🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 16 Aug 1902 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformLLLWL

We won the toss at Yalding and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision that flattered me handsomely as things turned out. H G Smith played the innings of the day, 77 of the finest, with W E H Hills nudging past his own half-century and Ernest Cruttenden weighing in with a stout 41 to give the total real substance. Not every man could get among the runs, mind — W Peach and P R Burton both departed for ducks, proof if any were needed that cricket remains a game of humbling variety even on a good day for the club.

Out in the field we set about the Yalding batting with real purpose. F Reeves battled to 35, G a T Salmon made 31 and H T Manwaring finished unbeaten on 28, but there was precious little support beyond them — F R Allsop, W L Hubble and E Wilkins all trooped back without so much as a run to their names. George Champion was quite magnificent, running through the order to claim five wickets, with Ernest Cruttenden and H G Smith chipping in with three and two apiece to finish the job in style.

A word too for the record books: Cruttenden's runs and wickets both saw him leapfrog club stalwarts into the top ten of the all-time lists, while Smith continues his fine season with the bat and ball alike. We ran out winners by 99 runs — a proper thumping, and a very good day indeed for Linton Park.

Sat 19 Jul 1902 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLLLW

Saturday last saw us on the road, with not a great deal to report on the venue beyond the fact that we got there. Winning the toss, I rather fancied batting first, a decision I stand by. Rev F A Leveson-Gower gave us the sort of innings the tea urn deserves, 62 full of certainty, with P R Burton (40) and Ernest Cruttenden (24) lending sturdy support. Less said the better about F M Hills and A T Benning, who both contrived the walk of shame for a duck apiece — the ledger does not lie, even if I'd rather it did.

In the field we set about defending our total with intent. L Caldecott made a determined 53 for the opposition, but around him the innings crumbled agreeably, with A G Mannering, W Patrick and J Paddle all departing for ducks courtesy of our attack. The day, however, belonged entirely to H G Smith, whose 8-0 was a five-for of the highest quality and thoroughly deserved; Rev F A Leveson-Gower chipped in admirably with 2-0. I permitted myself a quiet satisfaction at having led from the front with the bat.

Of note beyond the scorecard: Smith's eight wickets carry him past S Christopherson into 7th on the club's all-time list, while in the 1902 charts the Reverend leads the run-scoring and Smith the wickets — form to be proud of, even in defeat. We fell in the end by 107 runs. A hiding, no question, but one from which — with Smith bowling like that — we'll surely be the better.

Wed 09 Jul 1902 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformWLLLL

It was Town Malling CC who came calling at home on Wednesday 09 July 1902, and having won the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does when the sun's out and the tea urn's on — I put us in to bat. Turned out rather well. Walter played the innings of the day, 92 that had the boundary boards rattling, with George Champion right alongside him on 70 and the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower chipping in a tidy 40. Not every man's afternoon was so kind — poor F E Wallis departed for a duck, and I dare say he'll hear about it in the bar before I've finished writing this.

With runs in the bank we turned to the serious business of bowling them out, and here Champion simply would not be denied — 7 wickets for the innings, a five-for and thoroughly deserved, with the Reverend adding three more of his own for good measure. I managed a modest 40 with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball, which I shall claim as a captain's all-round contribution and say no more about. Whitehead's 24, Busbridge's unbeaten 22 and Arnold's 20 were the best Town Malling could muster against that lot.

A word too for Ernest Cruttenden, whose 12 runs quietly nudged him past J N Tonge into fifth on the club's all-time run charts — the sort of milestone that deserves rather more fanfare than a scorebook entry.

We ran out winners by 129 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

Wed 11 Jun 1902 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformLWLLL

Wednesday 11th June, and off we trundled to Town Malling, where the coin did us the small favour of landing right for once. I put us in, which in hindsight was either shrewd captaincy or a cry for help — the jury remains out. E E Hoadley batted with real substance for his unbeaten 26, and I chipped in with 20 of my own, though "supported" is doing some generous lifting there. Special mention to young Tom Peach Jnr, who contributed a duck of such elegant brevity that the walk back must have felt like the longest of his young life.

With ball in hand, though, we were a different proposition entirely. X Hodge gave us a lesson with a fine 56, and W R Stratton's 37 kept the scoreboard ticking uncomfortably, but our bowlers had the last word. Ernest Cruttenden was magnificent, 4 for 0, while the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower and H G Smith each took 3 for 0 — proof, if any were needed, that the cloth and the flannels can coexist quite happily. I managed 3 wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for weeks. P Phillips departed without so much as troubling the scorers.

A word of genuine cheer amid the wreckage: H G Smith's three scalps see him leapfrog Tom Peach Snr into 9th on the club's all-time wicket list — a small immortality earned on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Beaten by an innings and ten runs, then. No dressing it up — we were second best from the toss onwards. But there was enough craft with the ball to suggest the seeds of recovery, and we'll be better for it next week.