.

GARTON'S BOYS 51  ROOME'S BOYS 40

With Pep's team pulling out of the game v Carlton with only hours to play, the two old warriors Mick Garton and Alan Roome took centre stage to compete against each other and the fact that both scores were in the positive said much about their leadership as anything else that unfolded in this gripping contest in the late september heat at Stoke Lane.

When Roome won the toss, it was no surprise that he picked the impressive Ian White and with Garton getting the next two picks,it was equally as predictable that he would go for Mark West and John Newton.

Garton's team included a big Italian and debutee and while Roome had pistol Pete and a big South African (tall rather than large like the big Italian) and Mick Jack who would prove to be a surprise package in more ways than one.

Whitey and Dave opened the batting for Roome and made a steady start, the odd huge hit from White combined with some good dot balls from the pacy and slick Newton.

The first wicket fell to Mark West with Garton taking the spinning ball as it came down, he was unable to take a higher second chance and there were also drops from West himself and 2 by Nico who was moved to behind the stumps by Garton after his 2nd drop where he cut a much classier figure having the batsman on their tows.

Roome's boys were steady throughout against some tidy bwoling and the captain himself was gutted to be out to the last ball of his innings. mick Jack clubbed 3 excellent boundries to ensure a decent score of 40 for Roome's boys, his bowling was to be a different story.

The priority for the experienced Garton was not to concede wickets and the two young guns Matt and Nico went to the wicket with his instructions blazing in their ears and then they delivered and put on a match winning partnership of 27 with controlled stroke play and stout defence against the good balls. Garton along with Newton then followed his own script and a noncherlent cover drive for four took him to double figures, he and the equally impressive Newton had put on 20, giving only 2 sharp chances into the bargain which were spilled by the unjury ravaged Rob who Roome described as being "half the player he normally is." Rob was clearly struggling and bowled underarm but still only conceded 8 runs.

Whitey was excellent not conceding a single run and Mick Jack had fine figures of 1-2 but that didn;t tell the full story, he bowled a succession of wides and sprayed the ball all over the arena much to the annoyance of his on the rack captain and even a spell of underarm was blissfully inaccurate.

Coz and Mark West then pulled the hatches down for the final 2 overs treating ever ball with a defensive prod with sometimes highly exagerated postures and it was only with the game won, that the big Italian when dancing down the wicket and tried to hit Jack out of the park that he was stumped,but it was too little too late but the battle of the old warriors proved one thing, they both know how to play this game but on the day Garton's boys played it just that little bit better, the contest ad the banter afterwards brought a rye smile to the face of umpire Tim Bee who sipped from his pint of real ale as the inquest and celebrations followed, the two captains will now rejoin forces and try to make it an unbeaten summer when they place rematches against Reprotec 10th Oct and Tesco on the 24th.

Reprotec ensured Carlton put in there first negative score battling performance since the cricket began at Stoke Lane but it wasn't enough to secure victory.An honours board is set to be elected for bowlers taing 5 wickets in an innings following the chairmans 5-11 in a pulsating spell at the crest of the game.

Reprotecs downfall was much to do with their pursuit of the big shot and plenty of dancing down the wicket and a world class display behind the stumps from the outstanding Greg Last.There were 20 dismisalls for Carlton and a fair number were down to last.

On top of Garton's 5, Alan Roome also turned back the years with wonderful figures of 4-4 while the even older Mark West got 2-8 and peter filling in for Whitey in the first part of the contest took 3-8. White was later to deliver with the bat top scoring with a majestic 25.

John Newton bowled with pace and aggression in taking 2-2, it's a shame the same could not be said for his for his batting which was shambolic to say the least. The pin up boy was out four times in a reckless display of Lasty style power hitting and the old legend himself succumbed twice ,once for dancing and once for skying.

