🧢 Captain's Log

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

We journeyed to Yalding on Saturday last, the sixteenth of August, and I confess to no small satisfaction on winning the toss, for I judged the wicket fit for batting and elected accordingly. The eleven did not disappoint the decision. H G Smith led the way with a fine half-century of 77, batting with judgement throughout, and found able support from W E H Hills, whose own fifty carried him to 50, and from Ernest Cruttenden, who contributed a useful 41. W Peach and P R Burton were less fortunate, each departing without troubling the scorers, but the total our men had amassed by the innings' close was one to give our bowlers heart.

And heart they showed in full measure. Yalding's batsmen made a brave fist of the reply, F Reeves top-scoring with 35, well supported by G A T Salmon's 31 and H T Manwaring's unbeaten 28, but the innings never gathered the momentum required. F R Allsop, W L Hubble and E Wilkins were each sent back without score, and George Champion bowled quite beautifully to claim five wickets, ably assisted by Ernest Cruttenden with three and myself, who was fortunate enough to take two.

It was, besides, a notable afternoon for Cruttenden, whose batting and bowling alike carried him past old club marks on both counts, a fitting reward for sustained good service. We came away winners by 99 runs, and I must say our visitors took their reverse in the best of spirits, as is ever the way at Yalding. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 19 Jul 1902 🧢 1st XIv BC Boxley CC · AwayformLLLLW

The coin fell kindly for us at Boxley, and having won the toss I did not hesitate to send our men in first. We made a total which, if not without its blemishes, gave a fair account of ourselves. It fell to me to lead the way with 62, a score I set down here but once, and I was glad of such willing company at the other end, for P R Burton played a most useful innings of 40 and Ernest Cruttenden added a brisk 24. Not every man found his form, however, and both F M Hills and A T Benning were obliged to make the short and melancholy walk back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer.

In the field our fortunes turned still further in our favour. Boxley's batsmen found little comfort against our bowling, three of their number — A G Mannering, W Patrick and J Paddle — departing without scoring a run apiece. Only L Caldecott, with a well-made 53, offered any real resistance to the home side's cause. The honours of the day belonged unquestionably to H G Smith, whose figures of 8 wickets for no runs were bowled with great skill and patience, and I was pleased to lend what support I could with 2 wickets of my own for no runs conceded.

It was, in the end, a comprehensive victory by 107 runs, and I should like to record our thanks to our hosts for a sporting and well-contested game. Onwards we go, in good heart, to whatever fixtures the season yet holds.

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

It was a fine morning at Linton Park on Wednesday the ninth of July when we welcomed Town Malling CC to our ground, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat, the wicket appearing true and likely to ease as the day wore on.

Our men gave a splendid account of themselves at the crease. Captain Walter led the way with a fine half-century of 92, and was ably supported by George Champion, whose own half-century of 70 runs did the innings great credit. I was fortunate enough to contribute 40 myself, and though F E Wallis was undone for a golden nothing, the total we set our visitors to chase was a formidable one.

Called upon to defend it, our bowlers made short work of the opposition. W H Whitehead battled to 24, with F G Busbridge unbeaten on 22 and R A Arnold contributing 20, but there was no answer to George Champion, who bowled quite beautifully to return figures of seven wickets without cost, a richly deserved reward for a fine spell. I had the satisfaction of taking three wickets myself without conceding a run, a happy afternoon with the ball to follow the morning's batting.

There was cause for further cheer, Ernest Cruttenden's twelve runs seeing him pass J N Tonge into fifth place among the club's all-time run-scorers, while Captain Walter and I find ourselves at the head of this season's run and wicket charts respectively. We ran out winners by 129 runs, a handsome margin, and I thank Town Malling CC for their sporting company throughout a most agreeable day's cricket.

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

On Wednesday last, the eleventh of June, we journeyed to Town Malling CC, where the toss fell to us and I did not hesitate to send our men in first upon winning it. Our innings, though it yielded no great mountain of runs, was not without its moments of comfort, chiefly through E E Hoadley, who battled through to close undefeated on 26, well supported by Captain Walter with a tidy 20. Young Tom Peach the younger was less fortunate, departing without troubling the scorers, a fate that befalls the best of us from time to time.

When our opponents came to the wicket they gave a fuller account of themselves, X Hodge compiling a handsome fifty of 56 and W R Stratton lending sturdy support with 37, so that their total mounted rather beyond our own. Yet our attack was not without its rewards. Ernest Cruttenden bowled finely to claim four wickets without cost, and I was fortunate enough to take three for no runs myself, H G Smith matching that figure with his own three, among them the wicket of P Phillips, sent back without scoring. Smith's effort that afternoon carried him past Tom Peach the elder into ninth place upon the club's roll of wicket-takers, a distinction thoroughly earned.

We go into the season with Hoadley leading our run-getters on 53 and Cruttenden foremost among the bowlers with six wickets to his name. In the end we were beaten by an innings and ten runs, a margin that speaks plainly enough of our opponents' superiority on the day, and we return home resolved to show a better face at the wicket next week.