🧢 Captain's Log

Wed 04 Aug 1869 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformLLWLW

Wednesday 4th August 1869 saw us make the trip to Horsmonden CC, where I lost the toss and duly found us stuck in the field first — never the outcome one hopes for, but the lads set about it with real purpose. Horsmonden simply couldn't cope: T Lambert and their own captain, Bayley, both trudged back for ducks, while young W H Fryer span an absolute web around them, finishing with a scarcely believable 6-0. The Crawford brothers pitched in nicely too, F F and J C each claiming a wicket apiece, and the home side were skittled for nought.

Batting must have felt like a formality after that, though F F Crawford still had to do the graft, compiling a watchful 41 not out, well supported by his brother J C with 29. I chipped in with 41 of my own, and between us we bowled Horsmonden out for a second time without troubling the scorers further — though spare a thought for Fryer, Goad and Plomley, who all made the long walk back for ducks of their own in our innings; the Duck Club ledger swells apace.

Notable milestones abounded: J T Amies's 10 runs lifted him to 4th on the all-time run charts, while Fryer's heroics with the ball took him past T Gandy to 1st on the all-time wicket-takers' list — a fine day for the history books as well as the scorebook.

Won by an innings and 9 runs, and two points banked. A thoroughly satisfactory Wednesday's work, all told.

Tue 20 Jul 1869 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformLLLWL

Tuesday last, 20 July 1869, saw Horsmonden CC come calling at Linton Park, and it was they who called correctly — the toss went their way and we were asked to chase. No matter: we had first use of the ball, and how we used it. G Sawyer, T Lambert and W Sawyer trooped back without so much as troubling the scorers, undone by an inspired E M Owens, who ran quite riot with five wickets for none, well supported by C Amies with two more. Horsmonden's innings closed for nought, a collapse as complete as any I have witnessed from the captain's chair.

Our reply, alas, proved no more distinguished. X Bowles battled to 27, the innings' top score, with W H Fryer a fine second on 21, but around them the middle order surrendered meekly — C Amies, E M Owens and G Hodsoll each contributing a golden nothing. As for your captain, I can offer no sermon on leading by example today: a golden blob was my own contribution, out without scoring off the very first ball. Do as I say, gentlemen, not as I do.

There was, at least, cause for quiet pride amid the wreckage: Fryer's 21 lifts him past T Gandy into second on the club's all-time run-charts, while Amies's eight wickets carry him past Fryer himself into third among our wicket-takers. Up in the season's table, A Startup leads the run-getters with 36, and Amies now tops the bowling with 16.

A curious afternoon, then, but a fine one where it mattered: victory by an innings and 10 runs. Onwards.

Sat 10 Jul 1869 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLLLW

Saturday the tenth of July, and having called correctly at the toss, I did what any captain worth his salt does on a decent morning – I stuck us in to bat without a moment's hesitation. It would be flattering us to call the effort at the crease a triumph. J Amies, A Startup and H Kemp all trudged back for ducks, and there was a general sense that the bat had been left in the pavilion by half the order. Still, we had runs enough to defend, chiefly thanks to W Goad's watchful 21 – a knock that, rather marvellously, sailed him past T Gandy and into first place on the club's all-time run-scorers' list. Not a bad afternoon's work for a man merely trying to see off the new ball.

With ball in hand we were rather more ourselves. L Barker, D Wood and H Tyrell all departed without so much as a run to their name, and T Gandy ran thoroughly amok, returning 6 for 0 in a spell that bordered on the indecent. C Amies chipped in handsomely with 4 for 0, and I permitted myself a quiet smile over my own four wickets. Gandy's efforts also carried him past J Woollett to the top of the club's all-time wicket-taking charts – history made between overs, as it were.

For all that, they got home by five wickets, and we were left to reflect, over tea, that bowling like champions counts for little if the bat won't cooperate. We'll be better for it next week.