Cricket 1912

128 CEICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. M a y 11, 1912. Cricket in Scotland. B y H am ish . Though the weather was somewhat dull and chilly, cricketers and spectators alike had little cause to grumble on Saturday, for wickets were fast, runs plentiful, and finishes exciting. In good scoring games Heriots’ beat the Grange in the last over ; Royal High School F .P .’s won on the ninth w ick et; time just prevented Perthshire from overcoming Stenhousemuir ; whilst Ringrose failed to stay out the five runs that would have given victory to Forfarshire over B rech in ; East Stirlingshire’s total fell just nine short of Clackmannan County’s score ; and Leith Franklin just managed to dismiss Brunswick with three minutes to spare. We expect a boom in the game up North this season, and these sporting results will no doubt help us to realise our expectations. Our batsmen are evidently getting into form straight away, for it is not usual to have to record five centuries on the first Saturday of May ; but in many matches despite the hard ground the bowlers had still much the better of the exchanges. The match that commanded most attention was fought out between the former pupils of the Royal High School and Edinburgh Academy. By arrangement among them­ selves it has been decided to play all matches between the former pupils’ clubs of the Edinburgh Schools without professional assistance, as it is felt that professional aid nullifies the true object of the match. The result of the first match augurs well for the success of the scheme, for a definite issue was attained after four hours’ strenuous cricket in which the ups and downs of the game were splendidly exemplified. The amateur bowlers did extremely well in dismissing two strong batting sides on a hard, fast wicket for totals of 174 and 205. For the Royal High School W . C. A. Ross, with his slow leg breaks, kept an end going all the Academical innings, and finished up with 8 wickets for 76. The professional has had charge of the bowling too long in Scottish cricket, with the result that tho amateur exponent of the art was fast becoming ex tin ct; but if the scheme under trial turns out a success in a few short years we may see the paid man excluded altogether from club matches. Our premier club, the Grange, opened their season with a defeat at the hands of Heriots’ (F .P .), and for this result weak bowling and weaker fielding are to blame. J. Mushet contributed 128 to Heriots’ score of 248 for 8 wickets and followed it up by securing five Grange wickets for 49. This player is one of the finest all-round cricketers we possess and really worthy of a trial in representative games. P. S. Fraser, who many last season considered was drafted too early into a Scottish side, also rattled up a century in quick time, and thus took an early opportunity of silencing his detractors. Had he exercised a little more caution at a critical period of the game, he might have saved it for the Grange. G. W . Jupp, of Carlton, who had honourable mention last week, had a veritable day out against Leith Caledonian at Grange Loan, and was the means of inflicting on them another crushing defeat. He commenced by capturing six wickets for 29 runs and then on going to the wicket knocked up 141 in less than an hour and a half. Somer­ setshire would not be weakened by his inclusion, though on the few occasions on which he has appeared for his county bad luck has overtaken him and he has failed to do himself justice. In the West Uddingston showed some improvement in gaining their first points in the Western Union Competi­ tion at the expense of Kilmarnock, and Poloc effected a good draw with Ferguslie ; but the liveliest cricket of the afternoon was out with the League. For Ayr, J. Ferguson collected 109 against Menzies’ X I., and J. B. Walker by splendid all-round cricket put together 131 without being defeated for Greenock against Cartha, who however are not over strong. Perthshire opened their season by Just failing to beat Stenhousemuir through lack of time. W . L. Fraser is the new skipper, and he started well in the bowling depart­ ment by obtaining 5 wickets for 23 runs. He may bo our fast bowler against the Colonials, as he can make things hum when in trim. The Borderers started quietly with nothing out of the ordinary to record. The various clubs, however, promise to maintain a high standard of excellence. Special Club Notes. C o n t r ib u t e d b y “ T h e C h ie l . ” There are many prominent clubs in South Wales and'the West of England, who enjoy their cricket under very different circumstances to the London Clubs. Every­ thing down there seems to be at your back door, and one has only a few yards to walk to the cricket grounds, yet, with all these advantages, manyof the locals appear slack about turning out, the clubs relying greatly upon the support of the local school-masters and upon visitors. Gloucester City, who play on the well-known Spa Ground, are an exceedingly warm lot to take on. The wickets are very fast, and the ball is “ looking at one ” before one can really decide on one’s stroke. All the same the Cathedral City players are the best of fellows ; above all things, they “ play the game.” Hereford City are another very keen and prominent club. They play on the well-known Widemarsli ground, where wickets are of the best. Hereford are very little below second-class county form, and during their career they have produced such cricketers as Jack Sharp, George Carter, the Phillips’s and Thomas’s. The Hereford team are a very nice lot of fellows—did you ever know a cricketer otherwise ?. There is only one objection to playing at Hereford. Should you be on the losing side, you are in for a good jacketing from the Hereford, Times. Monmouth is another club possessed of a good ground, and the best of surroundings in the beautiful valley of the Wye. Thanks partly to the kindness of Lord Llangattock, who built them a splendid pavilion, they are a fairly strong club, though lacking the “ local ” support they ought to get. Monmouth is one of the very best of places as a centre for a cricket tour, with clubs surrounding the Wye Valley, such as Lydney, Coleford, Llangattock, Dingeston, Red- brook, etc. Ross (Herefordshire) is another fortunately placed club in every respect. The scenery around is delightful, and the .ground one of the best in the Wye Valley. The people of Ross are very keen and good supporters of cricket. Those excellent lunches at the Beaufort are things to remember. Abergavenny, the town backed by the Sugar Loaf Hill, is fortunate in having a very good ground. A t their strongest they are a very hefty team. The local matches are well supported—especially on the early closing day. The various marquees on the ground give a very pleasing and picturesque effect. Abergenny folk-—“ look you ” —are nothing if not thorough, and their cricket club is a credit to the town. Chepstow have a good team, and their ground is charmingly placed on the banks of the Wye. Mullins (A. E.), Hutchings, and their comrades, blessed with forma­ tive ideas, have worked wonders for a club which lacks some of the advantages of those in towns of bigger population. The clubs named in these notes would make up an excel­ lent tour for a strongish and sociable London Club. The accommodation at the various towns is first-class, and visiting teams are made very welcome. “ The Chiel would be pleased to hear from any of the above clubs, with any news of interest to cricketers in general.