Cricket 1912

F e b . 24, 1912. CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OP THE GAME. 29 ford boy) and F. W . Cooper. Nine wickets were flown for 62, but they took the score to 167. Messrs. F. W . Porter (91) and D. J. Meintjes (67) not out in the first, and Messrs. R. Beaumont (86), A. H. 0. Cooper (80) and J. W . Zulch (66) in the second innings were the biggest scorers for Johannesburg. The visitors to the Rand for the trials, with a few Transvaal players helping them, were split up into two elevens, and on Saturday and Sunday (December 23 and 24) Mr. F. Bond’s team met Randfontein, and Mr. P. T. Lewis’s Team played Bast Rand Proprietary Mines. Mr. Nourse made 61 in an hour in the former match, Mr. Herbert Taylor helping him to add 79 for the fourth wicket ; and Mr. P. J. Heather (son of the former secretary of the Victorian Cricket Association) h it up 88 in 70 minutes for the borne side. A slashing hitter, Mr. Heather was thought to have quite a good chance of a trip to England, but though he did some more big hitting in the second Transvaal v. Rest match he is not among the chosen. The biggest scores in the Vogelfontein match were 75 by Mr. C. P. Carter for the scratch eleven, and 68 by Mr. S. J. Pegler for E.R.P.M. The last-named, who is considered by some a great all-round player in posse, while others gird at his inclusion, ran up a century for B.R.P.M. v. Randfontein a week or two later. • The third big trial was to have lasted throe days, but was finished in two, and another game was played to fill up time on the third day. The score is given but the match cannot be ranked quite on the same plane as the others, for no one seems to have taken it very seriously. The R ev. H e n ry S idney A rm itstead was for three years in the Charterhouse X I., and captain in bis last, viz., 1855, when Lillywhite’s Guide said of him : “ His thorough knowledge of the game enabled him to fill most ably the office of captain. His batting throughout the season was excellent. His style is good, and he possesses great freedom in hitting all round. His bowling throughout the season was well up to the mark. Perhaps a little more steadiness in his batting would improve his scores.” At Christ Church, Oxford, he was elected a Harlequin, but he did not obtain his blue. Scores and Biographies records that he bowled middle-paced round-armed, approaching the fast, and in the field occupied “ no place in particular,” though often wicket-keeper. He was younger brother of the late Rev. W . G. Armitstead, of Oxford, and, like him, was one of the founders of the Free Foresters and took part in the first game ever played by that club-—against Pilgrims of the Dee on July 20th, 1856. Mr. Armitstead also played in the famous tie-match at Trent Bridge in 1863, as Mr. H. Instead, between 14 Free Foresters and Nottinghamshire. The game was arranged as a benefit for Frank Tinley, and in the first innings of his side Mr. Armit­ stead was top scorer with 18. He made some excellent scores in the North of England, but seldom played in matches of importance. He was born at the Hermitage, near Holmes Chapel, in Cheshire, on June 13th, 1837, and died at Glyngarth, near Menai Bridge, on January 29th. During last month there died in Detroit, U .S .A ., a gentleman who was captain of the old Peninsular Club in that city in days when cricket flourished there, as unhappily it does not now. Mr. U n d e r w o o d A r m s t r o n g was born at Stockton-on-Tees on September 14th, 1834, and was consequently in his 78th year at the date of his death. He passed more than half-a-century in Detroit, where he was a great man in the building and contracting line. He played many times for Detroit against various Canadian clubs— owing to its situation the Michigan city has always had much cricket intercourse with Canada— and was a member of the Detroit eleven which in 1877 made a short tour over the border, playing Toronto, Hamilton, and Paris. Probably his greatest achievement was a fine innings of 76 not out for the Peninsular Club v. St. Mary’s (Ont.) in 1879. T h e R e v . G e o r g e R ic h a r d D u p u is , who was born at Eton on March 23rd, 1835, died at Sossay, in Yorkshire, on January 30tli. He was in the Eton X I. in 1851 and two following years and was on the losing side in all six Public School matches—against Harrow and Winchester— in which he took part. He made 84 runs in twelve innings in those games, his highest score being 34 v. Harrow in 1851. Proceeding to Cambridge, he soon proved himself one of the best players in residence, but he appeared in only one match— that of 1857—against Oxford, as the authorities of King’s College did not make things easy for undergraduate cricketers. He was elected captain for 1858, but being appointed to a mastership at Eton had to resign the post and commence at Eton the good work which Messrs. R . A. H. Mitchell and C. M. Wells have continued. In A History of the Cambridge University Cricket Club it is stated that “ In 1857 an arrangement was made by G . R . Dupuis, J. Makinson and R . A. Bayford, the treasurer for the year, to pay Fenner £40 for the use of the ground during the May Term, but in five matches he was to have the gate money and to pay £10 for the use of the pavilion in the Long Vacation.” It was in 1857 that Mr. Dupuis gained his blue, but although he was the most successful batsman on his side with scores of 23 and 35 not out Oxford won by 81 runs. Scores and Biographies says of him :— “ Height, 6ft 2in., and weight between 13st. and 14st. Distinguished himself both at Eton and Cambridge, being a fine free hitter, and in the field was generally long-leg, cover-point and middle- wicket-off..............Was asked but was unable to play in the Gentlemen v. Players match at the Oval in 1857.” He played for Buckinghamshire in the famous match with Middlesex at Islington in 1864, when the latter, after following-on 218 behind, ran up 463 and won by 138 runs. The match was described in verse by William Wilson, Professor of Music, and the subject of this notice was referred to in the line “ Next Dupuis, bowled by V. E. Walker, left with a ghastly grin.” Mr. Dupuis had been a member of the M.C.C. since 1871. W il l ia m H a m p s o n , who was born at Marsden, near Huddersfield, on August 1, 1857, died there, at his residence, “ East View,” on February 6th. In his prime, Hampson was a good all-round cricketer, but excelled more especially as a slow left-hand bowler. In May, 1882, he appeared at Sheffield for 22 Colts of Yorkshire against the County eleven, and obtained 4 wickets for 33 runs in their onl\ innings, which totalled 178. Later in the season he was invited to play with the county, but his club (Middlesbrough) refused him the necessary leave of absence. As a consequence, Robert Peel filled the vacancy and retained his position. In that season Hampson obtained in all matches 213 wickets at an average cost of six runs apiece. Subsequently he declined invitations at different times to qualify for Sussex, Lancashire, Middlesex and Warwickshire. He was greatly devoted to the game, and a few years ago issued a pamphlet containing his reminiscences as a cricketer for the benefit of his local club. From this we gather that he fulfilled professional engagements at Bury in 1880, Wimble­ don in 1881, Middlesbrough in 1882, Oldham in 1883, and Hodgson and Simpson’s in 1884. In subsequent years he was engaged with Elland, Lascelles Hall, Huddersfield United, Cliffe End, Burnley, Bingley and Liverpool, where he was head professional of the seven retained. In 1895 he returned to his native village, and it was largely owing to his all-round ability that the Marsden Club played in the final tie for the Lumb Cup that season, and actually won it the following year. A.C.D. M r . J o h n C a m d e n H a y w a r d , who died at Farningham on January 23rd, was born at Dartford on August 8th, 1839. H e was a member of the Winchester Eleven of 1856, and in the match with Eton, which Winchester lost, he scored four in each innings. It was at that time written of him, “ H a s a good defence, but is much too stiff.” Subse­ quently he played for the Gentlemen of Kent, and in their match with the Gentlemen of Berkshire at Gore Court in 1860 made the highest score— 33— obtained for either side