Lives in Cricket No 38 - Lionel Robinson

97 The death of Lionel Robinson and the fate of his cricket ground quality of the opposition also improved which meant that the club won only 14 matches and lost as many as 11, including four on the tour, which had been resurrected after a gap of two years. Although the stalwart Rodney Rought-Rought was unable to play regularly, 66 his absence was partly compensated for by appearances by his baby brother Desmond and Harold Theobald, both county players in the making. With the standard improving, there was no chance that Gates would shine and his ten innings brought him just 65 runs. The year 1930 showed a similar pattern of South Norfolk putting out high quality elevens against tough opposition such as Felixstowe and the Gentlemen of Lincolnshire. Twelve matches were won and 14 lost, as Basil Rought-Rought and Thomas Carey made many runs, and Len Hart totally dominated the bowling, taking no fewer than 117 wickets without having significant support at the other end. Gates batted just four times and bowled not at all. For some reason, only a truncated list of fixtures was arranged for 1931, with a mere 23 matches played, as compared with the 37 arranged in the previous year. Both batting and bowling averages appear to be lower than usual, which might point to a deterioration in the quality of the wickets. Given that Gates was heading towards bankruptcy, it is not too hard to imagine that financial outlay on 66 The following paragraph was printed on page eight of the 4 May issue of The Cricketer ; Volume X (1929): ‘ Fast Bowler Wanted. South Norfolk, who have arranged a most attractive Whitsun tour, require a fast bowler to take the place of the Norfolk bowler, R.C. Rought Rought, who is reading for an examination. Any player who can take part in the tour can be assured of a splendid week’s cricket, for all the matches, the first of which is against Skegness on May 18, take place on first-class grounds. The Whit-Monday game is against Lincoln Lindum, followed by matches with Peterborough, Leicester Amateurs, Sleaford, and Kettering, the tour finishing on Friday, May 24. All hotel accommodation has been arranged, and there will be no travelling expenses from Norwich or Cambridge, as members of the South Norfolk club are providing cars. L.W.J. Hart, of Old Buckenham, Norfolk, will be very pleased to supply any further details.’ South Norfolk CC 1928. Front - R Warren, LWJ Hart, BW Rought-Rought, Dr JH Owens, JJ Williams; middle - R Warren, W Dann, RC Rought-Rought, EE Gates; back - EP Hogg, DC Rought-Rought.