Lives in Cricket No 27 - CB Llewellyn

84 Accrington The following season saw further success for Accrington who ended fourth in the competition, aided by a succession of steady performances from Buck with the ball. The best of them all came in August in a series of notable allround performances: 22.5-4-66-7 and 54* against East Lancashire 10.3-1-23-7 and 49 against Haslingden 12-3-22-7 and 47 at home against Rawtenstall 17-2-57-8 and 6 away against Rawtenstall. As we have seen, 1913 was also the season in which he hit Kermode the Bacup professional, all over the ground in scoring his unbeaten 188. In 1914, with 16 victories and only two defeats, Accrington had a magnificent season and finally won the Lancashire League championship with 40 points. They lost to East Lancashire by three wickets on 9 May when Buck’s figures were three wickets for 78, though he hit up 42, and to Church on 4 July, which was no fault of his as he returned figures of five wickets for 31. After this match Accrington went undefeated for the rest of the season, with nine successes, and only two draws, both in matches affected by rain. In this spell he was more prominent with the bat, only twice failing to score and hitting up consistent totals of 33, 50 not out, 53, 73 not out and 57. Curiously, his outstanding wicket-taking achievements all came in May – and all led to victories. The club won 16 matches and drew eight. The pivotal game was the penultimate one at home against Colne, who eventually ended up third. Accrington dismissed them for 101, Walmsley being the principal destroyer, taking six wickets for 52 and went on to win by seven wickets. Grand ceremonies were to take place after their final match, against Bacup; that game was rained off, but the Accrington players made the journey in a motor char-à-banc, with their supporters following. The presentation ceremony was followed by a triumphal procession back home and a celebration dinner at the Commercial Hotel, Accrington. The season to crown these years of achievement was, in spite of the outbreak of the First World War, 1915, when cricket in the League went ahead though there was an increasing atmosphere of turbulence brought about by conscription, uncertainty and death. In Accrington there was immense gratification at the team’s performance; of their 23 matches they won 18 and went through the summer undefeated. Not once did Buck bowl without taking at least one wicket and in twelve matches he secured a ‘five-for’