1 1 things,” but, much to every one’s surprise, they were quite unable to make any stand against Steel’s insidious slows, and there was no form shown by any one. The following days, against M.C.C. and Ground, the same want of form was apparent. Hirst played a brilliant innings ; but no one else supported him. Has Rugby, like one or two other schools, ceased to practice steadily ? has she been seized with a desire for tall hitting and sensation strokes ? We trust n o t ; hut we fear from what wo sawrat Lora’s and from what wto hear from an old Hug., that such may ho the case. Cunliffe bowled very straight, hut did not mako the improvement that we had expected him to do. Burton at times bowled a difficult ball, but is not to be depended upon. Winchester had not at all a good cloven this year. Thornton was their best batsman, but wo doubt his being in the same class with the best bats of other schools; besides him Baines was the only other good bat. Hooper, slow left, did most of the bowling; possibly in another year he may develop into a good bowler. He remains on at Winchester as captain. Writing of Cheltenham cricket for 1875, T he A nnual said : “ Having strict regard to truth, wo must say that cricket at Cheltenham is not in a satis­ factory state. At times the performances appear brilliant, but far oftenor they aro of the weakest order.” So true are these words that they apply -equally to 1876. In some degree Cheltenham stands at a disadvantage ; she, fax more than other schools, sends boys up direct for Woolwich, Cooper's Hill, and the Army competitions, and these examinations take place during the cricket season. Again, at Cheltenham the river and the rifle range are are so far away from the school that it is impossible for any boy to combine the two amusements, and doubtless the cricket suffers to some extent. Still, after making due allowances, the cricket is decidedly unsatisfactory. In the match against Marlborough they lost the services of Peabody and Lruitt. and were defeated by 6 wickets; Steel getting 12 wickets, and scoring 18 and 28 not-out. In the Clifton match neither Peabody nor Hayes were able to play ; yet Cheltenham were certainly not worsted, Ciitton having 2 wickets to fail and 37 runs to win. Yet Clifton were much the stronger school in every department, though the Cheltenham fielding in this match could not have been surpassed. Taylor is a sound, painstaking cricketer, and, wffien ho gains strength and experience, ought to make a real first-class bat. Moore, who is entered at Cambridge, is a very powerful bat, especially on the off, but ruins his play by continually forcing that stroke; consequently he is often a brilliant failure. Milvain has decided capabilities, and ought to be very good next year, both with bat and ball. There is tho same lack of life and interest which has been so apparent these throe or four years, and until this changes, the cricket will not be satisfactory. In batting perhaps Clifton were not as strong as in 1875, but their bowliu was certainly better, and their fielding was smart and brisk, as school iieldin should be. Greene has the enormous average of 59 for eleven innings, on four occasions being “ not out,” always going in early. He possesses very strong defence and inexhaustible patience, also cuts prettily, though as yet wants more freedom to excel; is a capital field, and is going to Oxford, where no doubt we shall hear of him again. In Fowler, the captain (wdiose average is 42), Clifton possessed a very powerful hitter, with improving defence ; he also showed promise of keeping wicket fairly. We shall look to him and Greene to support the Clifton reputation at Oxford. Evans, on his day, is a difficult bowler, fast, with a break-back; but he seems inclined to sacrifice accuracy and precision tu pace. Heisa good bat; remain* at Clilton as captain. Haynes (fast round), Knight (slow left), and Spence (medium left), were above the average oi school lowlers/and in this department certainly Clifton wvis stronger than any other s •hook We hear upon reliable authority that c>