🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 29 Jun 1907 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformLWDLW

The road to Town Malling last Saturday found the coin against us, and we were put into the field first upon losing the toss. Our bowlers set to their task with good heart, and though R J B Leney gave a fine display for fifty-seven, ably supported by H G Roberts with twenty-six and X Hodge with twenty-one, the home side were in due course all out. F G Busbridge departed without troubling the scorers. It was Ernest Cruttenden who did the greatest execution among our trundlers, taking three wickets, with H G Smith and the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower each chipping in with three apiece.

When our turn came at the wicket, H G Smith gave a capital display, a well-made fifty carrying him on to sixty-eight before he was parted with, finding good company in the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower, twenty-two, and Major Southey, twenty not out at the close. Less happily, both Ernest Cruttenden and F E Wallis were sent back without scoring, a blot upon an otherwise creditable card.

It was a notable day besides, for Smith's innings carried him past Jack Fryer into third place among the club's all-time run-scorers. The season's charts continue to please, the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower leading our run-getters for 1907 with ninety-one, and A Eltham heading the bowling with seven wickets.

In the end we were beaten by forty-one runs, and must own our visitors the better side on the day, though we shall be the better for the lesson next week.

Sat 25 May 1907 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLLWDL

On Saturday last, the 25th of May, we had the pleasure of welcoming Town Malling CC to our ground. The toss went against us, and our visitors asked us to field, a decision I fancy they came to regret before the day was out.

Our bowlers found their length from the very first over, and Town Malling's innings crumbled before an attack in which R W Mitchell was quite unplayable, returning the remarkable figures of six wickets without cost. Ernest Cruttenden lent capital support, taking three wickets cheaply, and between them our trundlers sent R J B Leney, E Pearce and P Kelvie back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Only H Leney, with a well-made 23, and G H Adam, with a like score, offered our men any real resistance before the innings closed.

Set a modest task, we went to the wicket in good heart, though not without a passing alarm when Allan Peach was dismissed without scoring. Thereafter all was serenity: R W Mitchell, following capital bowling with a sound 29, was joined by the Rev F A Leveson-Gower, who played a truly fine innings of 69 and carried us home to victory by nine wickets.

The afternoon was not without its landmarks, for the reverend gentleman's innings lifted him past C Murdoch into seventh place among the club's run-getters of all time, while Mitchell's six wickets carried him past E C Streatfield into eighth on the corresponding list, both now standing at the head of our 1907 charts in their respective departments. A thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's cricket, and Town Malling CC opponents deserving of a return fixture before the season is out.