British and Irish Baseball - Making Another Attempt - Page 8

as5680 · 11-17-2021, 04:47 PM

END OF SEASON REVIEW: 1873

All the leagues have now given out their awards for this season, with Charlie Williams of The Regent’s Park taking the Best Player honour in the Metropolitan League despite missing several weeks with injury late in the year. The Old Westminsters’ Daniel Armstrong took Best Pitcher for the third time in four years, having led his team so close to another championship. The Regents’ championship winner Albert Woolland took Best Manager. Champions Salford took a sweep of the awards in the Manchester and District League, with Arthur Robson winning Best Player and Henry Barton taking Best Pitcher for the second successive year. Josiah Frost was named Best Manager for the third time after leading Salford to a third title.

Bradford’s Maurice Dodd was Best Player in the Leeds and Bradford League, with his manager Frederick Jones winning Best Manager for the second successive year as Bradford retained the championship. Despite Huddersfield’s poor end to the season their pitcher Philip Flynn took the Best Pitcher award. After three successive championships, Alfred Hancock of Liverpool St Patrick’s finally took the Best Manager award in the Liverpool and District League, while the champions also took Best Pitcher as Harry Joyce won the award for a second time. Eli Taylor of Great Float was named as Best Player.

Francis Fullalove of champions Burgh of Partick was named as Best Pitcher in the Glasgow and District League for the second time in the league’s two-year existence, while Dundashill’s Matthew Allen took Best Player and Albert Howarth of White Cart was a surprise choice for Best Manager, edging out Partick’s title winning manager George Speake. Runners-up Ealing took two awards in the Middlesex County League, with James Lloyd named Best Pitcher and Sydney Jones winning Best Manager, but champions Isleworth did win the Best Player trophy courtesy of first baseman Herbert Turrill.

In the Sheffield and District League, Harold Drage was named Best Manager after leading Doncaster to the championship, while Mark Guiney also took Best Pitcher for Doncaster. Daniel Burns of deposed champions Sanderson’s Weir was named Best Player. The first awards for the Birmingham and District League saw William Lane of Dudley take Best Player, while the other winners came from champions Edgbaston. Best Pitcher was Joseph Stevens, while Edward Myhill claimed Best Manager.

Kirkcaldy’s James Harris was Best Player for the East of Scotland League, with Murdoch Faulder winning Best Pitcher despite his Arthur’s Seat team missing out on the championship. Euan Payne took Best Manager after leading The Grange to the championship. Kent County League winners Bexley Heath won Best Manager courtesy of Edwin Rayner, while Eli Manning won Best Pitcher after leading the league in all the major statistical categories. The champions missed out on the Best Player award however, which went to Richard Dallin of the Royal Engineers.

ROLL OF HONOUR
Metropolitan League: The Regent’s Park (2nd title)
Manchester and District League: Salford Seedley (3rd title)
Leeds and Bradford League: Bradford Beck (2nd title)
Liverpool and District League: Liverpool St Patrick’s (3rd title)
Glasgow and District League: Burgh of Partick (1st title)
Middlesex County League: Isleworth Brewery (1st title)
Sheffield and District League: Doncaster Northern (1st title)
Birmingham and District League: Edgbaston Rea (1st title)
East of Scotland League: The Grange (1st title)
Kent County League: Bexley Heath (1st title)
Oxford University Championship: Balliol College (1st title)
Cambridge University Championship: Clare College (1st title)
County Championship: Surrey (2nd title)
Varsity Series: University of Cambridge (3rd title)

The final piece of business for 1873 was a second vote to determine the new teams to join the Leeds and Bradford League for the 1874 season, after a first ballot was split on geographical lines and ended in a four-way tie after a heated meeting. The outcome in the end depended on the two Bradford teams, Bowling and Bradford Beck, neither of whom had voted for any of the tied teams in the first ballot. They refused to vote for another team from the Leeds area, of which there are already three, which meant that the team from the district of Sheepscar missed out. The Leeds clubs had also been supporting the candidacy of the team from the town of Pudsey, and it was that club which was the second to be rejected after the Bradford teams instead decided to support Batley and Dewsbury, two small towns located between Huddersfield and Wakefield. The Leeds clubs believed this to have been a decision taken to spite them, although that was denied by the Bradford teams. Regardless of the reasons, Batley and Dewsbury will join the league in the new year and the league looks set to use the same 36-game schedule as the Manchester and District League as a ten-team competition.

as5680 · 11-22-2021, 05:05 PM

1874 SEASON

Another new season of baseball is almost ready to begin and once again there are a number of changes this year. Three leagues grow in size, while three more new competitions begin play after the East Midlands-based Derby and Nottingham League was recently confirmed to be joining the county leagues in Lancashire and Surrey. There is one visual change as well, with the Manchester and District League joining the Metropolitan League in making white jerseys for the visiting team compulsory in all games. White has been worn away from home by Miles Platting and Moss Grove for the past two years in all their meetings, due to a colour clash, and the rest of the teams will now be joining them in having a white jersey for away games.

The expansion of the Metropolitan League to twelve teams means that its season will begin one week earlier than last year, which has had an effect on the County Championship. That competition must also begin one week earlier, meaning that it will be played entirely in February for the first time. Some players are reportedly concerned about starting the new season so early in the year, but was believed to be no viable alternative to doing this.

That situation may resolve itself before too long however, as there is an increasing movement for clubs to be allowed to pay their players, which would mean the possibility of games on days other than Saturdays and potentially allow for competitions to be concluded in a shorter time. This push is coming about partly due to concern over the length of the season but also at rumoured illegal payments to players, especially among new clubs who have been trying to entice former university players to join them. There will be no payments allowed this year but several of the competitions in the north of England have committed to discussing the issue at their annual meetings at the end of the upcoming season.

NEW TEAMS: METROPOLITAN LEAGUE

The new teams in the Metropolitan League this year are the Commercial Dock Workers and Putney Tideway. The Dockers are, as their name indicates, a works team based in the Surrey Commercial Docks in Rotherhithe. They play in blue-grey jerseys and their home field is located at the southern end of Southwark Park. The Putney club was founded by members of the London and Leander rowing clubs, which are based on the stretch of the River Thames known as the Tideway. An opportunity for club members to play a different sport, the baseball club plays on a field close to the boathouses of both clubs and wears a jersey split in half between the blue of the London Club and pink of Leander.

The expanded league now has a schedule of thirty-eight games, rather than thirty-six, and for the first time teams will not play every other club on the same number of occasions. Instead, each club will play four games against five of their rivals and only three against the other six. As there are now six teams on each side of the River Thames, this has been chosen as the boundary and so clubs on the same side of the river will meet four times, while clubs on opposite sides will meet three times.

LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
L-R: Commercial Dock Workers, Putney Tideway

MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

as5680 · 11-23-2021, 05:27 AM

NEW TEAMS: LEEDS AND BRADFORD LEAGUE

After three years as an eight team league, the Leeds and Bradford League grows for the first time with the admission of Batley View and Dewsbury Canal. The Batley club play in red jerseys with gold sleeves, and their name derives from the fact that they play their home games on high ground just outside the town. The Dewsbury club were formed by workers from several of the town’s mills and take their name from the location of their home field alongside a nearby canal. Their jerseys are blue-green in colour. The league’s new format is the same as that of the Manchester and District League, with all ten teams facing the other nine on four occasions, with double games being played on four Saturdays in late June and early July.

LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
L-R: Batley View, Dewsbury Canal

MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

as5680 · 11-23-2021, 05:39 AM

NEW TEAMS: LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

This year also marks the first expansion of the Liverpool and District League, which grows from six teams to eight. Joining the league are Anfield Stanley and Wigan Wallgate. Anfield are based alongside and take their name from Stanley Park, to the north-east of Liverpool city centre/ Their jerseys are purple with gold trimming. Wigan take their name ‘Wallgate’ from the road of the same name near to their home field, where the first meetings to form the club took place. Perhaps as a reference to the word ‘wall’, they play in jerseys of a colour similar to brick red.

The new format being used in Liverpool is the same as that introduced when the Birmingham and District League began play last year, with teams meeting each other four times and then facing three of the other clubs on two more occasions. This has been decided on a geographical basis with the four Liverpool clubs in one group for scheduling purposes, and the four teams from nearby towns in the other. This was strongly resisted by Great Float, who are base on the other side of Liverpool from the other three ‘town’ clubs and face longer journeys to the extra games. However, they were the only club who did not vote in favour of the proposed schedule when it was discussed at the annual meeting. The extra games give a thirty-four game schedule, an increase of four on last year.

LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
L-R: Anfield Stanley, Wigan Wallgate

MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

as5680 · 11-23-2021, 09:23 AM

NEW LEAGUE: DERBY AND NOTTINGHAM LEAGUE

The six-team Derby and Nottingham League gets underway this year, with teams following the format used by other leagues of six and playing a thirty game schedule. The league features two clubs from Derby, both of them works teams. Derby Union are based at the Union Iron Foundry to the north of the town, playing on a nearby field and wearing gold jerseys. Their rivals Midland Loco are the works team of the Midland Locomotive Works, to the south east of the town centre. Their jerseys are red and green and feature the emblem of the Midland Railway company, while they play directly across the Derby Canal from the works themselves.

The smallest town represented in the league is Ilkeston, whose team Ilkeston Rutland were also formed by iron workers and take the name of the factory where they were formed. Their jerseys are black with the name of the town embroidered across the chest. Yet another works team are Old Basford Bleach, based at bleach works just outside Nottingham. They too are based on a nearby field and play in light orange coloured jerseys.