An underarm bowler called Ant proved tricky in the lights for Roome and a grub hunter style spell cost the old warrior his wicket although it must be noted that he and Garton once again in general held steadfast refusing to lay down their wickets in what was a wicket fest of a night. The only positive for Reprotec in the batting was Nick C who showed competance, surrounded by adversity.

Mick B with 3-7 and Charles with 3-9 were the pick of the Reprotec bowlers and a special mention once again for the unflapabble umpire Tim Bee who continues to excel, even under floodlites.

"Bring on the honours board" was the cry as the weary departed. The Chairman sipped his bear and looked up in pride, it had been a good weekend all round for Carlton Town.

August 24^th 2011

A man of the match performance from Mark ‘Richie Richardson’ Clarke was enough to maintain Carlton’s unbeaten run and make it seven wins out of seven for Mick Garton’s side.

There was no Lampard Melinga this time round to trouble the rampant West Indian and he starred with both bat and ball in this excellent contest.

The recalled Danny Marshall opened up the batting with new signing Dominic Willis and they got Carlton off to a steady start putting on 19 for the opening wicket with Danny out the once.

The steady partnership of Garton and Roome got off to the worst possible start when Garton was stumped but a crisp and delightful cover drive from Roome pulled them back into the positive and that’s where they stayed.

The extravagant and flamboyant Clarke then launched a late assault scoring five boundaries and a six in a score of 25 (out just once) with Carlton’s other new signing Gary Roome at the other end playing steadily although a needless run out blotted the copy book.

A score of 47 may have looked tame but opposition sides struggle against Carlton’s excellent bowling attack and a team is yet to register a positive score against the Millers bowlers.

McGregors had bowled well themselves however and were a far better match for the Carlton batsman than Tesco had been the week before.

Jason W with 2-6 and Jason S 2-9 being the pick and Connor conceding just three runs from his two excellent overs.

For Carlton Dominic started with a maiden and a veteran with a knack of taking wickets struck with his first bowl. Yes, you can’t keep the Carlton captain out of the game and it was his batting partner and close friend Alan Roome who picked up the catch.

Carlton’s fielding was excellent throughout with Marshall, Clarke and Dominic Willis prominent at key periods with run outs, catches and excellent stops.

Carlton’s overseas player followed up his 25 with stunning figures of 3 for 2 under the floodlights at the theatre of cricketing dreams while Willis returned figures of 2-2.

There were two wickets a piece for the captain and the impressive Gary as McGregor’s fell away and although Danny Marshall failed to take a wicket he conceded just two runs in a penetrating spell.

The ever present captain and influential Roome continue to defy the critics and doubters who said they should not take up 16 over cricket.

These guys are winners and entertainers and the theatre of cricket would be a lot duller without them.

We are sure umpire Tim Bee would drink to that being the only other ever present, an umpire whose reputation continues to grow. They continue!

Tesco won the toss and put Carlton into bat in this six a side sixteen over contest and Carlton Town’s Ian White got them off to a stormer, hitting five sixes and four fours in a powerful fifty, while partner Greg Last smashed four fours but was out once and finished up with a score of twelve.

The more cultured stroke players then entered the affray, no dancing down the wicket for Garton and Roome, but a nice mix of ones and twos and the one boundary for Garton, he made fifteen and Roome twelve without either of them conceding their wickets and with extras their partnership was into the forties.

Enter Mark ‘Richie Richardson’ Clarke who launched into attack mode against the Tesco bowlers. It was a tactic that entertained but also had its drawbacks and despite hitting four sixes and three fours, the great man also perished three times and had trouble getting away Lampard Mellinga who was unlucky not to bowl the West Indian legend.

Clarke finished with ten and Rob, who is normally so reliable finished with -10 after two dismissals. A total score of 127 however from the sixteen overs was always going to trouble Tesco. Scott with 2-16 and Lee 2-13 were the pick of the Tesco bowlers.

Tesco needed to start with a bang but were soon in trouble when Carlton captain Garton took two wickets in his first over courtesy of good catches by Clarke and White.

