Cricket 1913

1 0 0 CRTCKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M a r c h 15, 1013. Club Cricket Notes and Jottings. Though they reach me rather late, I am pleased to be able to give the averages of the Littlehampton C.C., who always meet a few London clubs each season. I don't in the least mean to imply that only the London clubs and their opponents concern me ; on the contrary, I should be very glad to hear regularly from the secretaries of more country clubs. But a reminder that Littlehampton is by no means a bad place to include in a South Coast tour may not be out of place. Littlehampton played and beat Ibis, Catford, and Upper Sydenham in 1912, drew with Battersea, and had to abandon their match with Staines owing to rain. Altogether they won 5 matches (their other victories being over Arundel and Hampshire Rovers, lost 4 (Sussex Nursery, Sussex Martlets, Worthing, and Mr. B. H. Holloway’s XI.), and drew 4. E. L. Harris, who played more innings than anyone else for the side, made more runs, and took more wickets, also scored the only century— his first. The total of the innings (v. Upper Sydenham) was 198, and the next highest score only 18 ! Players known to fame for at least a quarter of a century in the persons of F. H. Gresson, F. E. Rowe, and A. F. Somerset, figure well up in the averages which follow. Arthur Collins, of Sussex fame, also played two or three times, and just missed the century in one innings. LITTLEHAM PTON C.C. : 1912. Played, 13 ; won, 5 ; lost, 4 ; drawn 4. Two matches were abandoned. B a t t in g A v e r a g e s . Inns. N.O. R. A. IIS . F. H. Gresson .. 5 0 131 26*20 63 G. Woodhams 5 0 125 25-00 38 F. E. Rowe .. 11 2 221 24*55 60 P. B. W allis .. 5 1 96 24-00 28* E. A. Pritchard 5 1 93 23-25 36 A. F. Somerset 9 3 136 22-66 59* E. L. Harris .. 15 0 338 22*53 108 R. P. Davies .. 11 0 151 13-81 39 W. F. Zchnder 0 1 103 12 -62 37 R. F. Mitchell 8 0 9- 11-50 30 W. L. Harris .. 7 0 70 10-00 28 — . Fernandez 5 1 39 9*75 i 8 A. H. Shotter .. 7 2 38 7 - 6 o 19* F. Somerset 7 1 43 7 - i 6 17 A. C. Somerset 7 0 38 5*42 12 C. J. Pearson .. 7 1 . . 26 B o w lin g A v e r a g e s . 4’33 20 0. M. R. W . A. C. J. Pearson.. 69-3 26 145 20 7-25 A. Cowles 71-4 14 229 19 12-05 F. M. Camroux 2 9 4 117 8 . . . 14-62 F. H. Gresson 87-5 13 319 20 15*95 R. P. Davies 66 >. 12 217 13 16-69 E. L. Harris .. 206-s 39 647 38 16-85 A. C. Somerset 85-4 9 264 8 33*00 The second XI. had a remarkably good season. They played as many as 17 matches (3 others had to be abandoned) and won 14 of them, losing only one. W. J. Norris, who totalled 452 in 7 innings, once not out, and averaged over 75, scored one century, and G. Woodhams, in his only game for the second XL, another. E. L. Harris had the highest aggregate (516, average 56-22), but did not take as many wickets as his brother, W. Harris, who had 40 at under 6 each, A. Cowles having 31 at a trifle over 6, and E. L. Harris 34 at 8‘2o, It is worth noting that C. J. Pearson, who topped the bowling averages for the first X I., was last on the list for the 2nd, though with the capital average of under 9 per wicket. The South Shields C.C. held their annual dinner in the King’s Hall on February 14, the Mayor (Councillor J. W. Henderson) taking the chair, and being supported by a representative body of City fathers and cricket enthusiasts. In proposing the toast of the South Shields C.C., the Mayor mentioned the fact that the club is 46 years old. It has a membership (including the tennis section) of 373 at present. Printed and published for the Proprietors by C rick et & Sports Agents for Australia, dc., Gordon <k G otch, London, Melbourne, Sydn For South Africa, C e n t r a l News A gency, There had been a steady increase in gate-money, which was £32 odd in 1898, ^48 five years later, ^83 in 1908, and ^184 in 1912, in