Cricket 1894

66 CRICKED A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE 0AMEc APRIL 19, 1894 energies of J. H. Milton the fol­ lowing year found the club again installed upon the old spot. At the same time many of the members of the old Amhurst threw iu their lot with Clapton. This gave a new influx of useful players, notable among them Messrs. Bruce, Walker, King, and Hunt. G. L. Lyons just then was in good form with the bat, and his average for the year -worked out at 55.3. Turning from the batting to bowl­ ing, mention should be made of F. A. Bishop, tbe Esssx amateur, who waa included in the team which represented the Gentlemen against the Players at the Oval in 1889. Joining the Clapton C.C. in 1889, his bowling for the club was very sensational at times. Still, although he did not always meet with the success one might expect, his average was iuvariably good, particularly in 1889, when he took 31 wickets at a little over five runs each. In the following year that neat bat, J. C. L. Shenton, was in grand form, for his three completed in nings gave an average of 81. J. W. McEwen was equilly successful with the ball In all he took fifty wickets at an average of 5.15, and in one match, besides makiDg 71 runs, bowled four wickets with consecutive balls. This year, too, was a memorable one, in one im­ portant respect, that Clapton for the first time beat M.C.C. and Ground by a margin of 45 rans. In 1892 the Club, having secured a long lease of the ground, erected a close fence, built a ladies’ pavilion, and made several important altera­ tions, of which the public has shown its appreciation substantially in the shape of the good gates recorded week by week. In the same year a youog and promising member of the club in the person of P. A. Waterer came prominently to the front. His bowling has been particularly good, to the tune of 91 wickets at an average of 9.40, with F. A. Bishop and J. W. McEwen close upon his heels. P. A. Waterer differs entirely from the two last named in his style. He breaks bjth ways, besides varying his pitch and pace with great judgment, and Clapton anticipate some good things from him in the future. In 1893, one of the grandest of cricket seasons, Clapton wrere well to the fore, winning 24, and losing only 11 matches. A new venture was the cricket week at PondLane, in which the club had remarkable success, winning five matches aud drawing the sixth. Against the London Hospital thev scored 339 for two wickets, and 252 for one wicket against Wanstead. During the season centuries were made by Boyton (four times), Douglis, and Bruce. In bowling S. A. Asser (medium pace) headed the averages with 42 wiokets at an average cost of 8.16, with W. Thorogood and J. W . McEwen next in order. The C.C.C. is at the present time one of the strongest local clubs in the North of London. It has plenty of young talent to re­ place the older members who are one by one retiring to a non-active position. W ith the lawn tennis, the membership numbers some­ thing like 150. For th^se there is ample accommodation both for ladies and gentlemen. Last year Mr;LJ. .W . McEwen lcsigLed his position as hon. secretary, and was replaced by Mr. It. H. Walbancke, of 12, Nioholas Lane, E.C., with Mr. J. Williams as assistant hon. secretary. A capital list of matches with the chief metropolitan clubs has been ar­ ranged for the coming season— two every Saturday afternoon with in addition a whole day match each week. The ground is open for practice every afternoon (match days excepted) at 4 o’clock under the charge of Albert Millership, of Notts, the groundman, who cer­ tainly deserves a word of praise for the capital wickets he prepared last year under rather exceptional circumstances. In the winter, we had almost forgotten to add, the ground is occupied by the Upper Clapton (Rugby) Football Club. THE SEASON OF 1894. THE LONDON CLUBS. The B arn es C.C. is in the position, not altogether unknown to some of the leading L >ndon clubs, of wanting a little more bowl­ ing to strengthen its cricket. Still, there has been a considerable influx of new members, and therefore the desideratum may be at hand. Though the club does not go in either for a week or a tour, it has plenty of work before it in a rather heavy programme. C. E. Ratcliff has been re-elected captain for the fifth year, and a . G. H. Stevens, of Kerastal, Castelnau, Barnes, is again hon. sec. New practice wickets have been recently made under the watchful eye of Tott, late of the Lyric C.C., with every promise of being in excellent con­ dition. A new ground man, Hornblow by name, who is also a good practice bowler, has been en­ gaged. The season opens on Saturday next, and as some of last year’s youngsters, notably E. H. Frith, E. W. Waterer, and •J. J. France, showed considerable promise, there are good grounds for hope that the club will have a successful year. The first match will be against the Surrey Colts at the Oval, on May 4th, the last against Brunswick at Barnes, on Sept. 22. Meanwhile, among the other clubs to be met will be R ic h m o n d , Teddington, St. Thomas’ Hospital, Kensington, Sutton, Pallingswick, Chiswick Park, Ewell, Private Banks, Spencer, Plaistow, and Boston Park. Under the care of H. Foxley, the B ic k le y P a k k ground is in the best condition. It has seldom, iudeed, looked better than at the present time, which to those who know the geneial excellence of the wickets ihere will represent the highest possible praise. The Club pro­ gramme comprises as a rule the pick of the London Clubs, and the hon. sec., T. P . Hilder, jun., whose address is Barfield Lodge, Bickley, has not allowed this year’s card to lose any of its attractions. Ihe opening game takes place on -aturday, the 28th inst, and the season is not allowed to drag its slow length along till the near approach of football, closing on August 25 with the home matoh against Beckenham. The Incogniti and M.C.C. and Ground furnish J. W . M cE W E N (E x -H on . S e c r e t a r y , C lapton C.C.) tflcUL R . H. W A L B A N C K E (H on . S ec C la pto n C.C )