Cricket 1895

114 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD O F THE GAME. M a y 9, 1985. the discussion continued, and Mr. Tom Westray, junior, remarked, that if the people out there were keen enough to desire it he would take an eleven to encourage his brother sportsmen in that country with the visit of •comrades from home. Mr. Coverley at once seized the idea, and on his Teturn to Oporto the project was submitted to several of the leading cricketers there, with the final result that at the General Meeting of the Oporto O.C., it was decided to send an invitation to Mr. Westray to bring out a team to play matches at Oporto about Easter time this year. The formation of a team and all pre­ liminary arrangements were at once proceeded with, and as one of the results of their success­ ful accomplishment I sought an interview with the promoter and conductor of the team, with the view of writing an account of the trip for the readers of Cricket. When I ran Mr. Tom Westray to earth he was about leaving his office, but not to let the opportunity slip we drove together on the way- to Waterloo, and the Portugese tourist kindly submitted to an interview in a hansom cab (rather a good title for this article). Plunging in medias res with my man, abright­ faced, genial young fellow, I asked him if he had found any difficulty in getting together his team. “ Not the least!” he replied, “ In fact, within a week of the time I knew we were going the team was filled in and settled upon, and I had over fifty other applications for a place in the eleven, all of which, of course, I was reluctantly compelled to decline.” “ And you thought it well, I believe, to take a strong team? ’ ’ “ Well, yes, you see most of the men were personal friends, and it would not do to take over an eleven which would not be certain to win its matches. That would not teach our opponents anything, and would not do much for cricket oud there.” “ How was the team made up ? ” “ We were originally thirteen, an unlucky number, perhaps, but we were reduced to twelve before starting, for at the very last moment Stanley Christopherson was unable to get away, so we had but one reserve man.” “ And who were the twelve apostles of cricket in Portugal ? ” ‘ ‘ The twelve who went were:—My brother, F. W. Westray (Uppingham Rovers), Rev. R. T. Thornton (Kent), A. J. Thornton (Kent), W. H. Andrews (Sussex), S. A. P. fatcat (Gloucestershire), L. C. V. Bathurst (Oxford University and Middlesex), G. R. Bardswell (Oxford University and Lanca­ shire), George Field (Uppingham Rovers), T. Hemmant (Uppingham Rovers), E. R. Hardman (Old Carthusians), E. A. Feild (Uppingham and Keble) and myself. “ A very good party ; what sort of a time did you have going out ? ” “ Well, it was rather mixed. We left Waterloo in high spirits at 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10th, in a specially reserved saloon for Portsmouth, where we embarked the same day on the s.s. City of Amsterdam , and sailed for Oporto at 3 o’clock p.m. The weather was not bad at starting, but by the next morning there was a chopping sea and some of us felt pretty bad. Matters did not im­ prove in this particular, and the Bay of Biscay kept up its character for stonniness in spring. On the Thursday there was a very heavy seaandastormy galefrom theN.W. Only three of us escaped sea-sickness, Bathurst, Andrews, and R. T. Thornton being the favoured exceptions. Friday night was exceedingly rough and the gale had increased sothat when we arrived at Oporto at 5.50* on Saturday evening we were glad enough to bid farewell j.o the sea.” “ Is Oporto attractive in its scenery ? ” “ Any land would have been attractive after our tossing about in the Bay. But the scenery on crossing the bar and proceeding up the river Douro, on which Oporto is situated two and a half miles from the mouth, is extremely picturesque and was much admired by our men. The team was feeling very shaky (and no wonder) and the men were very glad that they had Sunday on which to recruit before playing cricket.” “ Of course, you were heartily welcomed?” “ Of our reception I cannotspeak too highly. All our men expressed the opinion that they had never met anywhere with such genuine kindness and hospitality as at the hands of the English residents in Oporto. One and all seemed to exercise their utmost ingenuity in devising means to ensure and increase the comfort and enjoyment of their visitors.” “ As to festivities? ” “ We had these, galore. A banquet was given to us on the Tuesday at the Factory House (the English club) and a smoking concert was afterwards held. Mr. Teage, president of the club, spoke very heartily in expressing the pleasure felt by himself and the residents at having a cricket eleven from England, and said that everyone in Oporto equally welcomed us. I replied on behalf of the team. On Wednesday, Mr. Charles Coverley gave a picnic up the Douro at which one hundred and f e y guests were present, with ourselves as the lions of the occasion, and a very enjoyable day was spent, although the weather conditions were not altogether favourable. On that night, and on every following evening of our stay, a dance was given at the house of one or another of