Sheffield Independent – Saturday 29 April 1899
Yorkshire v Sixteen of Wath and District.
Opening of the New Ground at Wath.
Yesterday, the splendid new Athletic and Cricket Ground which the people of Wath-upon-Dearne owe to the munificence of Mr. Spedding Whitworth, J.P., was opened by a cricket match between the Yorkshire eleven and 16 of Wath and District.
Although not yet complete, for it is intended to make further improvements, the enclosure is already one of which the sport-loving public of the “Queen of Villages” may well be proud, and is graced by a very handsome and commodious pavilion.
The playing portion of the ground is in good condition, and the excellent wicket provided speaks well for the care and attention paid to its preparation.
Favoured by fine and warm, though somewhat dull weather, the opening day’s proceedings were in every way a decided success. The cricket, though not exceptionally lively, was interesting, and the play was witnessed by some 2,000 people.
Although they took no part in the match, both Lord Hawke and Mr. F. S Jackson were present, and participated in the opening ceremony which took place in the spacious and prettily decorated dining room of the pavilion during the luncheon interval.
Opportunity was taken then of presenting to Mr. Whitworth, as a slight recognition of his liberality towards the Wath Cricket Club, a piece of plate and in illuminated address. After the match Mr. Whitworth entertained nearly 100 guests to dinner at the Red Lion Hotel. Altogether yesterday was a great day for Wath and was made quite a holiday by many of the tradespeople.
The cricket of the day went in favour of the County eleven, who, going in first scored 155 runs, and then dismissed seven of the district batsmen in a little over an hour for 31.
Mr. R. W. Frank played for the eleven instead of Mr. Frank Mitchell, and at the last moment A. Cordingley, who had been selected to play with the Sixteen, was given a place in the County team instead of Lord Hawke, who, not being able to play to-day owing to an engagement, preferred standing down altogether to playing on the opening day only.
The chief features of the day’s cricket were the batting of Moorhouse and Rhodes, and the bowling of Haigh for Yorkshire, and the bowling of R. Brocklehurst, the ground professional for Wath. Moorhouse’s score of 46 (the best of the day) was well put together, and his runs were made in such style that there seems good hope of his recovering the form which he unfortunately lost last season. Rhodes also showed much skill in batting, his 35 runs being got by free cricket. In bowiing, Haigh got the first five wickets of Wath, all clean bowled, and might possibly have gained further success, for he was still bowline well when Tunnicliffe, who captained the team, gave him a, rest.
For the local team Brocklehurst bowled admirably, and considering the reputation of the batsmen to whom he was opposed, his performance in taking five wickets for 31 runs was an admirable one. Brocklehurst lost season was professional to the Wadsley Asylum Club, previous to which he had been engaged at Hitchin. He was, we believe, born near Manchester. The match will be continued today. Play began at 12.35, the county eleven being first represented at the wickets by the famous pair, Brown and Tunnicliffe.
Ellis opened the bowling from the Pavilion end, sending down a maiden to Brown. Brocklehurst was the other bowler, and with his third ball he got Tunnicliffe leg-before, the first wicket falling without a run being scored. R. W. Frank followed, but quickly lost Brown, who, after making two Singles, was beaten by an off-breaking ball from Brocklehurst, who had thus taken the two first wickets with the total only 3. Denton came next, and then Frank sent Ellis through the slips for 4. After making a single, Denton was very nearly bowled by a good ball from Ellis, which beat the batsman and only just missed his leg stump. When Denton had made 4 he gave a chance, for, in trying to hit Ellis square, he skied tbe ball in the slips, but though three fielders started for the catch, hesitation threw away the opportunity, and the ball fell to the ground without either touching it.
