One very important event, however, has to be recorded.
On July 17th and 18th a two-day match was arranged against M.C.C. and Ground, and the team was captained by no less a person than “W. G.” himself. Unfortunately, he could not come down for the first day’s play; but let Mr. Grace speak for himself:—
15th September, 1903.
Dear Captain Statham,—In answer to your inquiries re my visit to the Britannia in 1889. My son, H. E. Grace, was not then on the Britannia, as he did not join until January, 1890. It was through Lieutenant Abdy, who had played with me at Lord’s, that I promised to play. Gloucestershire were playing the Gentlemen of Philadelphia at Bristol on the first day, and it was arranged that I should get down for the second day if I could not go for the first. As the match at Bristol was not over, I did not get to Dartmouth until late in the evening of the first day’s play. My friend Abdy was just leaving the Britannia, as he had been ordered off to the manœuvres, so took no part in the second day’s cricket. Lieutenant de Robeck was deputed to look after me, which I need not say he did right well. You will see by the enclosed score that I was absent the first innings. After the match was over another was started, in which I took part. It ended in a draw. I remember the best form was shown by Abdy, de Robeck, Taylor, and Royds. Underwood, the professional coach, took the greatest interest in the cadets’ cricket, and did wonders for them, considering he had only had them under his charge for two years. I am sorry I do not recollect more details, but to go back fourteen years is a long time.
Believe me, yours truly,
W. G. Grace.
As will be seen by the score, Britannia had to follow on, scoring only 61 against 156. They did better in their “second venture” (as the “daily” cricket reporter hath it), but M.C.C. won easily by seven wickets.
CRICKET, FOOTBALL, AND ROWING TROPHIES, AND THE RUSHWORTH SEAL.
Photo: Cassell & Co., Ltd.
| M.C.C. AND G. v. H.M.S. “BRITANNIA.” | |||
| Played at Dartmouth, July 17th and 18th, 1889. | |||
| M.C.C. | |||
| First Innings. | Second Innings. | ||
| L. F. B. Dykes, c and b Underwood | 18 | ||
| Chatterton, c Abdy, b Taylor | 47 | c De Robeck, b Taylor | 6 |
| G. Crake, b Taylor | 0 | not out | 0 |
| [!-- original location of full page illustration --][!-- blank page --]Rev. N. Copleston, b Underwood | 42 | ||
| West, J. E., not out | 33 | ||
| Rev. G. T. Warner, b Underwood | 2 | ||
| Mycroft, W., b Abdy | 0 | ||
| R. T. Warner, b Underwood | 3 | ||
| W. G. Grace, absent | 0 | not out | 30 |
| P. Steele, absent | 0 | run out | 2 |
| C. Crowdy, absent | 0 | c Underwood, b Taylor | 6 |
| Byes, 8; wides, 3 | 11 | l b, 1; w, 3; n b, 1 | 5 |
| Total | 156 | Total | 49 |
| H.M.S. “Britannia.” | |||
| First Innings. | Second Innings. | ||
| Underwood, b Mycroft | 7 | run out | 43 |
| Taylor, b Mycroft | 0 | b Chatterton | 14 |
| Lieut. de Robeck, c and b Chatterton | 10 | b Dykes | 12 |
| C. Stratton, run out | 6 | c Grace, b Chatterton | 15 |
| P. Francklin, c Dykes, b Chatterton | 3 | c Steele, b Dykes | 7 |
| Lieut. R. Abdy, c Taylor, b Mycroft | 12 | st West, b Dykes | 6 |
| C. E. Pilkington, b Mycroft | 2 | b Chatterton | 14 |
| P. M. R. Royds, c G. Warner, b Chatterton | 2 | b Grace | 15 |
| E. M. Tims, not out | 12 | st West, b Mycroft | 4 |
| C. L. Lewin, l b w, b Mycroft | 4 | b Chatterton | 7 |
| P. A. H. Brown, c Dykes, b Chatterton | 0 | not out | 2 |
| Byes | 3 | b, 1; l b, 3 | 4 |
| Total | 61 | Total | 143 |
| M.C.C. won by seven wickets. | |||
In the second match M.C.C. went in first and declared at 118 for two wickets. “W. G.” made 48 before he was bowled by Mr. Taylor, hitting out of the ground several times: Chatterton, not out 57.
Britannia made 82 for nine wickets before time was called; Mr. Grace took seven of them.