MONTHLY ROUND-UP: OCTOBER 1865
The Old Westminsters are the inaugural champions of the Metropolitan League after a thrilling end to the year which saw them win their rescheduled game at The Regent’s Park 4-1 to claim the crown. When the Regents opened October by losing out to the City of London Club, they left the Westminsters having only to beat the City Club themselves to be champions, but they lost a late lead in that game and the Regents beat Angel to draw level again. In the final, decisive game however, the Westminsters scored two in the opening inning and were never caught. The Regents can be proud of the fight they made, but will no doubt rue the fact that they one just one of their first six games at the beginning of the year.
Those two teams finish well clear of the rest of the pack, as the City Club’s wins over the two championship contenders left them as the only other team who were able even to post an even record. They finished in third place, with Angel’s defeat to the Regents in their final game denying them the chance to end on an even fifteen wins and fifteen defeats.
There was a tie for last place, as Kensington scored twice late on to edge out Clapham by a score of 2-1 in the final game of their season. That drew them level with their opponents on twelve wins, as Clapham lost their last six games of the year and ten of their final eleven, having seemed to be set to challenge for the title through the first half of the season.
The league’s first season may be considered a great success, and there is sure to be great excitement ahead of the second campaign in 1866. Before then, the clubs are due to meet next week to vote on which players will receive special awards for their performances this year.
