🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 22 Aug 1896 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Maidstone CC · AwayformDWWLW

On Saturday last, the twenty-second of August, our road took us to Maidstone, where the honour of first use of the ball fell to us. Our trundlers set about their work in capital style, sending back J H Hobbs and E Larder without troubling the scorer, each departing for a duck. H G Smith bowled with rare authority that afternoon, returning figures of six wickets without cost, ably supported by J Edmonds with three and S Smith with one, and our visitors were all out before they had properly settled to the crease.

Our own innings, I am sorry to relate, proved a chastening affair, for we too were dismissed, S Smith, W Edwards and D H Kennard all falling without troubling the scorers. I was fortunate enough to contribute fifteen to our total, though it did not prove sufficient to see us to safety.

There is, all the same, cause for quiet satisfaction in H G Smith's performance, his six wickets carrying him past F Garrett to twenty-fifth place upon the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, an honour fairly earned. For my own part the season proceeds tolerably, my name standing fourth in the run charts with one hundred and fifty-one runs, and third among the bowlers with sixteen wickets taken.

In the end Maidstone had the better of us by forty-three runs, and we must own the defeat honestly earned, our visitors holding their nerve when it mattered most. We return to the nets this week with heads unbowed, resolved to meet our next opponents in better order.

Mon 03 Aug 1896 🧢 1st XIv RC Rochester CC · HomeformDDWWL

Monday, the third of August, brought Rochester Cricket Club to Linton Park in good spirits, and the coin having gone against us, we were asked to take the field first. Rochester's innings owed most to Cooper, who batted with fine application to pass his fifty and go on to 80, ably supported by Arnold, whose 73 was itself a handsome half-century, and by Goldie, who added a useful 29. Baker, I am sorry to record on the visitors' behalf, departed without troubling the scorers. Tonge and McAlpine bowled with real venom, each claiming three wickets without cost, and I was fortunate enough to enjoy like success myself, taking three for none, which I set down only in passing.

When our turn came at the wicket, Cornwallis gave a truly magnificent display, striking a century of 116 that carried us handsomely toward our target, and finding a worthy partner in Tonge, whose well-made 76 was no small thing besides. Between the two of them the greater part of the work was done, and we came home winners by three wickets, a result thoroughly and fairly earned.

I may add, for the club's records, that Cornwallis's splendid century carries him to the very head of our all-time run-scorers, past F S W Cornwallis, while my own modest bowling has lifted me to third among our wicket-takers, past W H Fryer, and leaves me, for the present season, at the head of both the run and wicket charts of the first eleven. Rochester played the game in the finest spirit throughout, and we were glad of two well-contested points.

Wed 29 Jul 1896 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLDDWW

On Wednesday, the twenty-ninth of July, we journeyed away to meet Headcorn, and fortune sided against us before a ball was bowled, for the toss went against me and our hosts chose to take first use of the willow. Nothing daunted, our men set to their task in the field, and though the home batsmen found some early comfort, they were made to work honestly for their runs. A Corlett led their reply with a capital 24, well supported by W A Briscoe's 23 and G Knight's 21, while elsewhere our bowling asked searching questions of the Headcorn order, F Newton among those sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer. The ball turned agreeably for me that afternoon, and I was fortunate to close their innings with seven wickets to my name, while Tom Peach Snr bowled with rare persistence for three, a performance that carries him past T Gandy into sixth place among the club's wicket-takers of all time, a distinction thoroughly earned.

Our own turn at the wicket proved a more chastening affair. Ernest Cruttenden, S Smith and H L Andrews were each dismissed without scoring, and though others of our number laboured manfully, we could not muster the runs required, and Headcorn ran out winners by seven wickets. It was no disgrace to be beaten by a side that played with such spirit, and our fellows will, I trust, be the sharper for the lesson when next we take the field.

