🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 29 Aug 1903 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformDLDLL

Saturday last, upon our own ground, we welcomed Town Malling to Linton Park, and I confess the toss went against us, our visitors electing to take first use of the wicket. There was no complaint to be made of that decision by us in the field, for our bowlers were in fine fettle throughout. F Reeves, spinning the ball with rare cunning, proved altogether too much for the batsmen, returning the admirable figures of 6 for 0, while I was fortunate enough to lend useful support with 4 for 0 myself. W R Stratton alone offered real resistance with a well-made 21, but F B Leney and P Phillips were both dismissed without troubling the scorers, and the innings closed without further incident.

When our turn came at the wicket, we batted with good heart. Rev H S Grant led the way with a capital knock of 25, and found willing company in H G Smith, whose 22 was soundly compiled, and in Rev J R Leigh, who contributed a useful 20 and, I am told, thereby passed Leslie Wilson to stand fifteenth upon the club's list of run-getters, a distinction he thoroughly deserves. A generous 29 in extras helped swell our total most conveniently. F Reeves's half-dozen wickets, meanwhile, carried him past J Woollett into thirteenth place among our wicket-takers, a fine achievement on a fine day for him.

The upshot of it all was victory by an innings and 3 runs, a margin as decisive as it was pleasant to record. Town Malling took their reverse in the best of spirits, and we look forward keenly to meeting them again another season.

Sat 22 Aug 1903 🧢 House Teamv SC 1st Innings Kent County Constabulary · HomeformLWDWD

On Saturday, the twenty-second of August, we had the pleasure of welcoming 1st Innings Kent County Constabulary to our ground, and, winning the toss, I did not hesitate to send my own men in first, the wicket appearing kindly disposed towards batting.

Our innings, though it yielded no colossal total, was carried chiefly by Tom Peach Jnr, whose free and confident 21 formed the backbone of the effort, well supported by C Masters with a tidy 20. Two of our number, W Peach and R Smith, must own to the duck, departing without troubling the scorer, though such small misfortunes befall the best of us and were soon forgotten in the general run of play.

Our visitors, when their turn came to face the leather, found our bowlers in irresistible form. Sergeant Kennett, P C Fowle and P C Fisher were each sent back to the pavilion without scoring, victims of an attack that gave them scarcely a moment's peace. W Peach returned the admirable figures of six wickets for none, while Ernest Cruttenden claimed four for none, a performance which carries him past H G Smith into sixth place among the club's wicket-takers of all time, a distinction thoroughly deserved. Peach continues to lead our House Team's run-getters this season with 81, and Cruttenden its wicket-takers with a dozen.

The upshot was a comfortable and gratifying victory by 168 runs, and I could not have wished for a finer display from my fellows against opponents who, for all their trouble, took their reverse in the very best of spirits.

Fri 21 Aug 1903 🧢 House Teamv ST 1st Innings Leeds Castle CC - House Team · HomeformWLWDW

Friday last, the twenty-first of August, brought Leeds Castle Cricket Club's House Team to us as our visitors, and we took the field first, our men in good heart and eager for the contest.

Our visitors found little comfort at the wicket, for the whole side was before long sent back to the pavilion, undone by bowling of real quality. The chief architect of their downfall was Ernest Cruttenden, whose length and guile proved altogether too much for the visiting batsmen, his eight wickets standing as the finest performance of the day and richly deserved they were. He found a willing ally in W Peach, who claimed two wickets of his own and bowled with real purpose.

When our turn came to bat, fortune proved no kinder, and we too were dismissed in our turn. Poor E Mitchell was undone for a duck, to the good-natured amusement of his fellows, while W Peach again distinguished himself with the willow, his seven runs carrying him past S Christopherson and into nineteenth place among the club's run-scorers of all time. Cruttenden's splendid haul likewise lifted him past the same gentleman and into seventh among our wicket-takers, a fine day's work indeed. It may be noted that Peach now leads our House Team's run-getters this season with fifty-nine to his name, as Cruttenden leads the wicket-takers with his eight.

With neither side able to force home the advantage, the match was left drawn, honours shared between us, and I confess I thought it no unjust conclusion to so keenly fought an encounter.

