🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 20 Aug 1892 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformWDDDD

We won the toss at Town Malling on Saturday last, and I had no hesitation in asking my fellows to bat first — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or foolish depending entirely on what follows, and for once I shall claim the former. The lads went in and, in truth, folded up all out, though G D Hale carried his bat for a splendid unbeaten 26, well supported by W Sutton's 21. Less said the better of G Knight's contribution with the willow — a nought, the walk of shame, and into the Duck Club ledger he duly went.

Called upon to defend, we gave a rather better account of ourselves with the ball, though Town Malling's Captain Stratford made merry with 55, sailing past his fifty in style, ably assisted by E Hoad's 36 and T J Dewe's 33. Some small consolation came in seeing F G Busbridge, H W Stratford and X Brooker all depart for ducks of their own at our hands. G D Hale, having batted so nobly, then did the damage with the ball too — 4 for 0 — with useful support from G Knight and J P Sheather, 2 for 0 apiece.

One footnote for the statisticians: G Knight's 10 runs quietly nudged him past Jack Fryer and into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — small mercies. We were beaten by an innings and -16 runs in the end, a chastening afternoon, but we shall dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Fri 12 Aug 1892 🧢 1st XIv EC Eton Ramblers CC · HomeformLWDDD

Friday 12th August 1892 saw the Eton Ramblers roll up to Linton Park, and having called correctly I had no hesitation in sending us in — the sort of decision that either marks you out as a shrewd tactician or a lucky fool, and on this occasion I'm claiming the former. G J V Weigall set about the Ramblers' bowling with real relish, compiling a magnificent 111, while E C Streatfield (78) and W H Patterson (65) both played handsomely in support. Alas, not every name in the book covered itself in glory — Captain Bowles and S Christopherson both trudged back for ducks, and the less said about that walk of shame the better.

In the field we could not quite finish the job. Bromley-Davenport (85), Mordaunt (79) and Hoare (77) all got in and made merry, each just short of a hundred but plenty enough to keep the Ramblers respectable. Christopherson, perhaps keen to make amends for his own duck, picked up 2 wickets to lead our attack, with Streatfield and Patterson chipping in with one apiece.

There was history made along the way too — Streatfield's 78 lifted him to 4th on the club's all-time run charts, and Christopherson's brace nudged him into 11th among our wicket-takers, while Streatfield continues to lead both the season's run and wicket columns, showing off rather.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force home an advantage. A draw, then — fair enough given the runs on both sides, though I confess I fancied us to nick it.

Wed 10 Aug 1892 🧢 1st XIv FC Free Foresters CC · HomeformTLWDD

Wednesday the tenth of August, and the Free Foresters rolled up to Linton Park in what I can only assume was fine batting weather, because I lost the toss — again — and duly found us in the field. Not that I'm bitter. G W Ricketts made us pay for it in full, compiling a magnificent 147 that had our bowlers rueing every long-hop, with A J Thornton (85 not out) and F G Stenning (30) offering stout support before the innings finally closed. Credit where due: E C Streatfield ran through them to finish with five wickets, ably backed by L M Richards with three and George Champion chipping in with one, or we'd still be out there now.

With the game delicately poised, W H Patterson set about the Foresters' bowling with a superb hundred, 104 of the finest, while Streatfield followed his bowling exploits with a fine 78. F S W Cornwallis added an unbeaten 45, and I contributed a watchful 45 of my own — more graft than grace, but they all count the same in the book.

Speaking of the book, Cornwallis's innings carried him past Arthur Cornwallis to the very top of the club's all-time run-scorers, while Streatfield's five-for lifted him to sixteenth among our wicket-takers. Both men currently head the 1892 charts too — Patterson with 109 runs, Streatfield with 11 wickets — and look in no mood to be caught.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw against opposition of that calibre, with history quietly being rewritten in the home dressing room, feels rather like a victory to me.

Mon 08 Aug 1892 🧢 1st XIv RC Royal Engineers CC · HomeformWTLWD

Monday 08 August 1892, and the Royal Engineers rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, rather cruelly, the toss going their way too. They took first use of the wicket, and we resigned ourselves to a long afternoon in the field.

Long it duly was. E M Blair set about us for a chanceless 74, with A E Turner unbeaten on 41 and M O Tandy chipping in 25 to fill out a total that gave the scorers writer's cramp. Small mercies: F G Guggisberg went for a duck, so we weren't entirely without cheer. The real story, though, was S Christopherson, who turned his arm over to devastating effect and finished with 5 wickets, spinning the Engineers into all manner of trouble. E C Streatfield (3) and D W Carr (2) tidied up admirably in support.

With the bat we replied in kind. F Marchant played the innings of the day, 81 full of application, ably assisted by Captain Hinde (25 not out) and D W Carr (21). Poor Jack Fryer will want to forget his duck entirely, and who could blame him.

Neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A pity for Christopherson, who bowled well enough to win most matches on his own — but a draw against the Engineers, with Marchant and Christopherson both climbing the club's all-time lists in the same afternoon, is no bad way to spend a Monday.