Lives in Cricket No 5 - Rockley Wilson

and probably other clubs with which he was associated, too. Wilson once described his batting in club cricket as “more unscrupulous than in first-class cricket”, but when he put his mind to it he did make some good scores, even hundreds. For example, in 1904 he scored 114 for Free Foresters against Green Jackets at Winchester. Similarly while he often contented himself with two or three wickets before coming off, there were occasions when he ran through even strong club sides. In term-time, Rockley played for the Winchester Dons XI, invariably strengthened by one or two boys from the school, and also for Winchester City. It is not easy to find records of Rockley’s performances for these clubs, but the reminiscences of a fellow Winchester ‘don’ after Rockley’s death suffice to show that his skills, particularly as a bowler, were well to the fore. He describes how in one match when Rockley was bowling and he was fielding, “a biggish man with a rather convex front came in. Rockley moved me about 20 yards to the onside of the screen. Presently the bait was cunningly offered, just short of a half volley outside the off stump. I don’t think I had to move a yard as the ball came nicely into my hands. Soon after, number eight came in, an even more Winchester 57 Fully blazered. Northern Nomads side at Market Drayton, Shropshire, with Rockley Wilson seated right, wearing his Yorkshire cap.