The final two clubs come from Nottingham itself, and are the only two in the league who did not start out as works teams. From the north of the town come Sherwood Rise, who as their name suggests play on a hill and whose players have had to work hard to level off their home field to be suitable for entry into the league. Their jerseys are green with the club initials embroidered in gold. Finally, Trent Bridge actually play just outside the town to the south east, across the River Trent and very close to the cricket ground of the same name. Their jerseys are light blue, with darker blue sleeves.

LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
Top Row (L-R): Derby Union, Ilkeston Rutland, Midland Loco
Bottom Row (L-R): Old Basford Bleach, Sherwood Rise, Trent Bridge

MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

as5680 · 11-23-2021, 11:50 AM

NEW LEAGUE: LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

Representing the towns in the centre of the county, the Lancashire County League has come about as a result of the rejection of the Blackburn and Burnley clubs by the Manchester and District League and of the Preston-based Ribble club by the Liverpool and District League. Those teams joined together and decided that if the city-based competitions where not going to consider admitting them, they would form their own competition. Three more clubs have joined them, making another six-team competition playing a thirty game schedule.

Of the clubs from the larger towns, Blackburn Alexandra take their name from their home ground at Alexandra Meadows, and in honour of Alexandra, the Princess of Wales. Their jerseys are pale red, almost pink, with the club initials embroidered in blue. Burnley Bank Top's name is taken from that of the railway station which is very near to their home ground. They play in gold jerseys, with the club initials on the chest in dark red. Ribble Viaduct are named after a nearby river, or more specifically the railway bridge which runs over the Ribble near to their home field. They play in tan coloured jerseys with stripes in a paler shade and the word 'Ribble' across the chest.

Those clubs are joined by three from smaller towns to make up the numbers. The name of Accrington Willows comes from the lane which runs past their home ground. They play in pale green jerseys with their initials embroidered in brown. Over Darwen simply use the name of their town, and they play in blue jerseys with gold trimming. Chorley Stump’s name comes from a nearby house. Their jerseys are grey, with thin red stripes.

LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
Top Row (L-R): Accrington Willows, Blackburn Alexandra, Burnley Bank Top
Bottom Row (L-R): Chorley Stump, Over Darwen, Ribble Viaduct

MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

as5680 · 11-23-2021, 02:58 PM

NEW LEAGUE: SURREY COUNTY LEAGUE

The third new league for this season is the Surrey County League, based to the south-west of London. Again, it is a six-team competition with a thirty-game schedule. Its formation was instigated by the Croydon Old Palace club, who are the works team of the washing and bleaching factory which opened up in the former palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury. They began to play in the bleaching ground alongside and still do so today, wearing yellow jerseys with the name of the town across the chest. Their close neighbours are Norwood Junction, who wear red and black striped jerseys and play close to the railway station from which they take their name.

Closest to central London are Richmond Athletic, the baseball arm of a club which plays various sports. They wear dark green jerseys with narrow silver stripes and play close to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Slightly upstream on the River Thames are Kingston Fairfield, named after the area of parkland, formerly used by fairs, where they now play. Their jerseys are silver with the initials 'KUT', for Kingston-upon-Thames, embroidered in blue on the chest. The other team close to the capital are Wimbledon Wood, who take their name from the wooded area which is just a quarter of a mile up the hill from their home field. They play in black with gold stripes, with 'Wimbledon' embroidered across the chest.

The final team play some distance away from the London suburbs. They are Reigate Priory, based more than ten miles from their closest neighbours in the league, not a large distance but still somewhat unusual in this part of the country. They are named after the centuries old Priory in the town, and play in copper coloured jerseys with a paler, tan coloured area across the shoulders.

LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
Top Row (L-R): Croydon Old Palace, Kingston Fairfield, Norwood Junction
Bottom Row (L-R): Reigate Priory, Richmond Athletic, Wimbledon Wood

MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

as5680 · 11-23-2021, 05:04 PM

TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1874 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

The tenth season of organised baseball in Great Britain got underway with the eighth edition of the County Championship, taking the same format as last year with six teams involved. Last year’s finalists Surrey and Middlesex received byes to the semi-final round, but unlike last year there was a free draw for the two quarter-final matchups, with Lancashire and Yorkshire no longer being obliged to play their games away from home. It had been suggested that the two losing semi-finalists from a year ago, Essex and Yorkshire, should have home advantage guaranteed for their games but this was not accepted when put to a vote, as teams felt that simply reaching the semi-final was not worthy of being rewarded with a guaranteed home game in the way that reaching the final was.

In the event, Lancashire and Yorkshire were drawn to face one another for the first time, with Lancashire holding home advantage. The other game was to see Essex host Kent. Another draw determined that the winners of the game between the two northern counties would travel to Middlesex in the semi-final, while champions Surrey would host the winners of the game between Essex and Kent. The tournament got underway on the earliest date yet to see competitive baseball in this country, Saturday 14 February.

The first quarter-final saw Kent, who have never won the championship, travel to Essex and make a superb start to the game. Two successive hits to open up the second inning gave them an early scoring chance, and then with runners at first and third and only one out, Dartford’s Frederick Barron hit a ball along the ground just far enough for the City of London Club man George Morrison to come home from third without Essex having a hope of stopping him. From that point on, the pitchers began to dominate and it seemed for a while that 1-0 might be the final outcome, but Metropolitan League championship winning pitcher Stephen Young of The Regent’s Park faltered for Essex again in the sixth. He game up three successive hits to begin that inning, the third of them to the City Club man Morrison again, which brought home Angel’s Peter Sawyer to extend Kent’s advantage to 2-0.

Essex needed to find a run quickly and did so in their half of the sixth, aided by an error from Kent first baseman Sawyer. His failure to field a simple ball allowed Greenwich’s Timothy Berry to score the run which reduced the deficit to 2-1. In the eighth, they were presented with a clear chance to level the score when having men at first and third and only one out, but Maidstone’s Isaac Huntley, pitching for Kent, was able to entice Hackney’s John Fraser to hit a ball on the ground which enabled Kent to record the two outs they needed to end the inning. That was the last chance for Essex as they could get no runners on base in the ninth, leaving them with a 2-1 defeat and an early departure from this year’s championship.

The other quarter-final match brought a first meeting for neighbours Lancashire and Yorkshire, with home side Lancashire matching Kent in taking a second inning lead. With one out, a two base hit from Rochdale’s Bernard Greenwood started the threat and then with two on base and two out, Emmanuel Wanless of Toxteth produced the hit which brought Greenwood home. Great Float’s Jesse Davidson was in fine form pitching for Lancashire and it took until the fourth for Yorkshire to get any runner on base, but when they did they wasted a fine chance to level the score when they were unable to get a run home despite having runners at first and third with nobody out.

They were made to pay for that failure in the sixth, as Lancashire again found a crucial hit with two men out. This time there were runners at first and second when Great Float’s Samuel Plaistowe came to bat, and his hit was deep enough to allow William Elmar of Miles Platting to come home from second. Yorkshire started both the seventh and ninth innings with hits, but neither time were able to advance a man past second base as pitcher Davidson completed a four-hit shutout to give Lancashire a 2-0 victory, their first ever success in the championship.

The first semi-final saw Kent travel to reigning champions Surrey, looking to reach a fourth successive final. Again it was a battle of pitching, with Maidstone’s Isaac Huntley strong for Kent and Daniel Armstrong of the Old Westminsters even better for Surrey. The champions missed a good chance in the fourth when they had three runners on with two out, but pitcher Armstrong could not help his own cause as he failed to find the crucial hit. It was a similar scenario in the sixth, when Armstrong came to bat again with men at first and third and two out, and again was unable to find the hit.

Kent were struggling to find any hits against Armstrong, reaching the ninth with just four to their name. A two-base hit from Peter Sawyer of Angel with just one out gave them hope of a run, but they could move him on no further. In Surrey’s half of the ninth, Kent pitcher Huntley finally faltered. With one out, he gave up two successive hits which left Surrey with runners at second and third. Another Angel man, Noah Sanders, came to bat and hit the ball on the ground in the infield, but was by a fraction of a second able to reach first base safely before the ball got there. That allowed William Lewis, a newcomer from Surrey County League club Kingston, to come home and score the only run of the game, taking Surrey through to another final by a score of 1-0.

Middlesex, defeated in last year’s final by Surrey, were looking to reach the final for the seventh year in succession, having missed out only in the tournament’s inaugural year of 1867. Facing a Lancashire team who wanted to become the first northern county to reach the final, they too found themselves in a battle of strong pitching as Edmonton’s Jim Aldridge and Jesse Davidson of Great Float dominated early on. In the fourth inning however, it was Lancashire pitcher Davidson who faltered first. With two out, nobody on base and seemingly no threat, Dennis Dunning – a newcomer this year with Clapham – found a base hit to keep the inning alive. The City of London Club’s Simeon Farrell then produced a two-base hit which allowed Dunning to come all the way home and put Middlesex in front 1-0.