Sat 15 Aug 1903 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformLDLDL

On Saturday last, the fifteenth of August, we journeyed to Yalding to try conclusions with our neighbours, and the toss going against us, we were asked to take the field first. Our opponents batted with some assurance, Rev J R Leigh giving a most polished display for the top score of 40, well supported by L W Hubble's 33. Yet our bowlers were not idle. W Peach bowled with real fire to claim three wickets without a run scored from his overs, F Foreman was steady and probing throughout for three wickets at a cost of 33, three of his overs yielding no runs at all, and I was fortunate enough to account for a couple myself. A S White and F R Allsop were both sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, small mercies on an afternoon that otherwise favoured the visitors' willow.

Our own innings, alas, brought little comfort. C Murdoch, Ernest Cruttenden and Allan Peach were each dismissed without score, and but for a knock of 46 from my own bat, the innings might have closed sooner still. In the end we fell short by 14 runs, a margin close enough to leave one wondering what might have been.

There was, nonetheless, a happier note to carry home: Cruttenden's solitary wicket carried him past J N Tonge into ninth place among the club's wicket-takers of all time. For my own part I find myself fourth in this season's run-scoring and, gratifyingly, at the head of the wicket-takers. Yalding played the better cricket and deserved their day. We shall hope to make amends before the season closes.

Fri 14 Aug 1903 🧢 House Teamv ST 1st Innings Leeds Castle CC - House Team · AwayformLWLWD

The coin fell kindly for us at 1st Innings Leeds Castle CC — House Team, and I had no hesitation in sending our men in first. It proved a sound decision, for W Peach batted in fine style for a well-made fifty of 52, an innings that carried our total and, as it happens, saw him move past W H Patterson into twenty-first place upon the club's all-time run-scorers list, a distinction thoroughly earned. He found willing company in Tom Peach Jnr, who made 34, and W T Waghorn, who added a useful 27, and between them our fellows set our hosts a target worthy of respect.

Taking the field to defend it, we found our opponents resolute at the outset, with W Thorndycraft compiling 32 in good order, supported by A Hollands with 24 and B Stedman with 20. Yet our bowling held the upper hand throughout. W T Waghorn was quite unplayable, turning the leather to remarkable effect and returning figures of six wickets without cost, while A King and W Peach chipped in usefully alongside him. R Startup, H Thorndycraft and H Smith were each sent back without troubling the scorers, and the innings soon closed.

It made for a most satisfactory afternoon's cricket, and I confess no little pleasure in seeing Waghorn's spin so thoroughly master the home batting. We came away with the honours, and I should record that our visitors met defeat with all the good grace one hopes to find upon a cricket field.

Mon 03 Aug 1903 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Rochester CC · HomeformWLDLD

On Monday last, the third of August, we welcomed 1st Innings Rochester CC to our ground, and I won the toss and elected to take the field first. Our visitors gave a fair account of themselves, F M Atkins playing a capital innings of 44 and finding useful company in E F Prall, whose 20 kept their innings together a while longer. Yet the day belonged chiefly to R W Mitchell, whose bowling proved altogether too searching for the Rochester batsmen — seven wickets fell to him, a return richly deserved, W R Robins among those sent back for nought. George Champion lent good support with two wickets, and between them our attack brought the visitors' innings to its close.

Our reply, I am sorry to relate, was a sorry affair. H G Smith, F Reeves and I myself were each dismissed without troubling the scorers, and I confess my own effort was a golden duck, out before I had fairly taken guard — no great example for a captain to set, though I am told leadership is proved as much in adversity as in triumph. It is some small comfort that my aggregate has lately carried me past Mr W H Fryer to thirteenth upon the club's all-time list of run-scorers, and that I stand this season at the head of our run charts with 155, as George Champion does of the wickets with 12.

We were beaten, in the end, by an innings and 29 runs, a margin fairly and well earned by our visitors. We shall, I have no doubt, be the better for it come next week.

Sat 04 Jul 1903 🧢 1st XIv SS Sutton Valence School · HomeformWWLDL

On Saturday last, the fourth of July, we entertained Sutton Valence School upon our own ground, and the toss falling my way, I had no hesitation in sending our men in first.

Our innings, though it closed with our whole side back in the pavilion, yielded much to be proud of. H G Smith gave a truly capital display, his 88 carrying him well past his fifty and, I am pleased to record, past Ernest Cruttenden into fifth place among the club's run-scorers of all time. He was ably supported by F Reeves, whose 38 was a most useful knock, and by C Murdoch, who matched him run for run with 38 of his own.

