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as5680 · 03-09-2021, 04:10 PM

TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1868 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

The second County Championship produced an outcome very different from the first, but was in almost equal measure a very similar competition, as the outstanding performers were previously unknown pitchers who are yet to take to the field in the Metropolitan League.

Last year's two beaten semi-finalists, Essex and Middlesex, both selected pitchers from the league's two new clubs to lead their challenge this time. For Essex it was James Hicks of Greenwich, while for Middlesex it was Henry Clarke of the Royal Artillery.

Clarke's first challenge was to take on reigning champions Surrey and te man who had done so much to win that title for them, the City of London Club's William Rood. The game was tight until the fourth, when Middlesex scored twice, and the champions were not able to respond. Further runs in the sixth and eighth extended the lead to 4-0, and although Surrey found two runs in their half of the eighth, Middlesex added one more in the ninth to take the win 5-2.

In the other semi-final, Hicks found himself with a 3-0 lead before he took to the field after a poor first inning from the Old Westminsters' James Smith, pitching for Kent. Things became even worse for last year's beaten finalists when Essex added two more in the second, and that proved to be all the scoring they needed. Kent fought bravely to recover, scoring in their half of the second and then in the fifth and sixth, but could get no closer than 5-3.

The final would be played on Middlesex's home field, after Essex called the coin toss incorrectly. For the second successive week, Hicks found himself taking to the field in the first inning with his team already having established a 3-0 lead. This time, they needed no more runs than that as Hicks pitched superbly, threatening to shut Middlesex out completely. The home team did finally manage a run in the eighth, but could get no more and Essex became the second champions, by a score of 3-1.

His performances earned Hicks the Best Pitcher award, while one of the league newcomers also provided the winner of Best Player, which went to Wilfred Shaw of the Royal Artillery Barracks, representing Middlesex. If this short tournament is any indication, the two new teams will be excellent additions to the league and could even be challenging at the upper end of the standings.

03-09-2021, 04:10 PM	#54
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1868 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP The second County Championship produced an outcome very different from the first, but was in almost equal measure a very similar competition, as the outstanding performers were previously unknown pitchers who are yet to take to the field in the Metropolitan League. Last year's two beaten semi-finalists, Essex and Middlesex, both selected pitchers from the league's two new clubs to lead their challenge this time. For Essex it was James Hicks of Greenwich, while for Middlesex it was Henry Clarke of the Royal Artillery. Clarke's first challenge was to take on reigning champions Surrey and te man who had done so much to win that title for them, the City of London Club's William Rood. The game was tight until the fourth, when Middlesex scored twice, and the champions were not able to respond. Further runs in the sixth and eighth extended the lead to 4-0, and although Surrey found two runs in their half of the eighth, Middlesex added one more in the ninth to take the win 5-2. In the other semi-final, Hicks found himself with a 3-0 lead before he took to the field after a poor first inning from the Old Westminsters' James Smith, pitching for Kent. Things became even worse for last year's beaten finalists when Essex added two more in the second, and that proved to be all the scoring they needed. Kent fought bravely to recover, scoring in their half of the second and then in the fifth and sixth, but could get no closer than 5-3. The final would be played on Middlesex's home field, after Essex called the coin toss incorrectly. For the second successive week, Hicks found himself taking to the field in the first inning with his team already having established a 3-0 lead. This time, they needed no more runs than that as Hicks pitched superbly, threatening to shut Middlesex out completely. The home team did finally manage a run in the eighth, but could get no more and Essex became the second champions, by a score of 3-1. His performances earned Hicks the Best Pitcher award, while one of the league newcomers also provided the winner of Best Player, which went to Wilfred Shaw of the Royal Artillery Barracks, representing Middlesex. If this short tournament is any indication, the two new teams will be excellent additions to the league and could even be challenging at the upper end of the standings.