spite of the bad weather. This was very necessary, for the club pays a heavy rent for its ground at Westoe, which the Mayor trusted would never fall into the hands of the builder. Last year the club was fifth in the Durham Senior League, having hard luck in losing 8 points for want of under 30 runs— defeats by 1 run, 2 runs, 8 runs, and 12 runs being experienced. Harry had been re-engaged as professional — a popular choice. In replying to the toast, the captain, Mr. T. Coulson, said that the club had done its best to play the game in a sporting manner. He referred to the match with Philadelphia in which they had disposed of their opponents for a total of 11, and to Harry’s recent perform­ ance in taking 113 wickets in League matches. Mr. McAndrew was presented with the ball, silver-mounted and inscribed, with which he took 6 wickets for 2 runs on June 22 v. Philadelphia. Knowle and Dorridge, one of the leading clubs of purely amateur t3'pe around Birmingham, held their annual meeting on February 19, when the President, Mr. Robert Ibbotson, took the chair. The Hon. Sec.’s report stated that 1912 was not one of the club’s most successful years ; the side was essentially a hard wicket one, and the muddy conditions had not suited it. The pavilion had been enlarged at considerable cost, quite cleared off, however, by the generosity of the members. Mr. Ibbotson had a big hand in this much-needed improvement, and every one was pleased that he had consented to fill the presidential post again this year. Regret is felt that Mr. J. H. James, captain for eight years past, should have resigned ; but in Mr. C. L. Hughes he will have a worthy successor. Mr. John Balkwill is vice-captain. Messrs. H. Preston and R. V. Parsons were re-elected to the captaincy and vice­ captaincy of the 2nd X I. There is a change in the secretary­ ship, too, the club losing a most zealous and efficient official in Mr. A. E. Button, who for some years has been the honorary general and financial secretary. He has consented to fill a place on the new committee though, so is not lost entirely. The mantle of his responsibility has been cut in twain, and while Mr. Percy Nichols will act as financial secretary the other duties will be undertaken by Mr. Wilfrid Hughes. A hearty vote of thanks to Messrs. James and Button was recorded, and Mr. J. W. Williams, a worker for thirty years in the cause of the game in the district, was also thus distinguished on resigning (owing to pressure of work) his place on the committee. The professional, Snow, has been re-engaged and the club has an excellent fixture-list for 1913. Every one is looking forward to a real summer, not a miserable apology for one like that of 1912 ; but, good weather or bad, matches won or lost, Knowle and Dorridge are safe to enjoy their cricket, and to play the game in the spirit of true sport. Acton Town’s meeting took place on February 24, at Mill Hill Grove, when a good report was presented by the Hon. Sec., Mr. F. King. The 1st XI. won 12 matches as against 8 lo st; the 2nd. XI. won 5, lost 10. With a com­ paratively small income and membership, the club makes ends meet, gives a lot of good sport at a trifling cost, and has a capital gound in Gunnersbury Lane, opposite Acton Town station. I note in the report a reference to C r i c k e t , and am glad to see it. South-West Ham are holding a whist-drive on March 26 Tickets, is. 6d. each, can be had of the Hon. Sec., Mr. J . S. Cossington, 287, Romford Road, E. W an ted : Copies of C r ick e t numbered 857, 879, and 889. Threepence each offered. Manager, C r ick e t , 125 , Strand, W.C. P ub lish ers Ltd ., 125 , Strand, London, W.C., March 15 th; 1013 . ?y, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Launceston, Hobart and Wellington, N Z. _ t d ., Cape Town, Johannesburg and branches.