After this the score slowly mounted, and 20 was signalled as the result of half an hours play. At 22 a change in the bowling was tried, Syddall going on instead of Ellis. At the same total Brocklehurst hit Frank’s leg stamp, and that batsman having just reached double figures retired to the pavilion, his place being taken by Moorhouse. Soon after the newcomer’s arrival Denton lifted Syddall to the on for 4 — all run. Moorhouse, after opening with a single, drove Brocklehurst past cover-point for 4 — all run, the ball being mis-fielded. With his score at 15 Denton gave what looked like a chance of being caught and bowled, but Brocklehurst failed to hold the ball after running up the pitch for it. With another added to his score Denton might have been run out had the ball been well returned. Moorhouse off-drove Brocklehurst for 3 and Syddall for 4. With the total at 43, Brocklehurst was given a rest, Senior going on bowling in his place, play having been in progress close on an hour. In his second over the new bowler clean bowled Denton, who had been batting 50 minutes for 18 runs. This, the fourth wicket fell at 45, letting in Wainwright, who made all the five runs necessary to reach 50, which appeared on the signal board as the result of 70. minutes’ play—decidediy slow cricket. A few minutes later Wainwright hit Senior to leg for 4 — all run. Just on the stroke of the luncheon hour Wainwright was splendidly caught low down at point by Oates off Syddall for 13, and the total at the interval was 68 for five wickets, Moorhouse being not out 23.
After the interval, Hirst accompanied Moorhouse to the wickets in place of Wainwright, and Syddall and Senior again bowled. The score slowly rose by minor contributions, chiefly from Moorhouse, Hirst being m nearly a quarter of an hour for a single before he hit two 2’s in an over from Syddall. Then Moorhouse lifted Senior to the on for 4 and 3 in successive balls. With the total 88 Nixon was put on to bowl in place of Syddall, and his first over was decidedly expensive, Hirst hitting a 3 and Moorhouse two 4’s from it. At 99 Brocklehurst, who had bowled with success early in the innings, took the ball from Senior, and from the second ball Hirst was caught by Nicholson running from mid-on. The outgoer had made 13 out of 31 put on during the partnership in 25 minutes. Rhodes came in, and sent up the 100 after an hour and 55 minutes’ play by driving Brocklehurst to the on for 3.
At 106 Moorhouse’s excellent innings came to an end, with 46 to his credit, by a catch in the long field, Kemp taking the ball very low down off Brocklehurst’s bowling, seven wickets were now down, and Haigh came in. Rhodes scored freely, making some good drives, and 120 quickly being signalled However at 128 Haigh swiped at a ball from Nixon, and had his off stump disturbed. Hunter then joined Rhodes, and Turner bowled instead of Brocklehurst. Rhodes sent Nixon to leg for 4, and the score continued to mount, but rather slowly. At 147 Turner superseded Nixon in the attack. At 155 Turner dismissed Hunter and Rhodes in successive balls the former being caught on the off-side and the latter bowled. Cordingley had gone to the wickets last man in, and did not receive a ball. The innings closed at half-past four for 155, having lasted two houra and 40 minutes. Rhodes made 35 out of 56 put on whilst he was at the wickets.
The Sixteen began hatting at five minutes to five, R. Oates and W. Nicholson opposing the attack of Rhodes (pavilion end) and Haigh. A maiden from each end opened the innings. In Rhodes’s second over the scoring began by the ball going to the boundary for four byes, after which Oates made a single from that bowler. Haigh, in his second over, clean bowled Oates, the first wicket falling for 5. Washington was second in, and drove Haigh to the- off for a single, after which Nicholson sent the same bowler through the slips for 2. Washington also drove Rhodes for 3 amidst applause. With 16 totalled Nicholson was clean bowled by Haigh, and Dr. Selby followed. With only one run added Washington, like his predecessors, fell a victim to a straight ball from Haigh, and three wickets were thus down for 17. Syddall took the vacant wicket. Selby placed Rhodes neatly to leg for 2, but his partner then had his stumps disarranged by Haigh, who had thus taken all the wickets 60 far. Four for 21. Kemp came next, but he also failed against Haigh, being clean bowled in the same over for a cypher. Five for 21. Turner next joined Selby and at 22 Rhodes, who had not taken a wicket, handed the ball to Hirst, and at the same total Wainwright superseded Haigh, who had taken all five.
Wainwright, with his second ball, bowled Selby, and six wickets were down for 22. C. H. Stanley, the captain of the Sixteen, then came in, and soon gained a round of applause by straight driving Wainwright for 4. In the next over, from the same end, that, batsman, however, was clean bowled by an off-break. Seven for 26. Lieutenant Armstrong followed. Turner, who had made 3, was missed at extra long off from Wainwright’s bowline by Cordingley.
At the close of play for the day the score was 31 for seven wickets, Turner being 4, not out, and Lieutenant Armstrong 2 not out.