With Middlesex batting in the sixth, a base hit with one out from John Pinhay of the Royal Artillery Barracks was followed by Pinhay successfully advancing himself all the way to third. The City Club’s Arthur Greenacre was able to bring him home from there to make the score 2-0, and Lancashire were in trouble given the pitching form of Aldridge. They responded in the seventh, as Liverpool’s Samuel Moynihan produced a hit to begin the inning before Rochdale’s Bernard Greenwood brought him home from second base with one out, reducing the margin to 2-1. Lancashire handed back that run in the Middlesex half of the seventh however, as an error by third baseman Joseph Stanbridge of Miles Platting set up a chance for pitcher Aldridge to add to the Middlesex lead with two men on base and two out. Aldridge found the hit to extend his team’s advantage to 3-1, and in the eighth that became 4-1 when Simeon Farrell was able to drive home his City Club teammate Arthur Greenacre from third. That was the final score, setting up a fourth successive final between Middlesex and Surrey, which champions Surrey would host having call the coin toss correctly.

The 1874 County Championship final may go on record as the finest game played in the eight-year history of the tournament. Certainly it was the most dramatic, although that did not appear likely to be the case for two-thirds of the game as Old Westminsters pitcher Daniel Armstrong dominated for Surrey. Middlesex managed three hits across the first six innings and only one advanced a runner past second base, while Surrey had moved ahead in the first following a three-base hit from Ralph Parker of The Regent’s Park, who was then driven home by Angel man Noah Sanders. In the third, Parker and Sanders again found successive hits with two out to give a chance to another Regents man, Jim White. His hit brought home Parker to extend the lead to 2-0, and that remained the scoreline heading into the seventh inning.

Suddenly, everything changed as the City Club’s Simeon Farrell began the seventh with a three-base hit, before scoring on a ball hit by the Regents’ Charlie Williams which was caught deep in the outfield. An error from infielder Thomas Wakely of Hackney gave Middlesex another base runner in the form of another City Club man, Edward Grant, and when Kensington’s John Goodwin came to bat with two out he found a two-base hit to score Grant and level the game at 2-2. Surrey were shocked, but their mood would worsen in the eighth as the Royal Artillery Barracks’ John Pinhay opened the inning with a two-base hit and then having advanced to third, came home on another ball caught deep in the outfield from the bat of Clapham’s Dennis Dunning. Middlesex led 3-2 and Surrey went to the ninth facing defeat in a game which had looked to be theirs.

That defeat appeared inevitable when Middlesex pitcher Jim Aldridge came to bat in the ninth with men at second and third and just one out. He too hit the ball deep into the outfield, and following the catch it was Grant again who came home to put Middlesex further ahead at 4-2. When Surrey’s half of the inning began with Sanders being removed by Aldridge with no trouble, Middlesex could have been forgiven for starting to celebrate but that would have proved premature. Three successive hits, the last by Wakely to atone for his earlier error, brought Jim White in to score and give Surrey hope at 4-3 They were down to their final chance with two out when a newcomer from the Surrey County League, Matthew Copestake of Richmond, came to bat requiring a hit to tie the game. He found just that, with Arthur Holmes of the Regents coming in to tie the game at 4-4.

That left runners at first and second for another County League newcomer, Roland Minter of Kingston. Pitcher Aldridge seemed shattered by what had happened and he gave up the fifth hit of the inning, with Joe Lane of Metropolitan League newcomers Commercial Dock making it all the way home from second base to give Surrey the win by a score of 5-4. They join Middlesex as three-time winners and level up the two teams’ run of four successive final meetings at two wins each. Their success was recognised as Ralph Parker was named the tournament’s Best Player and Daniel Armstrong the Best Pitcher. It was rumoured after the final that the counties are not happy with the six-team format we have seen in the last two years, with two teams receiving a bye to the semi-finals. There have been no official announcements, but it has been suggested that with the Birmingham and District League now running in the Midlands, teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire may be invited to make up an expanded eight-team championship next year.

as5680 · 11-24-2021, 05:25 AM

1874 SEASON PREVIEW

With the County Championship over for another year, attention now turns to the leagues, and it is the expanded Metropolitan League which gets underway first. Its first season as a twelve-team competition sees Greenwich Meridian, the champions of two years ago who lost out on the final day last season, most people’s favourites to win back the crown. They are expected to be especially strong in scoring runs, while perennial contenders the Old Westminsters have better pitching but may not score enough. Kensington, who struggled last year, are expected to be much improved this time and may yet find their way into the championship race, but few expect reigning champions The Regent’s Park to contend again. They too are thought unlikely to score enough runs, while their pitching is not quite as strong as the Westminsters, and they are thought likely to fall short.
Newcomers Putney and Commercial Dock are both expected to be somewhere in the middle of the pack, although observers are keen to follow the progress of Putney in particular as they have enticed former Oxford University students Samuel Read and Sidney Meystre to pitch for them. They are one of the clubs who have been accused of offering financial inducements to players, which is against league rules, although it must be stressed that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing.

Manchester and District League champions Salford are seeking a third successive title and many people think that they will get it, although perhaps an equal number believe that Miles Platting could be the team who take it away. They came close last year, falling away late on, and could go better this time although their pitching will have to be very strong, as Salford look sure to score more runs. Bury and Irwell could be close as well, although Bury in particular do not appear to be strong enough with the bat to sustain a challenge for the full season.

In the Leeds and Bradford League, Bradford Beck have taken the last two crowns and will have a strong chance of adding a third, but the league is again expected to be closely fought. Huddersfield fell away in the final games last year and look strong again, especially in terms of pitching. Wakefield finished last year very strongly and look set to continue in the same vein, while Bowling and Hunslet have also been mentioned as potential challengers. Newcomers Batley and Dewsbury are not expected to perform especially strongly, but Batley’s batting line-up could yet lead them to surprise a few teams.

Liverpool St Patrick’s have won every championship so far in the Liverpool and District League and are widely backed to do so again, but Great Float and Linacre seem sure to make it a close three-way fight. Of the new clubs, Anfield look the stronger and may well post a winning record, while Wigan look as though they could struggle a little in their first season. In the Birmingham and District League, many people’s favourites are Birmingham Main Line after they missed out narrowly last year, while Dudley also look strong. It would be a surprise if anyone else were to challenge, with champions Edgbaston looking unlikely to hold on to their crown because of poor pitching. Gravesend are favourites in the Kent County League, with the Royal Engineers their closest challengers and champions Bexley Heath also not too far behind.

Champions Doncaster have a good chance of winning the Sheffield and District League again, although Hallamshire and Sanderson’s Weir, who both finished just one game back last year, are going to be close once more. Few expect any of the other three teams to be able to sustain a challenge. In the Middlesex County League, Edmonton endured an awful first half of the season last time out which ruined their chances of defending their title from the inaugural campaign two years ago. This time however, they are clear favourites to win back the crown from Isleworth, although the defending champions are thought likely to be the best of the rest.

Up in Scotland, few people expect Burgh of Partick to retain the Glasgow and District League championship, as Dundashill are clear favourites there. The other teams are widely seen as very closely matched, although Govan may be the most likely challengers. In the East of Scotland League, Arthur’s Seat let the championship slip away last year when it should have been theirs, but most experts agree that this year they will make no mistake. They are clear favourites, although the Fife clubs Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy both look much improved. Champions The Grange are thought very unlikely to challenge for another title.

Among the new leagues, Old Basford and Midland Loco are the two most backed teams in the Derby and Nottingham League, with Old Basford arguably the stronger as they seem sure to score more runs while having pitching which is almost as strong as Midland. The Lancashire County League looks sure to be a close race with Accrington and Ribble the names mentioned most frequently as potential champions, while in the Surrey County League Norwood are most people’s choice as the first champions, with their neighbours Croydon likely to be leading the chase alongside Richmond.

At the Universities, Brasenose College are clear favourites in Oxford, with Christ Church and Magdalen also well backed but champions Balliol expected to finish mid-way this time. There are no clear favourites at Cambridge, but Jesus College perhaps appear to be the strongest. Trinity, Gonville & Caius, and reigning champions Clare are also likely to be a part of what seems sure to be a very close race.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 06:56 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MARCH 1874

The league season is now underway all around the country, with some leagues having played just one round of games while the Metropolitan League has played four, and the universities with their midweek games have played six.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

The Old Westminsters are the only undefeated team in the Metropolitan League but they have played just two games after having their other two fixtures postponed. Three teams sit right behind them with three wins from four, including Clapham who won their first three and Hackney who lost on the opening day but have won all three since. Favourites Greenwich have seen a mixed start with two wins and two losses, while champions The Regent’s Park also have an even record but like the Westminsters, have played just twice so far. Of the new teams, Putney won their opening game against Kensington and have two victories from three so far, while the Commercial Dock Workers lost their first two heavily but rebounded to defeat Kensington for their first win.

Champions Isleworth have won both games in the Middlesex County League, albeit only after a sixteen-inning battle with the Old Harrovians last week. They share first place with Tottenham, who stunned favourites Edmonton with a ninth-inning comeback victory on the opening day. Edmonton and last year’s runners-up Ealing sit one game back after two rounds of fixtures. Croydon and Richmond were the winners on the opening day of play in the new Surrey County League, while the game between Reigate and Wimbledon was called off. Croydon now lead the way with two wins from two, while Wimbledon ended the month by winning their first game and are the other undefeated team. The Kent County League has played just one round of games, with champions Bexley Heath joining Maidstone, Rochester and Erith as winners.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

As widely expected, Miles Platting and champions Salford look as though they will be tough to beat in the Manchester and District League as both have won all three games so far. Indeed, Salford have scored in double figures in each of their last two. Bury and Rochdale, expected to have winning records again this year, have two wins to their names, as do unfancied Bolton, who finished last a year ago. The Liverpool and District League has only had one week of play, with champions Liverpool St Patrick’s defeating newcomers Anfield. Linacre and St Helens also won their opening games, as did the other new team Wigan, who earned a 1-0 success at well-backed Great Float. Two weeks into the inaugural season of the Lancashire County League, Accrington and Ribble are living up to their billing as the two favourites as both have won their first two games, although Ribble needed fully seventeen innings to get past Chorley on the opening day.

