🧢 Captain's Log

Mon 01 Aug 1898 🧢 1st XIv RC Rochester CC · HomeformLLLDW

It fell to me to call correctly at the toss on Monday, the first of August, and finding the pitch to my liking I elected that we should bat first against our visitors, Rochester CC.

Our innings owed much to H G Smith, whose watchful 38 anchored the order and set a fine example to those who followed. I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, adding 36, while B W Haynes played his part with a useful 25. The extras column, swelled to 34, was not perhaps a source of pride, though it did no harm to the total we left our opponents to chase.

In the field the boot was soon on the other foot, for Rochester's batsmen settled in with real purpose. F M Atkins played a fine innings of 71, and E J Moon followed him past his half-century with 65 of his own, while O Tritton remained undefeated on 58 at the close. Our attack was not without its moments, however — H Newsome was sent back without troubling the scorers, and I had the satisfaction of taking four wickets myself, with J N Tonge accounting for another. It was, I might add, a fair season's work with the ball to date.

In the end our visitors proved the stronger side, running out winners by five wickets. A disappointment, certainly, but no disgrace against batting of that quality, and we return to the nets none the worse for the lesson.

Sat 23 Jul 1898 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLLLLD

Saturday last found Town Malling CC our guests upon the ground, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in choosing to take first strike upon a wicket that promised well for batsmen prepared to play a straight bat. Ernest Cruttenden gave us the foundation with a well-made fifty, going on to 73 in fine style, and found capable company in F Smith, who made 44, and H W Smith, whose 41 was scarcely less valuable. Only poor C N Watney had cause for regret, departing without troubling the scorer, but the innings as a whole did our fellows much credit.

Called upon to defend our total, our trundlers went to work with a will. Town Malling's innings was built almost entirely about the admirable resistance of T J Dewe, who carried his bat for 96 in a knock of real quality, assisted by W Cheale with 31 and X Humphreys with 23. Yet our attack sported a good length throughout, and W Cole, F G Busbridge and F Longhurst were each sent back to the pavilion without scoring, a testament to the discipline of our bowling. I confess to no small satisfaction in the part I was able to play in that effort myself.

We emerged victorious by 80 runs, a margin as pleasing as it was hard-earned. I might add, not without pride, that Cruttenden's splendid 73 carried him past J N Tonge to fifth upon the club's all-time list of run-scorers, and leaves him at the head of this season's averages with 126 runs to his name. Town Malling proved sporting opponents throughout, and I trust they will grant us the return fixture with as good grace as they showed us upon this occasion.

Sat 16 Jul 1898 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformWLLLL

Saturday last, the sixteenth of July, we had the pleasure of welcoming Yalding to our ground, and the toss falling to me I did not hesitate in electing to take first use of the wicket, the weather and pitch both seeming to favour the willow.

Our innings, when it closed, owed most to J N Tonge, whose fine half-century, carried on to ninety-three, was a capital knock indeed and stood as the backbone of the total. I was glad to lend what support I could with forty-seven, and Arthur Cornwallis batted soundly for thirty-seven, while our opponents' trundlers were made to yield a generous fifty-three in extras besides. It was, I am told, an innings of some historical note for Tonge, his ninety-three carrying him past Ernest Cruttenden to fifth place among the club's run-getters of all time.

In the field we set about defending our total with good heart. Yalding replied gamely, S Mendel top-scoring with a well-made fifty-one, well supported by A W Reid with thirty-seven and H T Manwaring with thirty-three. It was Tonge again who did the damage with the ball, three wickets falling to him and lifting him, too, past Tom Peach Snr into eighth place among our bowlers of old, while W H Forshaw and George Champion lent able assistance with two and one respectively, Champion continuing withal to lead our bowling for the season.

Neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A drawn match, and no discredit to either eleven.

Sat 18 Jun 1898 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformDWLLL

Skipper's log, Saturday the 18th of June, 1898. We journeyed to Yalding for the fixture, and ill fortune came before ever a ball was bowled, for I lost the toss and our hosts chose first to take the willow.

They made a solid fist of it. The Reverend J R Leigh played a truly capital knock of a hundred, three figures earning him the chief credit of the day, and he found sound company in G A T Salmon, who made 49, and the Reverend R C Salmon, who contributed 36. Our attack was not without its own small triumphs, however, for both G T Tomkin and F Reeves were sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer, a fair reward for some tidy bowling on a pitch that gave little enough away.