the leading English residents, and so we had a capital time.” “ And the country is interesting to English­ men ? ’ ’ “ Exceedingly so. Oporto is well worth visiting for the sake of its own attractions. The cathedrals are magnificent and the town very picturesque. The surrounding country also well repays the tourist. Many of our men were extremely interested in looking over the Loges of the principal wine firms.” “ Has the Oporto C.C. a good ground ?” “ It is a very pretty ground, situated about a mile from the town, and easily accessible by rail or road. At present it is not in the same condition of perfection with a good English ground, but with care and attention it might be made quite good enough for anything. What is needed is a good English professional, who would, thoroughly understanding his art, soon get it into proper condition and obtain good pitches. The club is entirely composed of English, many being public school men, and amongst the English colony the utmost keeness for the game prevails.” ‘ ‘ Then the natives do not take up the game ? ” “ Not as yet. There are, however, living in and around Oporto some five hundred English families, and the interest excited amongst them by our visit was extraordinary. Some of the Portuguese natives came to see the matches, but not very many. But I should think the game likely to spread, even amongst them, especially if a team from England were to visit Portugal every year. As you know, ours was the first visit of an eleven from the mother country, although the Channel Fleet often is stationed awhile at Vigo, and on such occasions there are during the cricket season frequent encounters between elevens from the squadron and the clubs of Lisbon and Oporto.” “ You played, and won, two matches? ” “ Yes, the first against Oporto, and as wo beat them easily, the second against Eighteen of Portugal, several players coming up from Lisbon. Scores ? N o, I don’t carry them in my head. I will write them out and send them to you. [N ote . —They will be found below.] I do not think the teams we met need be discouraged, but rather the reverse, by the results of their matches with us. Our eleven was composed of men well known, almost without exception, in first-class cricket in England, and they did exceedingly well in disposing of us for such comparatively small scores. Their bowling and fielding is very fairly good, but they require. coaching in batting. The Oporto C.C. fellows are seriously considering the question of getting out a good class professional from England next winter, and trying to improve their ground and play. This would, I think, be all that is necessary to develop them into a good team.” ‘ *And the climate is suitable to cricket ? ’ ’ “ Yes, certainly, from February to the middle of May; it would be too hot inrthe later months of summer.” ‘ ‘ Did you get any other sport besides cricket? ” “ Yes, on Thursday, when there was no cricket, a lawn tennis tournament was played between the team and Oporto, and we won by 12 sets to 8. Bardswell, Kitcat, and R. T. Thornton, with myself, were most successful for our side. Lawn tennis is particularly popular at Oporto, and they have some very capital gravel courts. Their best man by a long way is G. Dagge, who is a very good player indeed, and proved it in the tourna­ ment.” “ Your tour lasted a fortnight ? ” “ Yes, and a day. We left London Wednesday, April 10th, arrived at Oporto Saturday 14th, left Leixoes, a few miles north of Oporto, Sunday 21st, and arrived in London, Thursday 25th. Expenses of the journey ? Well there were practically none. The men were the guests of myself and my father on board ship, and they were put up all the time in Oporto by our friends out there.” “ I suppose your hosts speeded the parting as well as welcomed the coming guests.” “ Yes, indeed. The day of our departure will long be remembered by all of us andwith the most lively emotions. The farewell demonstration was most touching and will live in our memories. Some fifty of the prominent English residents at Oporto dined with us on board the City of Amsterdam , gnd after we had sung together ‘ Auld Lang Syne * they left the vessel in boats and followed us out of the harbour. The pier was crowded with people, including a large number of ladies, and all heartily cheered us until sounds and sights were lost in the distance. So ended a visit most pleasurable in all its incidents, and I must once mQre gratefully mention the most splendid reception we received, which for generous kindness and hospitality could not possibly be beaten.” ‘ ‘ And all returned safe and sound ?’ ’ “ Except my brother, F. W . Westray. He never thoroughly got over the voyage out, and was indeed in bed for three days after landing. I may say that I have had a most pressing invitation to take out a team again next year, and that it is felt in Portugal that a great impetus has been given to the game by our visit. I am so sorry that I have been compelled to give you so hurried an account of our trip; shall I come and see you and further explain ? ’ ’ But I had mentally kodaked my man, and so with a hearty thank-you and good-bye, I bade Mr. Westray good luck and concluded my interview in a hansom. LUCIFER.