YORKSHIRE

Newcomers Batley have made their mark on the Leeds and Bradford League, winning all three of their games to sit in first place by themselves at the end of March. Their run included a comeback 3-2 victory over fellow new team Dewsbury, who have played just twice and lost both games. Champions Bradford won their first two before falling to Woodhouse, and those teams share second place with Halifax and Hunslet. After a poor season last time, Sheffield Philadelphia are the surprise early leaders in the Sheffield and District League, being the only club to win their first two. Their second win was an extra-innings success over champions Doncaster who had won their opening game. Doncaster share second place with Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir, who have also been beaten by their near neighbours Sheffield.

MIDLANDS

There has only been one week of play in the Birmingham and District League, where champions Edgbaston opened up with a defeat at the hands of Small Heath. Other winners on day one were West Bromwich, Dudley and championship favourites Birmingham Main Line. In the new Derby and Nottingham League, Midland Loco are the only team to win their first two games. Indeed, they are yet to allow a run after 2-0 successes against both Sherwood and Trent Bridge. Old Basford were backed to have a good year but they are the only team yet to win after struggling for good pitching in their first two games.

SCOTLAND

Govan are the outright leaders of the Glasgow and District League after wins over White Cart, Burgh of Partick and Tollcross. The last of those left Tollcross, who had themselves won their first two, a game back in second place while everyone else has one win, including champions Burgh of Partick who lost their first two before defeating Lanark-Renfrew to end the month. Dunfermline are the surprise leaders of the East of Scotland League, as they too hold the only undefeated record in their league. Champions The Grange lost their opening game to Leith but have since won the next two and sit second, while favourites Arthur’s Seat have started slowly, struggling for runs in losing two of their three games.

UNIVERSITIES

Well fancied Magdalen College lead the way at Oxford University, having won five of their six games so far. Merton won their first four, but a postponement and defeat to Worcester College in their last game leave them fractionally behind Magdalen in second place. Having lost their last two, champions Balliol are struggling early on, far removed from a year ago when they won their first twelve games. At Cambridge, champions Clare College also won their first four but subsequent defeats at the hands of Queens’ and St John’s have dropped them back behind St Catharine’s and Trinity, both of whom have won their last four. St Catharine’s lead the way by a fraction having played and won one more game than Trinity.

In other news, this season may yet end with another new competition as a suggestion has come from the Burgh of Partick club that the best players of Scotland and England should face one another in a challenge match. Inspired by watching the association football match between the two countries which was played at their ground in early March, several of Partick’s players sought support from other Glasgow clubs for their idea and then put the suggestion to the leading English leagues. It is believed that the clubs were on the whole supportive, although there was some disagreement about where the game should take place and further discussions are planned. Also coming out of Glasgow was the news that the Glasgow and District League is inviting applications from clubs wishing to join that competition ahead of its fourth season next year. A vote is expected to take place at the end of the current campaign.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 10:33 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: APRIL 1874

The latest news on the proposed game between England and Scotland is that both countries have agreed that it should go ahead, but neither was willing to give up home advantage. As a compromise, a suggestion came from the Metropolitan League clubs that a three-game series, following the format of the Varsity Series, should be played. That was accepted by the Scottish clubs, but led to the question of who should play at home first. That was finally decided by the toss of a coin, which Scotland were allowed to call, having been the side to suggest the games. Scotland’s call was correct, meaning that they will host the first game, scheduled for the first Saturday in November. England will host the second a week later, with the venue for the third being decided by another coin toss should it be necessary. With Scotland having called the first coin toss, England would be allowed to call the second if it is required. As in the Varsity Series, in future years the venues for the first two games will alternate and the coin toss to host the third would be called by the reigning champions.

The scheduling of these games makes it imperative that league seasons do not run past the end of October, and several leagues have already indicated that they will schedule midweek games if necessary, and will permit clubs to pay expenses to players to compensate players for lost earnings if they have to take time away from their occupations. While paying players to play is still not permitted, this must be seen as another step on the route to the seeming inevitability of professionalism in the near future. We await the annual meetings in the autumn to see whether any clubs make serious proposals that their league permit professionalism, with the Manchester and District League seen as possibly the most likely to do so.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

The Metropolitan League is looking very tight this year, with Hackney the surprise leaders at the end of April having put together a six-game winning run following their opening day defeat. That run came a stunning end in their final game of the month as they crashed 11-3 at Angel, but they remain in first place because the other surprise team, newcomers Putney, were also defeated. They trail by a fraction, with four more teams within a single game. Those include favourites Greenwich, who have won their last three after a poor start. Champions The Regent’s Park don’t look to have a chance this year, as they lost every game in April and sit above only winless Peckham in the standings.

Having missed the title in a tiebreaker last year, Ealing are leading the way in the Middlesex County League after winning every game this month. They are one ahead of Tottenham, whose undefeated start was ended by Ealing early in April. Champions Isleworth are in third place, but well-fancied Edmonton have made a poor start for the second year in succession and sit last. Seven of the eight teams in the Kent County League are within one game of each other, with champions Bexley Heath losing their last two to fall one game off the pace. Champions Gravesend are one of four teams tied for first. Near neighbours Croydon and Norwood share first place in the new Surrey County League, after Norwood ended April by winning their meeting 4-1. Nobody else has a winning record, although several postponed games make it difficult to see the full picture.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Manchester and District League champions Salford have fallen one game behind Miles Platting after a surprise loss at Stockport, while Miles Platting remain undefeated having won all their game in April. Nobody else is closer than three games off the pace, and it already seems set to be a two-horse race for the title. One of the surprises of the year so far is the start made by newcomers Wigan in the Liverpool and District League, as they sit in first place having won all five of their games to date. Champions Liverpool, who are yet to face Wigan, are the only other team with a winning record but one postponement and a surprise loss at Sankey leave them a little off the pace. Ribble and Accrington continue to set the pace in the Lancashire County League’s first season, with Ribble a game ahead having won the meeting of the two 3-0 earlier in April. Ribble did end the month with their first defeat, at the hands of Chorley, but stay ahead as Accrington were beaten by Over Darwen.

YORKSHIRE

Along with Wigan, the other surprise of the year is Batley View, who share first place in the Leeds and Bradford League with champions Bradford. Having started the month by losing to Woodhouse, Batley won their remaining three games but Bradford won all four in April, to keep them on pace with the champions. Those two have a two game advantage over the chasing pack already. It is very tight in the Sheffield and District League, as five of the six teams have three wins to their name. To the surprise of many, Holmes Tail lead the way along with Barnsley as they have played and lost one game fewer than Sanderson’s Weir, Sheffield and champions Doncaster. The two leaders have both seen games postponed when they were due to face Hallamshire, who sit alone in last having played only four times.

MIDLANDS

After starting April with a heavy loss to champions Edgbaston, Birmingham Main Line won their remaining three games to move into a tie for first place in the Birmingham and District League. They share that position with Small Heath, whose only loss so far was a heavy 7-1 reverse against Main Line. Former leaders Dudley lost their last two in April to fall one back, alongside Edgbaston and West Bromwich. In the Derby and Nottingham League, it is Midland Loco who lead the way with five wins from six. They entered the final game of the month tied with Sherwood Rise at the top of the standings but won the meeting of those two 3-2 to edge clear. Sherwood’s neighbours Trent Bridge took advantage to join them in a tie for second place.

SCOTLAND

Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick completed an undefeated month in April and now sit alone in first place, having won their last five overall. Early season leaders Govan were their most recent victims, losing by a score of 3-2. They lost three of their four games this month and sit one game back, alongside both Tollcross and Lanark-Renfrew in what seems set to be another close race. The two Fife teams are leading the way in the East of Scotland League, but Dunfermline have been overtaken by Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy won all four of their games in April, and like Partick ended the month by defeating their rivals 3-2 to move clear in first place. Champions The Grange are sitting third having been held back by postponements, but Arthur’s Seat are not living up to their billing as favourites as they sit last.

UNIVERSITIES

The university leagues are almost at the half-way stage and in Oxford, it is a tight three-way fight between Brasenose, Merton and Magdalen. With their two rivals faltering, Brasenose won seven of ten this month to edge fractionally ahead. Christ Church are not out of the running yet, and neither are champions Balliol who also recorded seven wins in an improved month. At Cambridge, Trinity had been edging clear but stumbled to defeat in their first three games and allowed Gonville & Caius to join them in first place. Caius have won their last five, as have a fast-improving King’s team who are only one game off the pace. Between King’s and the two leaders are champions Clare, whose hopes suffered a blow when they ended April by losing heavily 9-0 at the hands of King’s.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 10:37 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MAY 1874

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

There is effectively a four-way tie at the top of the Metropolitan League as we head into June, with the Old Westminsters having fractionally the better winning percentage as a result of having played fewer games. Hackney lost sole possession of first place after a 4-0 defeat against Clapham, although they recovered to end the month with victory over a fading Greenwich team. They are joined at the top by the Westminsters, Clapham and Angel, all of whom won their last two games. Putney are starting to fall back after their impressive start, while champions The Regent’s Park dragged themselves out of last place by winning their last two, following a dreadful seven game losing run.

