Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

Woods were finding it harder to come by wickets; the side was in desperate need of stronger bowling, though overall Wisden concluded that the bowling would have won more games if the batting had not been so frail. For Lionel it had been a poor season; apart from not scoring a century, he never played regularly and only played the odd non-county game. I think his poor season was partly down to lack of practice and not playing regularly. Perhaps to keep fit, he played some football and in April 1898 was playing for Taunton Football Club, a forerunner to the current Taunton Town formed in 1947 and not connected to the original team. This season marks the last known football game by Lionel, when on April 19 Taunton played Yeovil Casuals in the Somerset Cup. Lionel, obviously past his best, was recorded by the press as ‘missing a number of good chances’. Also playing with him were Ernest Robson and Beaumont Cranfield both Somerset county cricket players. Lionel did not appear in the replay; he could have thought it was time to finally hang up his boots. He also tried his hand at hockey, turning out for a game for Taunton against Bridgwater. With 200 in attendance the match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Lionel scoring the first for Taunton; this is the only known reference to him playing hockey. It would appear he was at least keeping fit for the forthcoming season. He again played in the colts’ match, which was titled L Palairet’s eleven versus SMJ Woods’ eleven, played at Taunton, on May 11 and 12. He made a good 57, the match though did not produce any potential new worthwhile county players. The prospects for the team looked bleak. The bowling was weak, with Woods and Nichols being virtually finished as effective bowlers. Tyler was still taking wickets but was having more off days and by 1900 virtually finished, as he was called for throwing by Jim Phillips. Robson was a useful all-rounder but had yet to make regular match-winning contributions. It was hoped George Gill and Bertie Cranfield, both having made their debuts the year before, would develop, if given more opportunities. The batting was also a problem. Lionel was playing less, and many of the old team were getting older or restricted from playing due to other commitments. One find from 1897 was Frank Phillips but his Army duties would limit his appearances for the county. Sam Marriage, family, work and Somerset 55