Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

31 Raikes’ Meteoric Rise as a Top Quality Footballer W.T.Barwell (Thorpe) E.W.Newby (CEYMS) P.W.Oscroft (Sidney Sussex) J.H.Manly (Clare) *T.N.Perkins (Jesus) *G.P.Dewhurst (Trinity) J.Sharples (Caius) *N.C.Cooper (Jesus) R.H.Foy (Jesus) - W.S.Buckmaster (Trinity) *W.J.Cruikshank (Jesus ) L.V.Lodge (Magdalen) E.V.Gostling (Caius) (* denotes a ‘Blue’) CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY The report in the Eastern Daily Press observed: “A Norfolk eleven journeyed to Cambridge yesterday, the match being played on Parker’s Piece in fine weather and before a fairly good company. The game proved to be too one-sided to be interesting, the County being outplayed at all points. The Varsity, who were strongly represented, kept up an incessant bombardment of their opponents’ goal, and but for their frequent erratic shooting and the brilliant goal-keeping of Raikes, Norfolk would undoubtedly have been more decisively beaten than the result showed. The County forwards all through seemed to lack combination… the home team, on the contrary, worked well together … “The Varsity kicked off and immediately assumed the aggressive, Sharples from a good pass shooting wide. Newby then got away and put in a good shot, which was well saved. The home pack now obtained possession, and through a neat run by Manly, the visitors’ citadel was again in danger, but Scotter cleared well. For a time give-and-take play was the order. The County goal… was attacked, and the defence was sorely tried. Shot after shot proved ineffectual, Raikes saving splendidly. Brown then again got away and … passed to Newby, but he sent it over the bar. Pressing still further, the Varsity completely penned their opponents, and Sharples, by good play, sent the ball to Dewhurst, who by a warm shot drew first blood … The third (sic) and fourth goals followed in quick succession, and the visitors seemed utterly unable to stop the persistent efforts of their opponents. Nothing daunted the attack was kept up, and registered the fifth point. Half-time was called immediately after Raikes had once more ably defended his charge, the game standing – Varsity, 5 points; Norfolk 0. On resuming, play was immediately taken to the visitors’ preserves, and, in fact, it proved almost a repetition of the game in the first half. The County had to act very much on the defensive, their forwards now and again transferring the ball to the Varsity’s quarters, but the shooting was ineffectual, and no point was scored. The home town, by good passing in which Sharples and Dewhurst shone, soon gained the sixth and seventh points, and Foy put in a beautiful long kick , but Raikes saved in capital style. Just before time was called Perkins scored the eighth and last point, the custodian losing his footing at the critical moment. Norfolk were thus decisively beaten by eight goals to nil.” Generally, a keeper who is required to retrieve the ‘pill’ from the ‘onion bag’ on as many as eight occasions would best avoid the critics, but Raikes received nothing but fulsome praise from the press. The Athletic News , a