Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

95 events mentioned in Cricket , the cricketers either won or were well placed and other passengers appear not to have had a look-in. During the voyage, three cricket matches were played against the officers of the ship, and in each case with the same natural result, the defeat of the sailors. Some sports were held on November 30 and December 4 with Mr W.W.Read as starter, Mr Murdoch and the chief officer of the ship as judges. The card comprised eighteen events and some of the best prizes were won by members of the eleven. Mr Brann won the half mile in fine style. The potato race to F. Martin with V. Barton second. J.T.Hearne, who was second in the half-mile walking race, won the high jump easily, Hearne second. W. Chatterton won the standing long jump, as well as the sprint race, twice round the deck, with J.T. Hearne and F. Martin in the order named. Putting the weight fell to the captain of the team, Mr W.W.Read, Mr G. Brann a good second. Mr J.J.Ferris took second prize for skipping, and Mr F.Martin was third in putting the bar. The tug-of-war was won by the first-class eight (including seven of the cricket team) who gained the second and third pulls. On December 4, W. Chatterton and A.D.Pougher won the Double Quoits. W.Brockwell was beaten in the final of the singles by only two points. The winners in the whist tournament turned up in G.Ayres and W. Brockwell. 169 On arrival in Cape Town they were met by officials of the Western Province Club, including W.H.Milton. Also in the welcoming party were Frank Hearne, later to play against them and Surrey cricketer, Charles Mills, also earning a crust ‘pro-ing’ and coaching in South Africa. The first matches, against Eleven of Cape Town, then Fifteen of Cape Colony, played just before and just after Christmas, were both drawn. The Cricket Annual summarised the tour as follows: The team taken out to South Africa by Mr. W W Read was all-round a stronger side than its predecessor in 1888-9 under the leadership of Major Warton, and its success in the field, notwithstanding the progress in cricket made by the colony during the interval, was certainly much more pronounced….. Altogether twenty matches were played, of which thirteen were won and the remaining seven drawn. Of the undecided games 169 Cricket 31 December 1891 South Africa 1891/92