Cricket Witness No 5 - Whites on Green

18 The creation of St. Helen’s Through the efforts of Bancroft and the patronage of Llewelyn and Livingston, plus the support of other traders and businessmen in Swansea, the St. Helen’s ground became the best equipped venue in the area and one which could rival Cardiff’s facilities at the Arms Park. An indication of this came with the arrangements for a three-day game between a XXII of Swansea and District against a United South of England XI in May 1876, The United XI included WG Grace and the good doctor really enjoyed himself as he made 51 in the England team’s first innings before claiming fifteen wickets when the Swansea team batted, including both JTD Llewelyn and William Bancroft The locals were dismissed for 40, leaving the United side with a target of 75, but John Parnham, the left-arm spinner who was the professional at Llandovery College, claimed five wickets, including those of both WG and Fred Grace, to set up a tense finish. The situation seemed however to be too much for the scorers, as the local newspaper reported: “the finish of the game was extremely exciting with the last man sent to the wicket, Dr. Bramhall [a late replacement for one of the professionals] having only one run to make to win the game. But when he was cleverly bowled by Platts, amidst the enthusiastic shouts of the Twenty-Two and the ringing applause of the spectators, the match thus ended in a tie. There was however some dispute respecting the score, but we understand that it was agreed that it should stand as a tie.” 2 A newspaper advert promoting the visit of the United South of England team in 1876.