When our turn came at the wicket the story went rather against us. Ernest Cruttenden batted with good sense and made the runs that mattered for our side, while poor B W Haynes endured the walk of shame for a duck, a fate that comes to every cricketer sooner or later and ought not weigh too heavily upon him. There was, at least, a note of private satisfaction in Cruttenden's form this season, his runs having carried him past A W Fulcher to sixth upon the club's all time list, and Jack Fryer continues to lead our run charts for the year.

In the end our opponents proved comfortably the better side, the match going against us by an innings and 127 runs. A sound thrashing, honestly earned by Yalding, and nothing for it now but heads up and back to the nets.

Wed 15 Jun 1898 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLDWLL

Wednesday, the fifteenth of June 1898, brought Headcorn Cricket Club to us as visitors upon a fair day, and the toss going against us, our opponents chose to take first knock. In the field our men set to with a will, and the ball turned kindly for me, so that I went through their order for seven wickets without a run scored off me, F E Wallis and D H Kennard each chipping in with one apiece. Yet Headcorn were not without their runs, R T Caesar and G Knight each compiling a sound 42, with H S Grant close behind on 38, and their total, when all was told, proved enough to trouble us.

Our own innings closed in turn without matching their score. Jack Fryer played a capital knock of 44, the backbone of our reply, and I was glad to add 32 in support. Poor A J Smith's day ended for a duck, a blot upon an otherwise honest card. I might record, too, that Ernest Cruttenden's useful 9 carried him past G Knight and into seventh place among the club's run-getters of all time, a cheering note on a disappointing afternoon, while my season's figures now stand at 60 runs and 12 wickets, leading both tables for the 1898 first eleven.

We were beaten in the end by 24 runs, fairly won by our visitors, and no disgrace in the losing of it. We shall look to sharper work at the wicket next week, and think ourselves the better for the lesson.

Mon 06 Jun 1898 🧢 1st XIv BC Brenchley CC · AwayformLLDWL

On Monday last, the sixth of June, we journeyed to Brenchley to try our fortunes against their eleven, and I must confess the toss went against us, our opponents electing that we should chase. Nothing loath, we had first use of the leather, and our bowlers set about their task with a will. I am glad to record that I found my length early, taking five wickets without conceding a run, well supported by F E Wallis and W L Hubble, each claiming a wicket apiece. W B Philpott, of Brenchley, departed without troubling the scorer, but thereafter W Hodges played a fine and patient innings of 73, the backbone of their total, ably assisted by W Marchant with 44 and A Hodges with 23, and it was upon these scores that our opponents built a total we were destined not to overhaul.

When our turn came to the wicket, fortune again proved unkind. I contributed 28 to the cause, and Ernest Cruttenden's useful four runs carried him past J N Tonge into eighth place among the club's run-scorers of all time, a small cause for satisfaction even amid a disappointing afternoon. F Smith, I am sorry to say, departed without troubling the scorers, and our innings could not withstand the steady bowling ranged against it, closing with us beaten by 106 runs.

It was a chastening reverse, and Brenchley are to be heartily congratulated on a performance thoroughly deserving of victory. We return home a wiser eleven, and shall look to acquit ourselves rather better when next the two sides meet.

Sat 04 Jun 1898 🧢 1st XIv SS Sutton Valence School · HomeformWLLDW

On Saturday, the fourth of June, we welcomed Sutton Valence School to Linton Park, and I confess the toss went against us, so that we took the field first while our visitors had the pleasure of the willow.

Their innings gave us plenty to occupy our attention. Rev R E Lewis played a well-made fifty of 81, and was ably supported by T E Wilson, who compiled a similarly handsome 79, while H W Hunting chipped in with 45. Our bowling, however, was not without its moments of glory, for J H S Valpy was sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. W L Hubble led our attack with figures of three wickets, bowled with admirable steadiness, and I was pleased to lend a hand myself, taking two wickets, as did Arthur Cornwallis.

When our turn came to bat in reply, fortune was less kind. C S Smith and C Marsh were each dismissed without scoring, though I was able to contribute 18 to our total, the best of a disappointing effort. One bright note amid the gloom was M A Atkins, whose seven runs carried him past G Kemp into eighteenth place upon the club's all-time list of run-scorers, a small but welcome milestone.

We were beaten in the end by 231 runs, a margin that leaves no room for pretence. Sutton Valence School played the finer cricket throughout, and deserve every credit for it. We shall return to the nets with good heart, and trust for better fortune another day.