Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

unplayable. Within a couple of hours Somerset had lost by an innings and 375 runs. Somerset were all out for 37 in each innings; this defeat is still the third worst in the club’s history. The press were already questioning whether the West Country side was good enough, and others went further by saying it would be the team’s last season in the Championship. There was then a gap in the fixtures for over a month until, with Lionel free from his studies, he joined the team to play Lancashire at Taunton starting on July 9. Sam Woods, who had now finished at Cambridge, also joined the side, with Lionel’s brother Richard, who was also making his Championship debut. Apart from one innings Lionel had hardly scored a run all season and although he made only 37 in the first innings he played well enough to suggest that he was coming into some sort of form. Still winless the team moved to Maidstone to play Kent. Electing to bat Kent could only make 106. Lionel then played a chanceless innings of 79 to help give his side a lead of 112 which eventually led to a five wicket victory, the team’s first in the Championship. His form continued as he then hit 53, in the ten wicket victory over Gloucestershire; and in the next game making 76 in the first innings in difficult conditions, as Yorkshire thrashed Somerset by 262 runs at Taunton. The team gained revenge at Bradford winning by six wickets, Lionel making a fluent 55 in the first innings. Then on August 13, the team welcomed the county champions Surrey to Taunton for the re-match. Somerset led on first innings by 40 runs. Starting the second innings Lionel made a solid 60, which enabled his team to declare, setting Surrey 372 runs to win. Amidst great excitement Sam Woods took the last Previous page: The team that brought Somerset to the first class ranks. Standing: HE Murray-Anderdon (honorary secretary), AE Newton, T Spencer (honorary secretary), JB Challen, WN Roe, VT Hill, T Knight (scorer). Seated: CJ Robinson, SMJ Woods, HT Hewett (captain), LCH Palairet, Tyler and Nichols. Sitting front: Capt WC Hedley and G Fowler University and plenty of sport 28