FIRST ELEVEN, 1889: OPPONENTS OF “W. G.’S” TEAM.
Photo: Smale & Son, Dartmouth.
“A Newcomer”—evidently an executive officer who had passed the Britannia in his youth—takes occasion to remark upon the vast improvement in the cricket of the cadets, and attributes this to the careful coaching of the professional. He says—“The form and confidence displayed now is quite different from that of twelve years ago. The bowling is much improved, but it is a bit wild at times, from the very mistaken idea of trying to bowl too fast, which is always prevalent among boys so young. The fielding is also very good, and quite up to the form of any of the public schools, who do not have such a difficult piece of ground to perform on.”
The year 1893, as many will remember, was remarkable for its long dry summer; indeed, the summer appeared to commence in April, and went right through to September, so that most cricket grounds—the Britannia’s included—were any colour you like except green.
It was naturally a season for batsmen, and Britannia made some long scores.
Against Exeter Grammar School they declared at 249 for 3 wickets; their opponents were perhaps tired by their leather-hunting, for they did not avail themselves of run-getting weather, being all out for 49. Mannamead School and Plymouth Cricket Club were also handsomely beaten, while South Devon, against Britannia’s 186 for 7 wickets, scored 116 for 9, and just managed to keep their end up until time was called: a moral victory for Britannia.
The second eleven won nearly all their matches: Paignton School were beaten by 203 to 74, and Montpelier School by 146 (for 7 wickets) to 32.
Cadets Begg and Backhouse had each a creditable bowling analysis, the former getting 26, and the latter 34 wickets for an average of under eight runs each.
The editor has something to say about following the beagles:—
“We must review the beagling season up to date (Christmas, 1893). As far as sport goes it has been satisfactory, but as far as the attendance of the cadets goes it has not. Now, why is this? We have heard that beagling is considered by some of the senior boys to be ‘bad form.’ Now, we ask you cadets who are sportsmen, are you to be choked off your sport because some big or senior boy—who may play football only, or is more probably a loafer, bred in a town with no knowledge of sport, poor chap—says, ‘Feign I beagling,’ or something of the sort?”
There appears to have been a sort of wave of slackness passing through the ship about that time, at least in regard to the winter games; but some brilliant work was done at cricket when the summer came round again—the last season in which the Britannia boys were to have the advantage of Underwood’s coaching.