Middlesex County League champions Isleworth dropped back into a tie for first place after ending May with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Enfield, a result which allowed Ealing to catch them by defeating the struggling Old Harrovians. Tottenham are only one game behind after winning their last two in what seems set to be a close three-way fight. In the Kent County League, Rochester opened May by losing to champions Bexley Heath but went on to win their next four, opening up a one-game lead in first place. Gravesend lead the chase, with their victory over Bexley Heath helping to drop the champions two back in a tie for third with Maidstone. The Surrey County League’s first season looks difficult to call as Norwood have lost their last two and seen a two-game lead disappear. They have been caught by both Croydon and Reigate, while Kingston’s victory over Norwood helped to bring them to within them only one game of the three leaders.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Miles Platting seem set to take the Manchester and District League championship this year as they are now the only undefeated team in any league, winning their first eleven games to open up a significant lead. They were helped by the decline of champions Salford, who lost to Bury having led in the ninth inning and then did likewise when they faced Miles Platting a week later. In all, they lost four of their five games in May and now share third with Bury and Rochdale, as Irwell now lead the chase in second. Champions Liverpool and newcomers Wigan are battling for first place in the Liverpool and District League, with Liverpool a fraction ahead having defeated Wigan in their first meeting of the year only to fall to an improving Sankey team a week later. Sankey sit a game behind Wigan in third. Accrington end the month leading the Lancashire County League, helped by a victory over a Ribble team who had an inconsistent month. It may not just be a two-horse race however, as Chorley ended May by defeating both the leaders 1-0 in successive weeks to close the gap.

YORKSHIRE

Champions and newcomers are also fighting at the top of the Leeds and Bradford League, with Bradford’s defeat to neighbours Bowling allowing Batley to move back to the top of the standings in what is proving to be an excellent first season. They had fallen behind earlier in May having lost narrowly 1-0 to Bradford. Just one game off the pace are Woodhouse Lane, who have won their last three including a win over the reigning champions. In the Sheffield and District League, champions Doncaster lead the way but may find themselves with company at the top once postponed games are played later in the year. Doncaster, Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir have all suffered four defeats, but Doncaster have played and won two more games. The two chasers will be frustrated at their lack of consistency, especially Barnsley who followed a win over Doncaster by losing in extra innings to Hallamshire in their last game.

MIDLANDS

Having won their first three games in May, Small Heath lead the Birmingham and District League but their 5-4 loss to Dudley in the final game of the month reduced that advantage to a single game. Dudley now lead the chase as Birmingham Main Line have lost their last three, while champions Edgbaston have now lost six successive games having endured a winless month. They appear to be contending with The Regent’s Park for the weakest championship defence of the year. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Trent Bridge have a one-game lead over Sherwood having won the meeting of those two Nottingham rivals 3-2 in thirteen innings midway through the month. Early season leaders Midland Loco have fallen back into third place, losing three of their four games in May including meetings with both of the clubs now ahead of them.

SCOTLAND

Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick have been drawn back closer to the chasing pack after ending May with defeats against Dundashill and Govan. They are still in first place but only by a fraction from both of those teams. There is in fact a three-way tie for second place, with Tollcross the third team in there despite a mixed month which brought two wins and two defeats. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline have moved back ahead of Kirkcaldy at the top of the standings as a result of defeating their Fife rivals 2-1 in the final game of the month. That marked a third successive loss for Kirkcaldy, who won just once in May and are now a game behind in second place.

UNIVERSITIES

At Oxford University, Brasenose are closing in on the championship after a superb month which saw them win eight of their nine games, including victories over championship rivals Merton and Magdalen. Magdalen have now dropped out of contention after a poor month, while New College’s hopes were hit by defeats in their last two games and it seems that Merton are likely to be the only team who can stop Brasenose now. Over in Cambridge, Trinity College seemed to be falling away after losing three of four early in May, but they won their next four to draw level with Gonville and Caius at the top. The two then met in the final game of the month, which Trinity won 4-0 to take a one-game lead in June. Clare and King’s are falling away after both lost six of ten in May, but St John’s could yet make a challenge as they have now won eight of their last nine to sit just two games behind Trinity in third place.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 10:43 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: JUNE 1874

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

Clapham and the Old Westminsters have opened a gap over the chasing pack in the Metropolitan League after they ended June by recording double victories over the Commercial Dock Workers and Kensington respectively. Until then everyone had been struggling a little for consistency, with Angel and Hackney both losing four times in the month to lose ground at the top of the standings. Clapham currently lead by the smallest fraction from the Westminsters, but there is now a further two game margin back to Angel in third. Putney are still enjoying a good first season, and they currently sit three games off the pace, but pre-season favourites Greenwich are four back and look out of the running.

Middlesex County League champions Isleworth began June with defeat to the Old Harrovians but ended the month with a crucial win over Ealing, which extended their lead at the top of the standings. Ealing share second with Tottenham, who played only twice in June and have several games to make up. Gravesend have opened a small cushion in the Kent County League after completing an undefeated month, while previous leaders Rochester lost their last two. One of those defeats was against champions Bexley Heath, who have joined them in a tie for second. In the Surrey County League, the new leaders are Kingston after they ended June by defeating Norwood 1-0 to replace their opponents in top spot. Reigate have dropped back to an even record after losing their last three, but in truth it is only struggling Wimbledon who don’t appear to have any hope of the championship.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Miles Platting are still well placed in the Manchester and District League despite losing their undefeated record at the thirteenth time of asking against Belle Vue. They lost again a week later against Bolton, but ended the month with a crucial pair of 3-2 victories against champions Salford. That may leave Salford too far back, with Irwell looking the only serious challengers to Miles Platting ahead of the teams’ double meeting on the opening weekend in July. In the Liverpool and District League, champions Liverpool and newcomers Wigan continue to fight for first place. Wigan could only share two games with Great Float to end the month, losing first place to Liverpool who defeated Anfield twice. The gap is just a fraction however, with Linacre now only two games off the pace in third after they won four of five in June, including a 6-3 victory over Liverpool. Despite ending the month by losing 3-2 at Chorley, Accrington sit well clear in the Lancashire County League and seem set to be the first champions. They moved away after Ribble lost all three of their games in June, including a thirteen-inning defeat against Accrington. Aside from Accrington and struggling Burnley, everyone else is closely bunched together in the standings.

YORKSHIRE

Hunslet enjoyed the best month in the Leeds and Bradford League and have made it a tight three way fight in the standings, helped by their win over Batley which opened the month. Batley are still going will and their double win over Bradford leaves them in first place, but Bradford responded to end the month with two victories over the other new club, Dewsbury. The reigning champions share second with Hunslet, fractionally behind the surprise leaders. Having won just two of six in the month, Woodhouse Lane have lost ground and now sit two games back. Doncaster’s hopes of defending their Sheffield and District crown are fading as they lost all four games in June to slip two off the pace. Sanderson’s Weir opened up a one game lead at the top with their win over Doncaster, but defeat in their last game of the month against Hallamshire saw them caught by a Barnsley team who recorded their own win over the champions. Weir and Barnsley currently sit tied for first, with Hallamshire just fractionally behind in third place.

MIDLANDS

There is a tight four-way battle in the Birmingham and District League, with Small Heath having looked sure to be leading the way until they ended June with a double loss at the hands of struggling champions Edgbaston. That leaves Dudley as the leaders, with Aston and West Bromwich just a game off the pace as well. By winning five of their seven games in the month, West Bromwich are arguably the form team at the present time. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Trent Bridge have lost their lead at the top following three successive defeats. Their neighbours Sherwood have joined them in a tie for first place, helped by narrowly winning their meeting 2-1. Old Basford are just one game back now having won three of their four in June, but Midland Loco have fallen back to an even record after three defeats from four.

SCOTLAND

Champions Burgh of Partick lead the Glasgow and District League by two games after ending June with a comfortable 8-0 victory over second placed Dundashill. Partick actually won all three in June, and with everyone else struggling to find consistency have moved clear in first place. An extra-innings loss against the champions stopped a good run of form from Tollcross and they fall back to an even record, tied for third with Govan. Pre-season favourites Arthur’s Seat climbed to the top of the East of Scotland League standings after winning their first three in June, but lost that position when they ended the month with defeat against a Dunfermline team who replace them in first. Kirkcaldy have dropped back to a losing record after a poor month, but even last-placed Leith are only two games out of first place in a league which looks very difficult to call.

UNIVERSITIES

Six years on from winning the inaugural championship, Brasenose College have taken the title again at Oxford University. Having come into June looking sure to take the crown, they lost their first three games of the month to give the chasing pack hope, but a crushing 7-1 success over a fading Merton team put them back on track. Despite losing 3-1 to in-form New College, a result which helped take the race to the final day, Brasenose defeated Christ Church 9-6 in their last game to hold off a New College team who won their last five. At Cambridge, Trinity College entered the last week of the campaign knowing that victory over Gonville & Caius would give them the championship for the first time, and they duly made no mistake, claiming an overwhelming 12-3 success to end the race. Caius won their last two without allowing a run to make sure of second position, leaving deposed champions Clare in third. The top players now move on to the Varsity Series, with Cambridge looking to defend their championship. They go to Oxford for the first game, before hosting the second.

