Cricket 1912

170 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M a y 25, 1912. H. GRADIDGE & SONS, Manufacturers and Exporters of all requisites for Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Racquets, Squash Racquets, &c. F a c t o r y : — ARTILLERY PLACE, WOOLWICH, S.E. Reblading Cricket bats and Restringing Tennis bats a Special feature. Patentees and Sole makers o f the “ I M P E R I A L D R I Y E R ” Cricket Bats made in Men’s, Small Men’s, College, 6, 5, 4, & 3, sizes. E very other requisite for Cricket, including balls, leg guards, batting gloves, gauntlets, stumps, nets, &c. Price Lists and Special Quotations free. ALL GOODS CARR1ACE PAID TO ANY PAST OF THE UNITED _________ _________ __________ KINGDOM. Sole Makers o f the “ Imper ial D r i v e r ” and “ Improved G r ad i d g e ” Lawn Tennis Racquets. taken this question of starting promptly to time seriously, and why cannot club cricketers do the same ? Verb sap. I may be one of the old-fashioned type, but I do strongly advocate the principal of sociability in cricket. Nowadays w ith so many attractions such as exhibitions, theatres, and the like, many men change and hurry off for “ fresh fields and pastures new,” but the old fashioned evenings together after the match appeal to me greatly. I wish all who read this could have popped into the “ Prince Albert ” at Battersea last Saturday, to see and hear the collection of old and young London cricketers, chiefly on this occasion Battersea and Brixton, who foregathered there-—men such as H. G. Thomson, W . J. Denniss, Steve Smith, M. Moorhouse, Arthur and Walter Davis, and others of Brixton ; Dick Hunt, Joe Beckett, Harry White, Len Hiscock, Major Moore, Geo. Dawdry, Frank Arnold, Frank Ward, John C. Christie, with more besides.of Batter­ sea. They can talk cricket, and with good right, for the memories of many of them go 30 years back. It is such frank and friendly gatherings as these that do much to make the senior club cricket of London so enjoyable. The same old hand-grip year after year— “ What, another ? ” — “ And how have you been keeping through the winter ? ” —and such greetings. Long may club cricket flourish under such conditions, and long may members do all that they can in their own club’s interest to create a social feeling, which, all said and done, is the backbone of success and true sport. Liverpool Jottings. B y G . A . B r o o k in g . On the delightfully-situated Oxton ground a well-contested game took place on Saturday between the home eleven and Sefton. Oxton butted first and notched ‘210, G. L . Williams, the Rugby half-back, being the chief contributor with a dashing 87. Sefton appeared to be losing with 4 wickets down for 49 ; but when Boswell joined Curtis a splendid stand was effected, both players showing sparkling cricket. The professional was unluckily run out with 43 to his credit, and Boswell shortly afterwards had to retire ill. He had hit superbly, one stroke landing in the tennis courts for six. When time was called, Sefton had registered 159 for 7. so that the draw was fairly even. Birkenhead Park journeyed to Huyton and easily beat the villagers. Cecil Holden who has played for the Park over a quarter of a century has—owing to the after effects of an operatio i— definitely decided to retire from the game. His loss will be very greatly felt, though at the same time his advice is always at tli« service of the club. Holden was one of the best club players this district has ever had, and very keen—perhaps a little too much so at times—but all the same, he was very big-hearted. The Park notched 266 for 6. dec., Chadwick leading the way with a magnificent 132. Huyton could do little*with the bowling of Morrice, who secured 7 for 26, and they were all back in the pavilion with 108 on the board, the last man. Jones, being top scorer with 36. It is not often that No. 11 carries off the batting honours. Bootle at home beat Form by in capital style. Formby were first at the crease and scored 131, Hacking ami Hughes, with 33 and 60 respectively, nearly carrying the side on their backs in batting. J. W. Smith of Bootle had 6 for 33—a capital feat. The home side knocked the runs off with 5 wickets down, and when time was called the score was 166 for 9 ; E. H. Johnson and Sharp each hit up 40, which materially helped Bootle to victory. Rock Ferry beat the strong Northern side of Rock Park; but it was a case of everything coming off for the one side, though Gorman kept a good length. The home team scored 113 for 9, d ec.; but Northern failed badly, their capable willow-wielders for once in a way not troubling the scorers, the side being sent back for 65. They will doubtless do much better in the return. Waterloo Park had a capital victory over Rainhill, scores 163 to 95. J. R. Dawkins, a promising fast bowler, took 5 for 30. Rouse and Gleig for Waterloo notched 53 and 41 respectively by chanceless cricket, the first-named showing specially good form. If the Litherland team have many such close finishes as they are recently experiencing the players may well come to suffer from nerves. After the tie game of the previous Saturday, they went under to Birkenhead Victoria by the narrow margin of 10 runs, 85 to 95. J. Sefton, with 4 wickets, carried off the bowling honours. CRICKET TOURS OR DAY MATCHES.—Ex-County Cricketer open for engagement as Tour Mauager, or for Umpiring or Scoring.— D a n ie ll, 32, Raul Road, Peckham, S.E.