🧢 Captain's Log

Thu 27 Aug 1891 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWTLW

Thursday last, the 27th of August, we had the pleasure of receiving our visitors upon our ground, and the toss falling to me, I did not hesitate to elect for the bat, judging the wicket likely to play kindly before the day was done.

Our innings, taken as a whole, owed its character chiefly to two of our number. Captain F J Fox gave a capital display, standing firm at the wicket for five and twenty runs not out, watchful yet ready to punish anything loose. He found a most able partner in Major L T Spens, whose two and twenty not out at the other end did much to steady our affairs and carry the innings through to its close. Between them they saw off the best that our visitors' trundlers could offer, and it was a pleasure to watch them at their work.

In the end time proved the only victor, for neither side could contrive to force home an advantage, and the match was left drawn, honours shared fairly between the two elevens. I own I had hoped, upon winning the toss, that we might press to a more decided issue, yet a draw honestly come by against opponents who tested us keenly throughout is no mean result, and I thank our visitors for a hard fought and thoroughly sporting afternoon's cricket.

Sat 15 Aug 1891 🧢 1st XIv EC Eton Ramblers CC · HomeformDLWTL

Saturday last, the fifteenth of August, saw Eton Ramblers CC as our guests upon the ground, and a fairer afternoon for the game one could scarcely have wished for. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to take first use of the wicket, a decision that answered handsomely as events proved. Captain H Hamilton gave a captain's lead with a well-made fifty, his 61 the innings' backbone, and he found a willing partner in R H Pemberton, whose 27 added substance to our total. All out we duly were, but not before a solid foundation had been laid for the day's work.

Called upon to defend our total with the ball, our men set about the visitors with a will. J A Gibbs offered the sternest resistance, his 34 the innings' chief contribution, but he found little support, for A C Rock bowled quite splendidly to claim five wickets, ably backed by W H Patterson with three and by Captain Hinde, who took one. The Ramblers were dismissed in their turn, and the match was ours by the margin of 21 runs.

It should not pass unremarked that Captain Hamilton's innings carried him past A M Streatfield into fifth place among the club's run-getters of all time, while Rock's five wickets lifted him above E M Owens into twelfth upon the bowling roll of honour, each fellow now sitting atop the season's charts besides, with 164 runs and 12 wickets respectively to his name this year. A pleasant and profitable afternoon's cricket, and two points thoroughly and deservedly earned.

Wed 12 Aug 1891 🧢 1st XIv FC Free Foresters CC · HomeformWDLWT

Wednesday last, the 12th of August, brought Free Foresters CC to our ground, and having lost the toss we were asked to field. Mr J A Turner gave a truly memorable display, going on to a magnificent century of 106, well supported by Captain Rawlinson with 37 and C L Metcalfe with 34, before their innings at length closed.

Our trundlers acquitted themselves with no little credit in reply. Captain Hinde took four wickets, a performance that carries him past F Garrett into seventeenth place upon the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, while L Friend claimed three and A C Rock one.

Set the task of making the runs, we did not prosper as we had hoped. Captain H Hamilton played a well-made fifty of 55, and F J Richardson gave him sound support with 31, but L Friend and R H Pemberton were each dismissed without troubling the scorers, and our innings closed all out. There was some small consolation for Friend, whose season's tally of 12 has carried him past Captain H Hamilton to ninth upon the club's all-time run-scorers' list.

We were beaten in the end by ten wickets, a margin that leaves no doubt as to our visitors' superiority on the day. I have myself enjoyed some fortune with the bat this season, my 123 runs still heading the eleven's charts, while Captain Hinde's nine wickets keep him at the head of our bowling. We accept the reverse in the spirit the game demands, and shall look to give a better account of ourselves next week.

Mon 10 Aug 1891 🧢 1st XIv RC Royal Engineers CC · HomeformWWDLW

The coin was unkind to us on Monday last, and Royal Engineers CC, electing to bat, took first use of a wicket that, I confess, gave our trundlers every encouragement. C G Burnaby played the innings of the day, 42 runs gathered with real authority, and found willing company in Captain Rice, who made 27, and S L Owen, whose 24 kept the scoring board turning. Yet our attack was not to be denied. Captain Hinde bowled with admirable venom to return figures of 4 for 0, Captain H Hamilton lent stout support with 2 for 0, and A C Rock chipped in with a wicket of his own. Captain Rawson and Captain L Friend, for all their gallantry, were both sent back without troubling the scorers, and the visitors' innings closed all out.

Our reply owed most to A C Rock, whose 38 was a capital knock, and to S Christopherson, whose watchful 29 steadied matters considerably. L M Richards, less fortunate, departed for nought. I was glad to contribute 25 of my own, a knock which, I am told, carries me past W H Fryer into second place upon the club's all-time list of run-scorers, a small honour I mention only in passing, and which leaves me, this season, at the head of our run charts with 97, with Rock himself well placed among the wicket-takers on 6.

The match, remarkably, ended level, and I do not think either side would have wished it otherwise, so evenly was the contest fought throughout.

Sat 04 Jul 1891 🧢 1st XIv SS Sutton Valence School · HomeformLWWDL

It was a fine morning at Linton Park on Saturday the fourth of July when we welcomed Sutton Valence School to the ground, and having called correctly I did not hesitate to take first use of the wicket. Our innings owed much to a sound beginning and steady application throughout, though not every man found his form, poor Fryer being sent back without troubling the scorers. I was fortunate enough to find the middle of the bat and carried my score to 72, and was well supported by G Knight, who reached a most creditable 61, and by George Champion, whose 33 gave the innings further substance.

Sutton Valence replied with spirit, and Lushington played an innings of real quality, his 104 a superb effort that for a time threatened to carry the day, ably assisted by Hunt's well-made 84 and Hunting's useful 22. Yet our attack held its nerve. Chambers bowled quite beautifully for his 5 for 25, five maidens among them, while the Reverend Burra claimed three wickets without cost and Champion chipped in with one, and Perks, Bennett and Hemingway all departed for nought.

When the reckoning was made we had prevailed by 13 runs, a narrow margin that spoke well of our visitors' fight. A satisfying afternoon's cricket, and one I record with considerable pleasure on behalf of the eleven.

Sat 27 Jun 1891 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton CC · AwayformLLWWD

On Saturday last, the 27th of June, we journeyed to Hunton to try our fortunes against the eleven of that parish. Winning the toss, I chose to take the ball first, and our trundlers set about their work with a will. Hunton were all out in due course, though not before T Hards had played a most capital knock of 24, well supported by C Hobbs with 23. Dr Smart and J Foord, however, found little joy at the wicket, each departing without troubling the scorer. The chief honours of the day belonged to G Hurn, who bowled with such devastating accuracy as to return figures of six wickets for none, ably assisted by F Bowles with two and H Cole with one.

Our reply, alas, did not match the promise of our bowling. E Fryer carried the innings with a fine 21, but the remainder of the order fared poorly, F Danells, S Ruck and I myself all being sent back without scoring, my own contribution being a duck of the golden variety, a captain's lead by example I should have preferred to give in some other fashion.

There was, nonetheless, cause for quiet satisfaction, for Hurn's fine performance carries him past J C Crawford to twenty-fifth upon the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, and he stands also at the head of this season's bowling, as E Fryer does of the batting. We were beaten in the end by 26 runs, a margin our visitors deserved on the day's play, and we return to Linton Park resolved to be better for the lesson.