Cricket 1892

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.5’— Byron . KegSered2fo?Tran°ni,asiraIAbro»a. THURSDAY , A P R IL 21, 1892. PRIOE 2d. M R . F R A N C IS E R S K IN E R O W E C r ic k e t e r s who were up at Cambridge at the end of the fifties will remember A. W. Rowe, who played in the University eleven of 1858 and ’59. A reference to “ Haygarth ” shows that he did good service, particularly in the latter year, as a bowler as well as a batsman. Unfortunately for him a bereave­ ment stopped his cricket that summer just before the Inter- University match, depriving him of the “ blue ” which must have been the reward of the excellent all­ round form he had shown in the trial matches. Taking holy orders he settled down at Hartford End, giving a birth qualification for Essex to his son, Francis Erskine, who was born there on November 30th, 1864. Marlborough College lias had the credit of the younger Rowe’s education as a cricketer. Nor will its claim be weakened at all by the admission that he had two years’ training previously at Felstead School. On the con­ trary, his Felstead career did not establish his capabilities as a cricketer at all, and the only record is that he played for the Sixth Form there without conspic­ uous success. He was three years at Marlborough, too, before he came really to the front. Though he entered the School at the com­ mencement of 1878, it was not until the summer of 1881 that he obtained his colours. From that time, how­ ever, his success as a cricketer was assured. An excellent innings of 50 against the Liverpool Club and a double first in scores of 45 and 36 against Mr. A. G. Steel’s eleven pave substantial proof of his capacity at the outset. A youngster who could play with confidence against such bowlers as Messrs. A. G. Steel and C. T. Studd were ten ago, it is evident must have been made of the right stuff. It was a performance quite out of the common, too, to secure the best average in a first year. Nor do the cares of the Captaincy in 1882 seem to have weighed heavily on him. At all events, though his highest innings was one of 43, lie was again returned the winner of the average bat with an aggregate of 243 for twelve completed innings. His last year at Marlborough (1883) was very memorable. In both the School matches he had the most gratifying success, and his best scores were 67 against Cheltenham, and 46 and 27 against Rugby. In this particular respect his Cap­ taincy was of good omen to Marlborough. In School matches his record was at least untarnished, for of the four played during the two years he was Captain, three were won with the fourth drawn. Entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the October term of 1883, he came up to the University with all the advantage of a Public School reputation. The Freshmen’s match of 1884, however, only brought him poor success— a matter of fifteen runs in the one innings he had. An invitation to play for the Next Six­ teen against the First Twelve, too, had to be declined in the following season, o^ing to the more serious work of examinations. What cricket he had at Cambridge was confined to College matches, and the later fixtures of the Trinity Long Vacation Club. In these he met with considerable success, scoring onoccasions largely. To the wonderful record of the Trinity L.Y.C. in 1885, in particular, he contributed in no small degree. Withthe one exception of the match against Jesus College, who were beaten by ten wickets, Trinity won in every case by an innings, and in this series Mr. Rowe’s average was over fifty. His connection with Essex cricket dates back to a period of eight years. His first show, at the Oval in 1885, was not one of great promise. Beaumont, the Surrey bowler, found him the second of three victims in a hat trick, though he made amends to some extent by a well-played second innings of 26 (not out) in a total of 78. Unfor­ tunately the duties of an Assistant- Mastership at Rossall School have prevented his participating in County cricket till late in the season. Still he has figured in the August fixtures of the Essex eleven during the last four years and with marked success. One of several good performances, though, stands out in bold relief. His 98 (not out), at the Oval, was indeed as sound an innings as was played against the Surrey bowlers in 1890. There was only one mistake, in fact, when he had made 60, and it was the hardest of luck that the innings was closed before he was able to get the two runs required to complete his hundred. His keenness only serves to emphasize the regret that he cannot devote more time to the service of County cricket. As an all-round player he is much above the average. A sound batsman, he watches the ball carefully, and with plenty of strokes withal, scores freely at times, being particularly strong on the off-side. To his ability as a batsman he also adds the advantage of being a sure field. In minor matches he is a free run-getter, in proof of which we need o i l / add that his average for the Lytham Club, of which he is captain, for the last three years has been 49, 73, and 45 for nine, twelve, and thirteen innings respectively. In other sports, too, Mr. Rowe has made his mark. In the Marlborough College Fifteens of 1881 and ’82, and subsequently played half-back for Trinity at a time when it disputed with Jesus and