In other news, we have received the first announcement of a new competition for next season, as Essex becomes the last of the four founder members of the County Championship to launch a County League. The league was the idea of the West Ham club who have been rejected for membership of the Metropolitan League twice. There are expected to be six teams involved, but the Middlesex County League is set to grow to eight as that competition announced that it was inviting bids from clubs wishing to join. A vote is expected to be taken at the end of the current season.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 10:46 AM

TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1874 VARSITY SERIES

The University of Oxford have evened up the all-time record in the Varsity Series at three wins each after taking the title away from Cambridge in a dramatic three-game series. In the first game at Oxford pitchers dominated, with James Gulliver of Clare College for Cambridge and Percival Lambert of New College for Oxford both in fine form. The game entered the sixth inning with no score, but an error from pitcher Lambert allowed Cambridge to get a runner to third with nobody out. Ernest Norton of St John’s came up to bat and hit a ball deep into the outfield, far enough for runner James Thomas of Jesus College to come home after the catch.

In the seventh, Cambridge pitcher Gulliver then aided his own cause, when he came to bat with runners and first and second and two out. His base hit allowed Joe Arnold of St Catharine’s to score and give Cambridge a 2-0 lead. Oxford only once managed to get a runner to third base, and their chances of a comeback vanished in the ninth when the first three batters were able to reach base for Cambridge, with Mark Dutton of Jesus College coming to bat. He recorded a hit which brought two runners home, extending the gap to 4-0. Although Oxford escaped the inning with no further damage, they could not find any reply in their half of the inning and slipped one game behind in the series.

Oxford had to win the second game at Cambridge to keep the series alive, and again the pitchers were dominant early on. This time there was no scoring until the seventh inning, but unlike the first game it was Oxford who struck first. Brasenose man Edwin Morphett opened up with a three-base hit, and Balliol’s Clarence Briggs followed that with a hit of his own to bring Morphett in to score. Cambridge looked for an immediate response and in their half of the seventh, Oxford first baseman Gilbert Dinning made what appeared to be a crucial error. He allowed Percival Hickmott of Cambridge champions Trinity to reach base with one out, and Mark Dutton immediately found a two-base hit to bring Hickmott in and level the score. With two out and Dutton still at second base, Joe Arnold produced a crucial hit to allow Dutton to score, giving Cambridge a 2-1 lead and putting them two innings away from another series win.

With only one run against Cambridge pitcher James Gulliver in sixteen innings, Oxford were in trouble but from somewhere, they found three successive hits to open the eighth inning. The third of those, from Brasenose’s Andrew Norman, brought Ralph Aplin of New College in to score, bringing Oxford level at 2-2. Later in the inning, with three men on base and only one out, it was Clarence Briggs again who produced the crucial hit as two more runs came in, moving Oxford ahead at 4-2. Cambridge managed to put two runners on in the ninth, but Oxford pitcher Lambert recorded the strikeout he needed to end the game and tie the series at one game each. With a third game needed, Cambridge as reigning champions were permitted to call the coin toss but their call was wrong, meaning a journey back to Oxford for the decisive game.

For the first time in the series, the third game produced a run in the early innings as Frederick Richardson of Jesus College started the third inning with a hit. His team mates then moved him over to third base by the time Trinity’s Percival Hickmott came to bat with two out. His hit brough Richardson home to give Cambridge the lead, but they were not able to add to that one run advantage. Pitcher Gulliver was again in fine form for Cambridge, as Oxford recorded just two hits in the first six innings and couldn’t get a man past second base. With time running out however, they found their form in the seventh.

Frederick Adair of St Edmund Hall opened the inning with a hit and then advanced himself to second, before reaching third when a careless pitch from Gulliver evaded catcher Robert Humphries. With one out, Merton’s Gilbert Dinning provided the hit to bring Adair home and tie the score at 1-1, but Oxford were not finished there. They moved Dinning over to third as well before pitcher Lambert excelled with the bat, bringing Dinning home to give Oxford the lead. With two men on and two out, Magdalen man Patrick Harris followed up with a hit of his own, bringing in another run to move Oxford ahead 3-1. In the eighth, Cambridge had two runners on with two out but Lambert was able to record the crucial third out, before easing through the ninth without allowing a runner. Cambridge had lost their crown and Oxford regained the title that they lost a year ago.

Oxford’s Lambert was named as Best Pitcher for this year, while Percival Hickmott’s university career ended with the Best Player award, despite being on the losing team. We wait to see whether he will appear in a club competition next year.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 10:49 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: JULY 1874

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

There is no change in the position at the top of the Metropolitan League after a month in which Clapham and the Old Westminsters both won three and lost three of their six games. The Westminsters edged ahead when they won the meeting of the two by a score of 5-1, but they faltered against Greenwich a week later, allowing Clapham to edge ahead again with a victory over Kensington. They lead by a fraction, with Angel edging closer in third place having won four of their six in July to sit just a game behind the Westminsters. Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London Club all won four of six as well and all are within three games of first place.

With Ealing losing their last three games, champions Isleworth have moved further ahead in the Middlesex County League after winning four times in five games in July. It is now Tottenham leading the chase, having ended the month by winning two in a day against Ealing, but their loss to Isleworth a week earlier has left them with a long way to go to catch up as games begin to run out. Former leaders Gravesend have dropped into fourth place in the Kent County League after losing all four of their games this month. The Royal Engineers, Rochester, and champions Bexley Heath all defeated Gravesend and now sit effectively in a three-way tie in first place, although the Engineers have played fewer games and have slightly the better winning percentage. Bexley Heath could have ended the month alone in first but lost 3-0 to improving Bromley. In Surrey, Norwood opened up a lead at the top when they won their first three games in July, but a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Richmond in their last game allowed neighbours Croydon to catch them again, having won three in succession. Reigate have lost ground after losing to both the leaders this month.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

After sharing two games with Irwell and then seeing their rivals lose twice the following week, Miles Platting opened up a five-game lead in the Manchester and District League by mid-July but have since faltered to give the chasers hope. They were beaten by both Bury and Oldham, while Irwell recorded two wins to close the gap. Salford are fractionally further back in third place, after an astonishing loss against last-placed Moss Grove where they allowed ten runs in the fifteenth inning to fall 11-1.

After a postponement to end the month, Liverpool are fractionally further ahead of Wigan in the Liverpool and District League. They won four of six this month while Wigan took four of seven, being left frustrated by two defeats against Great Float which combined took fully twenty-nine innings. Great Float themselves are the form team, just fractionally behind Wigan in third place. The Lancashire County League’s inaugural season is seeing the small town clubs leave those from the bigger towns behind, as Accrington continue to lead the way. They are only one game ahead of Over Darwen however, after Darwen’s undefeated month which included a 2-1 victory over Accrington. Ribble, who started the year so well, have now lost their last eight to fall out of contention.

YORKSHIRE

Having lost their first game of the month, Hunslet won their remaining five in the Leeds and Bradford League to take a clear lead as both champions Bradford and newcomers Batley faltered. Hunslet defeated Bradford twice in a day in opening up a two game advantage, while Batley lost four out of five including a demoralising 11-0 defeat at Leeds. Bowling, who won the inaugural title three years ago, won three of four in July to move up the standings and they have several games to catch up on the other following postponements. Five successive wins in the month, including two over chasers Barnsley and another over champions Doncaster, have given Sanderson’s Weir a significant lead in the Sheffield and District League. Barnsley remain second after recovering to win their last two.

MIDLANDS

Four teams are split by a single game in the Birmingham and District League, with Birmingham Main Line now leading the way after they won all seven of their games in July. Former leaders Dudley have dropped four in succession, including games against Aston and West Bromwich who are both very much in championship contention. They sit just one game back, while Walsall in fifth are just a fraction further behind having defeated Dudley twice in a day without allowing a single run. The three teams from the Nottingham area are tied for first in the Derby and Nottingham League, with Trent Bridge losing sole possession of first place having fallen 4-2 at Sherwood to end the month. That result left those teams level, while Old Basford have joined them at the top having completed an undefeated month. The other three teams are also tied with one another, but five games off the pace. Encouraged by the first league in the East Midlands, clubs in the Leicester area are believed to be considering forming a competition for next year if they are able to find enough to make up the numbers.

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SCOTLAND

Despite a 3-0 loss to Tollcross earlier in the month, Burgh of Partick end July two games clear in the Glasgow and District League. Having won all three of their games in the month, it is Tollcross who now lead the chase while Govan moved up to a winning record having taken their last two. Dundashill are falling out of contention after ending the month with three heavy defeats. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline took their last three to move a game ahead of Arthur’s Seat. Those two meet in the first game of August, with Arthur’s Seat looking to move level again in first place. Champions The Grange are one of three teams just two games back on even records, as another close race looks inevitable in a league which required a tiebreaker a year ago.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 03:31 PM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: AUGUST 1874

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

Just as in June and July, Clapham end the month fractionally ahead at the top of the Metropolitan League standings after an eventful series of games. They had begun the month by extending their lead with victory over The Regent’s Park while the Old Westminsters were defeated by Putney, but two successive defeats then dropped Clapham out of first place. It looked as though the Westminsters would end August just ahead, but they fell to defeat at Hackney as Clapham edged past the Royal Artillery Barracks in their last game to move in front again. While those two teams were changing positions, Angel overcame a defeat by the Westminsters to win their other four games and have now moved into a tie for second place, right on the shoulders of Clapham. It looks increasingly as though the champions will be one of the leading three, but Hackney and newcomers Putney should not be ruled out just yet.

