TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1869 VARSITY SERIES
The first Varsity Series produced two exciting game with a lot of runs scored, but in the end it was Oxford who took the honours as they won both to take the series two games to none. The first game at Cambridge was scoreless until the seventh inning, when Oxford found five runs to take control, but somehow Cambridge responded with five of their own at the last opportunity in the ninth inning. The game went on until the twelfth, when a careless pitch from Enoch Wilkerson of Queens’ College allowed Merton’s Andrew Hayter to score for Oxford. Cambridge could not respond, giving Oxford a one-game lead in the series.
Cambridge had to win the second game, played on Oxford’s home field, and started well with two runs in the first inning, only to give up three in Oxford’s half of the inning. That proved to be crucial, as Oxford added single runs in the third, fifth and seventh to move 6-2 ahead. Cambridge again tried to fight back in the ninth, scoring two, but Magdalen pitcher Adam Butcher was able to record the final two outs to end the fightback. Oxford won the game 6-4 to claim the series, for which Balliol’s Jim Hall, who started both games for Oxford, was named Best Pitcher. Best Player was another Oxford man, Oswald Simkin of Magdalen, who recorded four hits in nine attempts and scored three of Oxford’s runs in the series.