Wed 22 Jul 1896 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone CC · HomeformWLDDW

We had the pleasure of welcoming Maidstone Cricket Club to our ground on Wednesday, the twenty-second of July, and I elected to send our visitors in first. Rev Thomas Burra bowled quite beautifully, taking seven wickets without a run scored off him, a spell as fine as any our ground has witnessed, while J E Jones and Rev J C Wilson lent useful support with two wickets and one respectively. H Waghorn, F E Wallis and W T Cox were each sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, though H A Hughes made a capital 39, and F E Hughes with 34 and F Barton with 22 gave the visitors some substance before the innings closed.

Taking up the willow ourselves, we owed a great debt to Jack Fryer, whose innings of 96 was as handsome a knock as one could wish to see, and to Ernest Cruttenden, whose 44 gave it excellent company, with J E Jones adding a useful 28. Only W Edwards fell without scoring, a small blot upon an otherwise creditable card. It was remarked afterwards that Mr Fryer's innings had carried him past W H Fryer into fifth place among the club's run-getters of all time, and that Rev Burra's seven wickets had taken him past Walter Wright into eleventh place among our historic wicket-takers, no small feat for either gentleman, and fitting testimony to a fine season, in which Mr Fryer now stands third in our run charts for the year and Rev Burra second among the bowlers.

We got home by three wickets, a margin narrow enough to keep the pulse quickening to the last ball, and I count it a thoroughly good day for the club, Maidstone proving opponents as sporting as they were skilful.

Tue 21 Jul 1896 🧢 1st XIv RC Royal West Kent Regiment CC · AwayformLWLDD

The toss fell to me, and with the sky set fair I had no hesitation in sending our fellows in first upon the Royal West Kent Regiment ground, that Tuesday the twenty-first of July.

We batted with credit throughout. A W Fulcher gave us the finest start with a capital knock of forty-seven, and he was well supported by George Champion, who made thirty-nine, and by M A Streatfield, undefeated on thirty-seven at the close of the innings. Not every man found his form, poor H W Smith among them, dismissed without troubling the scorers, but the innings as a whole did us proud before our men were all dismissed.

In reply our opponents found the going a good deal harder. P M Robinson batted soundly for twenty-three, and Private Guichard made twenty, but three of their number, T P C Smith, Colour-Sergeant Audsley and Major Daniell, were sent back to the pavilion without scoring. The honours of the day belonged to George Champion, whose trundling accounted for six wickets without the concession of a single run, a spell as fine as any I have witnessed on that ground, while K McAlpine and L Friend took two apiece, also without cost. I permitted myself a small contribution of twenty-five runs, which I confess gave me particular satisfaction, coming as it did in company with Champion's fine bowling.

We came away victors by one hundred and twenty-five runs, a result as handsome as it was hard-earned, and I thank our visitors for a contest played throughout in the best of spirits.

Sat 11 Jul 1896 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Conservative Club CC · HomeformDLWLD

We had the good fortune of the toss on Saturday last, the 11th of July, when Maidstone Conservative Club CC came to us at home, and I did not hesitate to send our men in first, judging the wicket fit for batting. It proved a sound decision, for our innings owed a great deal to a capital knock from my own bat, and though I say it with some diffidence, I remained at the wicket when the innings closed, having made 180 not out. The Reverend J C Wilson gave sterling support with 49, and Ernest Cruttenden added a useful 21, so that between us we set our visitors a target worthy of respect.

In the field our trundlers were in good order. P J Lampard batted with the most credit for the visitors, top-scoring with 30, while A J How stood firm for 26 not out and H Goodban made 23. Yet our attack had its say too, and E J Waterman and W T Beeching were both sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I was glad to account for two wickets myself, and was well supported by Jack Fryer and J E Jones, each likewise claiming a brace.

It was gratifying to learn afterwards that my 180 had carried me past E C Streatfield into third place among the club's run-getters of all time, and the season finds me for the present at the head of both the run-scoring and the wicket-taking for the first eleven. For all that, neither side could force home the advantage that Saturday, and the match ended in a draw, honours shared and, I think, fairly earned by both elevens.