The tight and impressive Roome took a wicket, Clarke bowled a maiden and then White two more wickets to leave Tesco in real trouble.

Things went from bad to worse for Tesco with Last taking three wickets in four balls and Rob returning outstanding figures of 4-3.

When Garton came back in to the mix, he let go a couple of short ones, one was so short he was no balled by a firm Tim Bee. Tesco came dancing and Greg came stumping and the supermarket giants were in dire trouble.

Only Calvin ‘Jacques Kallis’, Tesco’s overseas player and Steve were in the positive for Tesco but they will no doubt learn and improve for the next test and Carlton will expect a closer contest.

All retired to the clubhouse sports bar where popular umpire Tim Bee announced Ian White as man of the match. It was a good all round performance from Carlton but with fifty runs and three wickets for just nine runs, Whitey’s was the main contribution.

Garton looked in trouble with his knees after rising following an amber nectar and one feels Cafe Mambo beckons once more for a player clearly nearing the end of his illustrious career.

CARLTON TOWN 55 INTERNATIONAL ALL STARS- 66 Friday 20th may.

Cozimo Devivo was called up by the international All Stars to turn round the fortunes of their side after the 1st test loss to Carlton Town but the big Italian was left sick as a pig as his team crashed to another defeat.

Devivo himself had looked good in the warm up but had no answer to Danny Marshall and John Newton when the real action began and his Partner Ryan faired even worse conceding his wicket 4 times in the opening gambit. A wicket for captain Mick Garton, 2 for Rob, and a double maiden for Ian White helped turn the screw further and with Arron and Grant Brindley taking 2 wickets apiece too, it was left to Ryan to redeem himself as the extra batsman smashing Greg Last for 26 in the final over of big hitting which included a last beamer.

Captain Garton was also guilty of a smilar offence on 2 occasions for the first time in his long career and was warned by umpire Tim Bee.

A score of minus 66 was always unlikely to trouble Carlton but after taking White's wicket early, they had hope but White and Last recovered from the early set back as did Garton and Rob after Garton was cleaned bowled by the impressive Pep.

John and Aaron also lost just the one wicket as did Danny and Grant with the latter contributing the highest score of the day 23.

Pep was certainly the All Stars best player on the day but Grant Brindley with 23 and 2 for 5 was man of the match.

Carlton Town cricket club remain unbeaten. Cozimo Devivo promised the All Stars would hit back in the 3rd test, a match they need to win and new signings look on the horizon as Devivo flexe's his muscles, he doesn't enjoy defeat!

Credit must also go to Carlton Town for excellent fielding, they took all their catches while the All stars dropped four and that was a factor in the 55 to -66 scoreline and will have been noted by the detemined and passionate Devivo.

 FRIDAY 15TH APRIL 2011. CARLTON TOWN CRICKET CLUB 27, INTERNATIONAL ALLSTARS -155.

As the international allstars warmed up and Mr White and Mr West prepared to take strike, a figure appeared on the horizon, he was in full West Indian gear complete with own bat and dreadlocks streaming. He looked like Richie Richardson, the West Indian legend but Carlton's 8th man was no other than the first teams football assitant Mark Clarke.

White and West got Carlton off to a decent start in this the first game of the new season, but  a disastrous spell of batting by Captain Mick Garton put Carlton on the back foot with cocky exploiting conditions and twice having the Carlton captain stumped for chasing the score .

Rob hit a useful 13 but with John Newton getting a negative and then Danny Marshall also in the minus it was left to Clarkey (Richie Richardson) to get the score into the positive. He scored 27 and the score for MSR was 27.

John Newton opened the bowling for MSR but it was the MSR captain who had batted so badly who dragged Carlton back into the game with a superb spell of bowling conceding just one run in his first over and taking 3 wickets in the 2nd and a run out, Carlton were back on top. Danny Marshall followed with an awesome spell taking 6 wickets without conceding a run. Only Nico was in the positive for the All Stars with Cocky and Pete Bradley who had also bowled well fairing worse than Garton with the bat and with 2 wickets a piece for Rob and Alan and 4 for the oustanding Ian White, further Richardson heroics were not required with the game well won when he came on to bowl the last over. It was the 4thgame for the boys and their 4th win.

