🧢 Captain's Log

Wed 17 Aug 1881 🧢 1st XIv SD 1st Innings Leeds Nil Desperandum · AwayformWWLWL

Wednesday, the seventeenth of August, saw us away at 1st Innings Leeds Nil Desperandum, and the toss falling our way we took first use of the ball. Our trundlers bowled with good effect, though X Cornwallis Esq stood firm for a capital thirty. G Sedgwick was in excellent form, returning four wickets without cost, well supported by Jack Fryer with two and, I may say, one falling to my own bowling. Between us we sent G Goodwin, A Hollands and H Crallan back to the pavilion without a run to their name, and their innings closed before long.

Alas, our own turn at the wicket brought little cheer. Jack Fryer, A Startup and W H Fryer were each dismissed without scoring, and our whole side was soon back in the pavilion, our opponents' total proving beyond us. It was a disappointing display with the willow after so promising a showing in the field, and we were beaten by twenty-six runs.

The day was not without its small satisfactions, however. Ernest Cruttenden's six runs carried him past H Freed into seventh place among the club's run-scorers of all time, while G Sedgwick's four wickets lifted him past F Garrett into twelfth among our leading wicket-takers. In the season's reckoning W H Fryer continues to head our run-getters with sixty-one, and Jack Fryer leads the wicket-takers with thirty-six.

We were fairly beaten, and our opponents deserved their victory. There was much in our bowling to encourage us, and I trust our batsmen will find their form before we meet again.

Wed 20 Jul 1881 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Boxley CC · HomeformWWWLW

Wednesday last, the twentieth of July, found us at home to 1st Innings Boxley CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in sending our men in first, the wicket appearing kindly disposed to the willow.

Our innings owed much to F Warde, who fashioned a capital thirty-eight, and to W T Court, whose thirty-two runs, besides being handsomely made, carried him past J T Amies to fifth place upon the club's roll of run-scorers, an honour he wears with becoming modesty. Not every man found fortune at the wicket, and J Sedgwick, I am sorry to relate, was sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Our visitors' reply produced a useful knock from F Atkins, who made twenty-two, but our bowling held sway throughout. H Freed trundled with rare venom, taking seven wickets without conceding a run, and thereby passed W H Fryer to stand first among the club's wicket-takers of all time, his season's tally now eleven. F Warde, not content with his runs, lent his arm to good effect and claimed three wickets for none, while A G Mannering and C F Foster were both despatched without scoring.

I may note, too, that our season's charts continue to make pleasant reading, Ernest Cruttenden lying second with forty-four runs, and H Freed likewise second in the wicket-taking with four-and-twenty.

For all that, our opponents' total proved the larger, and we went down by fifty-nine runs. A chastening afternoon, yet the eleven's spirit remains undimmed, and I trust we shall give a better account of ourselves next we meet.

Wed 06 Jul 1881 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Collier Street CC · HomeformLWWWL

On Wednesday last, the sixth of July, we entertained Collier Street CC upon our ground, and by good fortune of the toss I chose to send our visitors first to the wicket. It proved a shrewd beginning, for our trundlers found the pitch entirely to their liking. Three of their number, F Laurence, T B Jackson and A Pettett, returned to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and the innings was soon brought to a close. The chief honours of the day fell deservedly to Jack Fryer, whose eight overs yielded a five-for of the finest quality, well supported by W H Fryer and G Sedgwick, each claiming a wicket for his pains.

Our own innings was not without its blemishes, for G Sedgwick, F Danells and J Sedgwick each fell without scoring, and there were moments when our position seemed less than assured. Yet our men rallied where it mattered, and steady heads carried us home by four wickets, a result I count thoroughly earned rather than fortunate.

The day was not without its quieter distinctions. Ernest Cruttenden's four runs carried him past H Freed to twelfth upon the club's roll of run-scorers, while Jack Fryer's thirteen wickets lifted him past the same gentleman into second place among our wicket-takers, a fine achievement recorded with proper pride. Fryer's bowling this season continues to prosper, and W H Fryer's run-getting keeps him at the head of our charts, honours that reflect great credit upon both.

Two points to Linton Park, and I daresay our visitors will find sterner opposition harder to come by this season.

Wed 22 Jun 1881 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Boxley CC · AwayformLLWWW

Wednesday last, the twenty-second of June, saw us away to Boxley CC for the first innings of what promised a keenly contested affair, and so indeed it proved. Winning the toss, I put our opponents in, and our trundlers made handsome work of the order. H Freed was in unplayable form, spinning through their batting for figures of seven wickets for none, and found capital support from Jack Fryer, who claimed three for none himself. C W Battiscombe, P Tootell and W Foord were each sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and Boxley's innings closed in some disarray.

Our own turn at the wicket was not without its trials. W H Fryer, X Carter and J Mallard each fell for a duck, a blot upon an otherwise creditable card, though H Freed batted soundly for twenty-four runs, a knock which carried him past H Hammond into twelfth place among the club's all-time run-scorers, and crowned a fine season of bowling that has now taken him past T Gandy into second on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers. In the season's own reckoning, W H Fryer continues to lead our run-scorers with thirty-eight, and Jack Fryer sits atop the wicket charts with fifteen.

In the end we were beaten by six runs, a margin narrow enough to sting yet too honest to grumble at. Boxley CC played the better cricket on the day, and deserved their victory fairly won. We shall return, I trust, the wiser and the readier for it.

Wed 15 Jun 1881 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Collier Street CC · AwayformWLLWW

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 15 June 1881

We travelled to face 1st Innings Collier Street CC in fair spirits, and upon losing the toss found ourselves first afield, a task our men took up without complaint. Our opponents were dismissed for their all out total, C Martin alone giving the innings any substance with a top score of 36, capital enough in the circumstances. T B Jackson, S Stanley and X Tompsett were each sent back without troubling the scorer, and it must be said our attack sported a good length throughout. The honours of the day belonged unmistakably to Jack Fryer, whose figures of five wickets for none were as fine a piece of trundling as one could wish to witness, and richly deserved. He was well supported by W H Fryer, who claimed two, and J Gurney, who took one.

Our own innings, I am bound to record, was a chastening affair, the whole side being dismissed for none. F Danells, C Fryer and I myself were each dismissed without scoring, and of my own contribution the less said the better — we shall draw a veil over it. Yet cricket has a way of rewarding perseverance over polish, and our remaining batsmen steadied the ship sufficiently to carry us home by two wickets, a result rather more comfortable on the scorecard than it felt at the crease.

It was, besides, a notable afternoon for the club's records, W H Fryer's runs and Jack Fryer's wickets each advancing their names upon our historical lists. Our visitors bowled and fielded with good grace throughout, and though the margin was narrow, I count it a thoroughly good day for the club.