Mon 29 Jun 1896 🧢 1st XIv HX H Wilson-Smith XI · HomeformLDLWL

On Monday last, the 29th of June, we welcomed Mr H Wilson-Smith's eleven to our ground, and a pleasant day's cricket resulted, honours shared between the sides.

Taking first strike, our men acquitted themselves creditably at the wicket. G Marshall led the way with a fine half-century of 74, and was well supported by George Champion, whose well-made fifty realised 58, and by Arthur Cornwallis, who contributed a sound 46. For my own part I added 31 to the total, a knock which I am told carries the modest distinction of placing me first upon the club's all-time list of run-getters, ahead even of Arthur Cornwallis himself, though I set little store by such matters beside the fortunes of the eleven. G M Style and A L Woodhouse were less fortunate, each returning to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

In the field we found our visitors a harder proposition, the Reverend G Lachlan playing a superb and unbeaten innings of 103, ably assisted by W L H Roberts with 41 and W Marchant, not out 24. George Champion again did excellent service with the ball, taking two wickets without cost, while R Upcher and G Marshall each claimed a wicket apiece.

Neither side could force the issue before the close, and the match was left drawn, a fair result upon a day when both elevens showed cricket of a most agreeable character.

Sat 27 Jun 1896 🧢 1st XIv SS Sutton Valence School · HomeformDLDLW

Saturday last, the 27th of June, brought Sutton Valence School to Linton Park for a fixture played in a spirit of good sport throughout. The toss went against us, and we were asked to take the field first, a duty our men undertook with good cheer. The Reverend J C Wilson batted with judgment for 38, well supported by Mr X Cowles with 30, before George Champion turned his arm over to devastating effect, taking five wickets for none, a spell as fine as any seen at Linton Park this season. The Reverend Thomas Burra chipped in with three wickets and R Upcher claimed one, and in due course the visitors' innings was brought to a close.

In reply, G Knight played the innings of the day with 35, George Champion followed his bowling with a capital 26 with the willow, and B W Haynes added a useful 20. For my own part, I confess to a blank sheet at the wicket, a small mortification I shall not dwell upon further. The day was not without its milestones, for Champion's runs carried him past Mr H Vaughton to ninth place among the club's run-scorers of all time, while his five wickets lifted him past Mr S Christopherson into fifth among its wicket-takers, and his season's haul of ten wickets now stands unrivalled in this year's charts, with Knight himself lying third among this summer's run-getters.

In the end we fell short by eight runs, a narrow and honourable defeat at the hands of a sporting side, and one from which our men shall, I have every confidence, return the stronger.

Wed 13 May 1896 🧢 1st XIv RC Royal West Kent Regiment CC · HomeformWDLDL

On Wednesday the thirteenth of May, in the year 1896, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Royal West Kent Regiment to our ground, and by the toss it fell to us to take the field first.

Our visitors made an uncertain start, losing an early wicket with nothing yet on the board. Yet R Grant, batting with real authority, carried his score to 65, well past his fifty, and found a stout ally in M P Buckle, whose 31 helped forge a partnership of some ninety-five runs for the second wicket that steadied their innings. S D Barrow and Private Howden were less fortunate, both returning to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. George Champion commanded the day with the ball, spinning through their order for five wickets, well supported by Arthur Cornwallis with three and S Mendel with one.

In our own innings A W Fulcher led the way most handsomely with 87, a well-made fifty and more, and was ably seconded by P Blencowe with 83, himself past the half-century, while S Mendel again rendered good service with 31. X Gilbert, less happily, departed for nought. Between them our men saw us safely over the line.

I might add that George Champion's afternoon was a notable one for the club's records, his runs and his wickets each carrying him further up our all-time lists. It was, in all, a thoroughly good day for the club, and our visitors proved opponents as sporting as they were determined.