They are set to take on Will's All Stars on 15th May as part of Carlton's festival day before the 2nd match in this world series on Friday 20th May.

McGregors Corporate  -33.                                              

Carlton Town 22.

With Danny Marshall and John Newton injured and Greg Last away,Carlton Captain Mick Garton had changes to make.

Back came Mark West and Grant Brindley and there were debuts for Rob Ledwitch,Felix Lighter and Dave was flown in from South Africa after gaining ICC Clearance as the club's overseas player.

McGregors made the worst possible start when Steve was run out off the first ball and struggled to recover as Carlton bowled some decent stuff.

Garton had lost the toss for the 3rd game in row but vice Captain Roome had wanted the oppurtuninty to bowl first and now Carlton had to step up to the plate has Mcgregors elected to bat.

The first pair showed a -5 score with wickets for White and Garton and although Felix and Garton twice went on to miss catches,Carlton remained on top with West again playing a prominent part in bowling two wicket maidens.

Despite the misses,some good catches were taken and South African Dave showed his continental quality with some fine efforts and even Garton and wicket keeper Felix got in on the act with a catch a piece.

McGregor's score of -33 was better than the Arnold Retards managed but less than they would of hoped for and Carlton went into their chase confident.

Garton and Roome had 19 on the board when the Carlton Captain clipped one off his legs to mid wicket and an excellent catch was taken to leave Garton and Roome on just 11 which was in the positive but dissapointing for the experienced openers.

West and White also had to work hard for their runs but West with 11 and White with 15 kept Carlton in the positive before a nervy finish.

Dave who had fielded and bowled superbly struggled with the bat and finished on -12 while Rob contributed 7.

John despite not claiming wickets was the star bowler and both Garton and Ledwitch acknowledged an excellent 2 overs which went for only 3 runs.

Brindley and Lighter were left to see the game home but not without a few scares as Lighter lost the plot!The young star was out twice in succession and then hit a forbidden six for a third dismissal and it was left to Brindley to coach his young prodigee in the final 2 overs to ensure Carlton made it 3 out of 3 wins.

A special mention for Matthew,John and Phil who all had their moments with the bat for McGregor's but Carlton's excellent bowling proved the key to this game with West and White the star performers.

Carlton Town Chairman and Cricket Captain Mick Garton led his team to a comprehensive victory in this the 2nd game of cricket on Carlton's all weather surface and he played a pivotal part along with the outstanding all rounder Ian White,It's a day that the superb sportsman and player that is Dave Fryer will like to erase from his memory.

This game was a six a side contest with each team facing 18 overs and Garton was charged up from the start after comments made by Arnold in the warm up "I hope he's bowling all the time" being one of them, it was a foolish chant and one that came back to haunt the Retards as Garton blasted apart thier middle order with a hatrick.There was a change at the top of the Carlton order with Garton and Roome going in first after being put into bat.Garton stroked his way to a beautiful 29 not out and Roome hit an elegant 14 before slicing one for a catch to reduce his contribution to 4.In fairness it was Roome who made the bigger contribution in the first game and 40 including extras from the first 6 overs gave the big hitting Last and White the platform to build on and build they did!

Last smashed 6 maximums on his way to 51 while White hit 9 maximums out of a score of 63.It was an awesome display of power hitting from the Carlton middle order and Danny Marshall followed that up at the back end with an equally entertaining 46, he also hit 6 maximums but was out once.Newton depite his obvious talent had a bad day with the bat and was out twice finishing with a -4 score which will dissapoint him.

A score of 203 from 18 overs will take some beating at Stoke Lane and the retards were never going to get close.