Isleworth are closing in on a successful defence of the Middlesex County League despite losing four of their six games in August. After victory over Isleworth, Ealing then lost three successive games to fall back to an even record, while second placed Tottenham missed a chance to close in when they won the first of a double game against the champions only to lose the second. By losing three successive game without scoring a run, the Royal Engineers have dropped one game off the pace in the Kent County League, leaving Rochester as the new leaders. Right on their shoulder however are Gravesend, who had looked to be fading away last month but ended August with three successive wins, including one over Rochester, to move back into second place. Champions Bexley Heath lost four of their five games in August and are struggling to stay in touch. Norwood have moved clear in the Surrey County League after responding to a defeat at the hands of Croydon by winning their next three, while Croydon were defeated in their next three. Croydon are now two games back, fractionally behind Kingston whose own hopes were damaged by their month-ending loss to Wimbledon, falling 7-6 in eleven innings in a remarkable game.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Miles Platting seem to have recovered from their slight stumble in the Manchester and District League, claiming an important extra-innings victory over Rochdale and then a crucial 3-2 success over second-placed Irwell. With Irwell having also fallen to reigning champions Salford this month, Miles Platting now know that a maximum of four wins from their remaining eight games will secure the crown. The Liverpool and District League remains a close race, with champions Liverpool recovering from a poor start to the month to win their last two and cling on to first place by the smallest of margins. Linacre are now in second place, having won four of five in August and they look to be the team in the best form. Their victory over Wigan damaged the newcomers’ hopes, while Great Float’s win over Linacre was rendered useless when they dropped their next two. Accrington seem sure to be the first champions of the Lancashire County League, despite mixed results this month. Over Darwen lost four of their six games, including one at Accrington, to lose ground while Chorley, who had moved into contention themselves with a three game winning run, crashed 4-0 at lowly Burnley in their final game of August.

YORKSHIRE

Hunslet’s march towards the Leeds and Bradford League crown was stopped in its tracks by defeats at the hands of Bowling and Bradford, bringing to an end an eight-game winning run. Bradford’s win moves them back to within touching distance of the leaders, while newcomers Batley overcame a defeat to Hunslet to win their last two and keep themselves in the race a little while longer. The race is all but over in the Sheffield and District League however, as Sanderson’s Weir completed another undefeated month to extend their winning run to ten games and move to within a maximum of two victories from the championship. Defeat to Weir began a run of three successive losses for second-placed Barnsley, and they now know that if they lose their next game while Weir beat Hallamshire, the title will be decided on the first weekend in September.

MIDLANDS

It is still too close to call in the Birmingham and District League, with Small Heath now the form team again having won all their games in August. Dudley, who lost four in succession during the month, and Birmingham Main Line, who lost five of six, have dropped back again. While those teams have all experienced runs of good and bad form, it is Aston and West Bromwich who have arguably been the most consistent. Aston’s defeat to Walsall cost them a share of first place at the end of the month however, with Small Heath and West Bromwich tied for first. The truth is that only the Old Wulfrunians are out of the running, there is still time even for champions Edgbaston, who sit seventh with a losing record, to retain their title with a good run of form. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Old Basford’s run to the top of the standings has faltered a little with two defeats in their last three, but they were able to retain sole possession of first place because of Sherwood’s loss to Trent Bridge on the final Saturday in August. That result, coupled with Old Basford’s defeat at Derby, helped Trent Bridge back to within a single game of first place and they can move level with a win over Old Basford next week.

SCOTLAND

A run of three successive defeats in mid-August has seen Burgh of Partick’s lead in the Glasgow and District League reduced, but having found in-form Govan right on their shoulder the gap grew a little again on the final weekend of the month. Partick’s win over White Cart and a 1-0 loss for Govan at Lanark-Renfrew gives the champions a little more breathing room at the top of the standings. Tollcross are not yet out of the running either, and crucially Partick have played more games than either of the chasers, making their rescheduled games vital to their chances of catching up. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline still lead but only by a fraction after a defeat at the hands of Arthur’s Seat which opened the month. Dunfermline recovered to win their next four, but Arthur’s Seat won five out of six in August to stay close behind. In September, the two again open the month by meeting one another, and Arthur’s Seat can edge in front if they are able to record another victory.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 03:37 PM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: SEPTEMBER 1874

The end of the season is fast approaching, and we are set for close finishes in several of the league this year, with only the Sheffield and District League decided heading into October. September however ended with several crucial games between championship challengers which has left the picture clearer in some competitions and even more confused than ever in others.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

Clapham and the Old Westminsters end September tied with five games to play in the Metropolitan League, after both completed their September schedules undefeated. Clapham won four times and the Westminsters five, with Clapham’s month-ending victory over Angel possibly putting an end to Angel’s own challenge. The top two meet one another next week, while Angel do still have to face the Westminsters so may not quite be out of the running. With Hackney losing twice and Putney three times in September, those two teams will certainly miss out this year. At the bottom of the standings, a run of four successive wins has given outgoing champions The Regent’s Park hope of avoiding the embarrassment of going from first to last in the space of one year.

Champions Isleworth lead the Middlesex County League by one game with two to play, after coming back from an extra-innings deficit to defeat championship rivals Tottenham in the final game of September. Tottenham had been undefeated in the month prior to that, but they must now hope that Isleworth lose at least one of their remaining games. In Kent, Rochester lead by one game from Bromley after both were undefeated in September. Two defeats to start the month may have cost Gravesend their chance, while Bromley only have one game to play which means that they must win that fixture and hope that Rochester do not win any more than one of their three remaining games. The first championship in the Surrey County League looks to be heading to Norwood, despite their loss at last-placed Wimbledon in their final game of the month. Chasers Kingston and Croydon were also defeated. Norwood will be champions if they win two of their last three, but can secure the crown with victory in their next game if Kingston and Croydon are both beaten again.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Miles Platting continue to stumble towards the winning line in the Manchester and District League, losing their first three in September before edging out Rochdale 4-3 in extra-innings in their last game. After winning their first twelve, they have won just eleven and lost nine of the next twenty, but still have a seemingly comfortable lead over Irwell and Salford. Both those teams suffered shock defeats to lowly opponents which prevented them from closing the gap further, and two wins from the last four will be enough for Miles Platting.

Linacre seem to be the only team who can prevent Liverpool St Patrick’s from winning a fourth successive title in the Liverpool and District League, as their win in the meeting of the two last week brought them effectively level in first place. Liverpool’s winning percentage is slightly better having played two games fewer, but intriguingly the two have still to meet once more. That will be Linacre’s final game, with Liverpool having two more to play after. Newcomers Wigan saw their impressive challenge falter with defeats to both Liverpool and Anfield this month, and although they are not quite officially eliminated from the race, they seem set to fall just short. In the Lancashire County League, nobody has any consistent form to speak of as leaders Accrington lost three of four in September but neither Chorley nor Over Darwen were able to take full advantage. Accrington lead by one from Darwen and two from Chorley with four to play, with Chorley’s hopes boosted by still having to face both of the teams ahead of them.

YORKSHIRE

The Leeds and Bradford League seems to be coming down to a straight fight between champions Bradford and leaders Hunslet, with Hunslet continuing to falter this month in losing games against Huddersfield and Dewsbury. Bradford, who have played and won one game fewer, could have edged fractionally ahead but their own defeat at Halifax keeps them just behind. Newcomers Batley saw their hopes all but disappear in a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hunslet in their last game of the month. The first team to claim a title this year were Sanderson’s Weir, who won back the Sheffield and District crown that they narrowly lost a year ago when they opened September with victory over Hallamshire, coupled with defeat for Barnsley against Doncaster. Since securing the title, Weir have lost three games out of four and seen outgoing champions Doncaster complete an undefeated month to move clear in second place, just four games behind. Weir will care little though, as they are guaranteed to have at least a two-game cushion by the end of the season.

MIDLANDS

West Bromwich lead the Birmingham and District League by the smallest fraction heading into October, after Small Heath’s nine-game winning run came to an end in a 4-1 defeat at Birmingham Main Line in their final game of the month. It could have been even better for the leaders, but they were only able to share two with the last-placed Old Wulfrunians to keep the race very much alive. West Bromwich have only one game left to play, and should they win it then Small Heath would need to win both of theirs to force a tiebreaker. A West Bromwich defeat would mean that two wins would give Small Heath the title outright. Old Basford are closing in on becoming the first champions of the Derby and Nottingham League, despite a 3-1 defeat at Sherwood earlier in September which reduced their lead in the standings to a single game. Both they and Sherwood won their final games of the month, meaning that Old Basford lead by one with two to play. Trent Bridge’s defeat to Ilkeston rules them out of the race for this year.

SCOTLAND

A crucial 2-1 win over Govan has kept Burgh of Partick on course to retain the Glasgow and District League championship, as they lead by two heading into October. Govan’s failure to win the second of a double game against Dundashill on the final weekend in September means that Partick will take the crown if they win their three remaining games, but any defeat could open a window for Govan who have five to play. Arthur’s Seat came within an single out of taking the East of Scotland League title a year ago but it appears that this time they will be successful, as they moved into first place by defeating Dunfermline 3-0 to open September and then saw their rivals drop two of their next three games to lose further ground. With two games to play, Arthur’s Seat will be champions if they win either, or if Dunfermline lose their one remaining game.