Taking the field to defend our total, we found the Reverend R E Lewis in quite imperious form, his unbeaten 103 a magnificent century that carried the bulk of his side's scoring, well supported by H W Hunting with 27 and J S Daniell with 23. Smith again distinguished himself, this time with the ball, taking a wicket for scarcely any outlay, and was joined among the wickets by H M Braybrooke and George Champion, each claiming one. That solitary wicket of Reeves's, I might add, carried him past Arthur Cornwallis into seventeenth place among the club's wicket-takers, a pleasing distinction for a man better known for his batting.

Smith's form this season shows no sign of abating, for he now leads our first eleven's run charts with 132, while Champion heads the wicket-takers with ten. In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared, a draw I count no poor return against so determined and gentlemanly a visiting side.

Wed 01 Jul 1903 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformWWWLD

I write this account not with any great pride of victory, for none is due, but in the honest hope of setting down a fair record of the day's cricket.

We lost the toss on Wednesday last and were sent in to field, Yalding CC our visitors upon a fine wicket. Our opponents batted with no little application, and R W Mitchell gave us a chastening afternoon of it, a well-made fifty growing to 91 before he was done with, W L Hubble lending sound support with a useful 25. Yet if their batting troubled us, our bowling had its answer, for George Champion span a web through their order that few could fathom, taking five wickets for no runs at all, a spell as fine as any seen on our ground this season. H M Braybrooke backed him admirably with four wickets, and W Peach chipped in with one, while F Reeves and H Reeves were both dismissed without scoring, sent back to the pavilion for a pair of ducks.

In reply our men could not quite find their form. I made 16 myself, a modest contribution, while Arthur Cornwallis top-scored with a capital 36, well supported by B W Haynes with 26 and C Murdoch, who carried his bat for 26 not out. George Champion and A Grice, for all their industry with the ball, could add nothing with the willow, each departing for a golden duck. It may be noted, as some small consolation, that Haynes's innings carried him past L Friend into twenty-fifth place upon the club's all-time list of run-scorers.

We were beaten in the end by 57 runs, fairly and thoroughly, by a Yalding side well worth their success. We shall be the better for the lesson, and look forward keenly to the next fixture.

Sat 06 Jun 1903 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformLWWWL

On Saturday last, the sixth of June, we journeyed to Town Malling to try conclusions with our old friends of that club, upon a wicket that promised well for batsmen of patience. The toss went against us, and our opponents, electing to bat, set about their task with considerable resolution.

It fell to me to marshal our attack through a long and, in parts, trying afternoon. A Longhurst led the way with a fine half-century of 61, and found able support in F B Leney, whose well-made fifty realised 52, while W Phillips contributed a useful 48. W R Stratton, less fortunate, was sent back without troubling the scorers. Yet our bowlers were not to be denied their due, F Reeves proving quite irresistible to claim five wickets, with George Champion and R W Mitchell chipping in with three and two apiece, and the innings closed at length to our credit.

Our own reply was crowned by a truly splendid innings from the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower, whose 104 was a capital knock indeed, three figures earning him the warm applause of both sides. He was well supported by F E Wallis, unbeaten on 33, and H G Smith with a tidy 23, though George Champion, so effective with the ball, could not add to his laurels with the willow, departing for nought.

Honours were shared in the end, neither eleven able to force a decision, and we returned well content with a hard and sporting contest.

Mon 01 Jun 1903 🧢 1st XIv SC 1st Innings Maidstone CC · HomeformLLWWW

Our men were put to the sword on Monday last at home, if I may set down the sorry particulars for the gazette.

Winning the toss, I put Maidstone CC in to bat, and X Hardinge made us pay dear for the courtesy, compiling a fine half-century of 74 that formed the backbone of a heavy total, well supported by H Igglesden with 39 and F E Wallis with 37. Our trundlers laboured honestly enough. The Reverend F A Leveson-Gower was pick of the attack with three wickets, and he was chipped at gamely by L Friend, likewise with three, and H G Smith, who took two. It fell to Smith, indeed, to furnish the one bright thread in an otherwise trying afternoon, his innings of 21 carrying him past Ernest Cruttenden into fifth place among the club's run-getters of all time, while his two wickets took him past E C Streatfield into sixth on the list of our leading bowlers — small consolations, but ones a captain is glad to record.

Our reply, I am bound to confess, did not answer to the occasion. W Peach batted with the most credit and top-scored with 31, and I contributed what I could with the bat myself, but the Reverend W A Carr, P R Burton and G F Vernon were each dismissed without troubling the scorer, and the innings subsided accordingly, leaving us beaten by an innings and 134 runs.

A chastening result, and no mistake, but Maidstone earned their afternoon fairly, and there is nothing for it but the nets, and better fortune next we meet.