Garton and Roome opended the bowling for Carlton Town and the golden oldies combined in style once again,Garton the catcher and Roome the bowler as Carlton took their first wicket.

There was a wicket for last and 2 for White as the Retards struglled to respond to the huge Carlton total.Garton fired up by the  banter from Dayne Lowe and Chris Arnold responded the only way he knows by bowling a hatrick,it started with a catch for Marshall before he clean bowled Dave Fryer with an inswinging corker and an excellent Last stumping saw the Carlton captain record his first ever hatrick at the age of 47.

Wickets continued to tumble and despite a late cameo from the impressive Keith who scored the only plus score for the Arnold retards ,the game was long over.

Man of the match White finished with outstanding figures of 6 for 12 while Garton had 5 for 9.

Outstanding indeed and all Carlton's other bowlers chipped in with 2 wickets each.

The banter from the retards was sharp and witty,thier performance on the pitch however was not and they were comprehenisvely dispatched by a well organised Carlton unit.

Big battles lay ahead but the Carlton Town boys will take away their knees,bathe them and in the case of Garton (particually),Last and Roome and come again, we look forward to the next installment.

Some things in cricket are predictable and pass  the test of time, others are not so.

Greg Last launched the ball for 6 in his first over at the crease and then lost his middle stump in the next over.When he bowled,his first ball was a beamer,his third was another beamer and his fourth a wide.Roome shaked his head and looked over at Garton, they didn't need to speak, they both knew that from the playing fields of Standhill Park some 30 years ago, nothing had changed and indeed both had predicted that the flamboyant Last would be both a hero and a liability in equal measure and he didn't left them down, he is pure threatre and that's why they both love him so much!

Roome for his part who has never hit a six in his life, dispatched a six to the one part of the ground that is declared out.You couldn't make it up!

Anyway enough of the sub plots and down to the game.Pep won the toss for the Nottingham Warriors and put Carlton Town into bat.West and Last opened for Carlton and while West struggled to put bat to ball the two went on to get what was actually a decent score in hindsite.

Garton and Roome hit some useful one's and two's as Garton and Roome do but their partnership was hampered by a silly run out and the Roome six that wasn't.

Brindley and Marshall turned the game back Carlton's way with some big hitting while Pep's fielders let him down,dropping a total of five catches in all.

White and Newton finished for Carlton but despite some big hits,they shed wickets with some miss judgements and a total of 33 from the 16 overs looked not nearly enough.

Impressive bowling from the excellent Danny Whetton and Nigel had helped restrict Carlton and Mick Garton and his bowlers would have all on defending the small total.

The Warriers started with a flourish with the otherwise impressive Danny Marshall dropping Whetton from a first ball caught and bowled chance, Whetton made Carlton pay!

Carlton started to peg the warriors back with Garton himself among those who bowled tight overs although the Carlton Captain was devastated when Newton dropped one off his first ball.

The game turned when Mark West came on to bowl the eighth over, he took a superb caught and bowled and the game was back in the balance.

The Warriors needed 11 from the final batch of 4 overs but Carlton kept the pressure on with superb overs from newton and Roome before Grant Brindley really turned the screw with two wickets in his final over.

It wasn't a great day for that great sporting family the Devivo's, Danny dropped 2 catches and Frankie was out 3 times in the crucial last over that sealed the Warriors Fate and left the man who started slowly finishing the man of the match and showed age is no barrier to class,take a bow Mark West!

Credit to Umpire Tim Bee who did a sterling job and to both teams for the excellent spirit the game was played in.

A rematch has already been penciled in for Friday 24th September when Pep Devivo will be hoping to gain revenge, if his lads can take their catches and Cozimo Devivo is available to return, they have every chance.It's fair to say there were a few creaking legs in the Carlton team who must now set there sights on the Arnold retards who they entertain on Sunday 22nd of August at 2pm although they will be without star man Mark West and Garton will be keen to bring in a quality replacement.