In one other piece of news from Scotland, the vote to determine the two teams joining the Glasgow and District League for next year has been taken earlier than expected, at the request of the applicant clubs who wanted more time to prepare should they be successful. Six applications were received, some from the city itself and some from towns further afield, and in the end it was those further away which were successful. Winning the vote with the support of four clubs were Tail o’ the Bank, a team from the town of Greenock which lies some 20 miles north-west of central Glasgow. With three votes, edging out the more centrally located Rutherglen, were a team from Airdrie, located around 12 miles east of the city centre. They will join the league for the 1875 campaign, with the format of the season yet to be announced. It has been speculated that the clubs may choose to follow the format used by the Metropolitan League when that competition had eight members, with each club playing the others four times and adding two further fixtures against a ‘paired’ rival.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 03:59 PM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1874

The 1874 league season has come to an end after an enthralling final month which saw no fewer than ten of the thirteen leagues decided by a single game margin, nine of those going to the final games of the year and five needing tiebreakers. Despite the best efforts of organisers to ensure that all competitions were completed before the end of October, two games had to be played in November, but they did not interfere with the start of the first International Series between England and Scotland.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE

Entering October tied for first place in the Metropolitan League, Clapham and the Old Westminsters met on the first weekend of the month and the Westminsters surprisingly opted to use William Walters as pitcher rather than usual first choice Daniel Armstrong. That proved to be a mistake as Clapham earned a 5-0 victory, moving one game ahead with four to play. Both won a week later, but in their next game Clapham fell 4-3 to The Regent’s Park, improving towards the end of the year after an awful defence of their championship – which would eventually end with the club tied for last place in the standings rather than some way adrift as they had been in the summer. That allowed the Westminsters to draw level again with just two to play, and also let Angel move within a single game ahead of their meeting with the Westminsters the following week. Angel won that game 2-0, drawing them level with the Westminsters and allowing Clapham to move ahead again when they recovered from a 2-0 deficit to edge out Putney 3-2.

The fixtures were shuffled to have all three teams playing their final games on a Wednesday, under the new rules allowing teams to compensate players for lost earnings when missing work. That was done to allow time on the final Saturday of the month, and if necessary, on the first Wednesday in November, for a possible two or three-way tiebreaker. In those final games, Clapham knew that victory in their home game with Peckham would secure a remarkable title, having finished three games adrift in last place a year ago. Defeat would allow the Westminsters, Angel or possibly both to force a tie by winning their games. Clapham led 3-1 and appeared to be on the brink of the championship but let the lead slip, eventually falling 4-3 to an eighth inning run. At the end of the game, the players seemed resigned to facing a tiebreaker but their hopes were raised when news reached them shortly afterwards that Angel had slipped up 2-1 at Putney, taking them out of the running. A little while later, more news arrived from the Royal Artillery Barracks where the Westminsters had been playing their final game, and it was cause for celebration as the Westminsters had suffered a mid-game collapse and gone down to an 8-5 defeat. Clapham’s loss was now irrelevant, they had maintained their one-game advantage and taken the championship for the first time.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY LEAGUE

Champions Isleworth entered October leading Tottenham by one game, but a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Edmonton allowed Tottenham to catch up with a 2-0 win over Ealing. The teams were tied again with one to play, but the race took another twist the following week when Tottenham’s final game at the Old Harrovians was postponed. All Isleworth could do was defeat Ealing in their last game, and they duly did so by a score of 3-2, forcing Tottenham to win their rearranged fixture to force a tiebreaker. Against their last-placed opponents, Tottenham earned a comfortable 5-0 victory meaning that for the second successive year, Isleworth would face an additional game.

With the better of the head-to-head, Isleworth were the hosts for the extra game but fell behind before they had recorded a single out, Tottenham starting the game with two hits which brought home an early run. Isleworth settled however and after surviving a scare in Tottenham’s half of the fourth inning, turned the game around in their half when they scored two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 advantage. After his poor start, their pitcher Noah White had settled into his game and from that point onwards, he did not allow any Tottenham player to reach third base as Isleworth completed a successful defence of their championship. After defeating Ealing in an extra game last year, they have now done likewise to Tottenham and are the first team to win the league twice.

As the season ended, a vote was taken on the two clubs to join the league ahead of its fourth season in 1875. Five teams applied, but the vote turned out to be a three-way fight between a team based in Alexandra Park, a canal workers team from Brentford and the Twickenham-based club Strawberry Hill. In the end, the Alexandra Park club fell one vote short, earning the support of three members compared to the four who supported Brentford and Strawberry Hill. Those two teams will join the league officially in January, with the format looking likely to see a reduction from thirty games to twenty-eight, as there seems to be no logical way for teams to be paired geographically to maintain the current length of the schedule.

KENT COUNTY LEAGUE

Entering October a game behind Rochester with only one to play, having played and lost two more than their rivals, Bromley knew that victory over Dartford was vital to keep their hopes of winning the Kent County League alive. They overcame a seventh-inning deficit to take a 3-1 victory, but Rochester edged past the Royal Engineers 4-3 on the same day to move to the brink of the title. They had two games left to play and victory in either would have been enough, but in another meeting with the Engineers the following week Rochester crashed to an 8-0 defeat leaving everything resting on their final game. Victory over Erith would take the crown, while defeat would lead to a tiebreaker. If Rochester were nervous however they did not show it, scoring twice in the first inning and then seeing pitcher Fred Cunningham allow Erith only four hits all day, none of which led to a run. Rochester eventually claimed a 3-0 victory, leaving them one game ahead of Bromley in first place and meaning that Bromley’s run of six successive victories had come just too late.

SURREY COUNTY LEAGUE

Needing two wins from their final three games to win the inaugural Surrey County League title, Norwood opened up with a 3-1 victory over Richmond and with Kingston losing on the same day, they would have clinched the crown there and then had Croydon also been defeated. Croydon however shut out Reigate 5-0, leaving Norwood still one victory away. That victory only took one more week to arrive though, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to slip past Kingston 3-2 and secure the championship with a game to spare. In the event, Norwood lost their final game to Croydon and with their rivals winning all four in October, the final margin turned out to be just a single game. However, unlike most of the other leagues with single game margins, this race had not gone right to the end of the season. Croydon’s strong finish earned them second place, while Kingston faded back to an even record after losing their final four games.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

MANCHESTER AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

Manchester and District League leaders Miles Platting had been faltering in September, but they knew that victory over Belle Vue in their first game of October would leave them on the brink of the championship. Victory duly came by a score of 5-1, while reigning champions Salford edged Irwell 1-0 on the same day to leave themselves as the only team who could still catch Miles Platting, ending Irwell’s challenge. A week later, Miles Platting took on Bolton in a game which could give them the championship and had to endure a tense, tight battle before infielder John Hill came home following a catch deep in the outfield in the ninth inning. Miles Platting were the champions having led the competition all year, and indeed they went on to win both of their remaining games as well, including one over Salford which helped push their final margin of victory out to five games. Deposed champions Salford eventually finished tied with Irwell for second.

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

October began with Linacre and champions Liverpool effectively tied at the top of the Liverpool and District League, but Linacre had only three games remaining to Liverpool’s five. When they were beaten 2-1 by Toxteth in their first game of the month, Linacre may have feared that their challenge was fading but on the same day Liverpool crashed to defeat at Anfield, keeping the two tied. Those results also allowed newcomers Wigan to move back withing a single game by defeating Great Float. Defeat at Sankey a week later ended that brief revival of hope for Wigan, while Linacre and Liverpool both won their games to leave them tied again heading into their meeting in what was Linacre’s final scheduled game.

A tense afternoon saw the teams tied at 0-0 after nine innings, but in the tenth inning three consecutive hits with two out brought in three runs for Linacre. Liverpool had no reply, and after winning the first three championships their hold on the crown was now very faint. They still had two games to play but had to win both to force another tiebreaking game against Linacre. The first was easy, an 8-1 win over Sankey, but the second against Wigan was another unbearably tight duel. This time the game was scoreless until the eleventh inning, when a fielding error allowed Liverpool third baseman Enoch Clarendon to reach first to start the inning and he eventually came around to score, earning a 1-0 victory and forcing a tiebreaker.

Having won four of six against Liverpool, Linacre hosted the additional game as they attempted to end Liverpool’s grip on the championship, but their hopes crumbled in a disastrous sixth inning. Six Liverpool hits brought three men in to score, and when they added another in the eighth the game was up for Linacre. Liverpool took the win by a score of 4-0, winning a fourth successive crown and ensuring that theirs remains the only name on the championship trophy. In truth, their domination has not been as complete as that suggests as three of their titles have been won by a single game and two in tiebreakers, but the rest of the league must wait another year to take the championship away.

LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

The destination of the Lancashire County League’s inaugural title was very much in the balance going into October, but it became much clearer after the first weekend of the month as leaders Accrington earned two victories over Ribble. Coupled with defeat for Over Darwen in the second of two games against Blackburn, that left Accrington needing just one more win from their final two games to be champions. The first was against a Chorley who still had faint hopes of their own and seemed set to close the gap when they took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning, but just in time Accrington found their form. Having reduced the lead to 4-2, they scored two in the seventh to tie the game and added one more in the eighth to move ahead, before quickly disposing of Chorley in the ninth. Accrington were champions with one game to spare, which they also took to end on a five-game winning run. Victories in their last three games, including one against Over Darwen, left Chorley tied with Darwen for second place, three games behind the champions.

YORKSHIRE

LEEDS AND BRADFORD LEAGUE

Leaders Hunslet entered October with the slimmest possible lead in the standings, having faltered through September. Champions Bradford retained hope of a third successive title but those hopes faded a little when they began the month with a 5-4 defeat at the hands of Wakefield. Hunslet’s game that day was postponed, meaning their lead grew to a full game with three to play. Hunslet saw another game called off a week later, while Bradford ended the title hopes of newcomers Batley with a 2-0 win to edge fractionally closer again. They earned another win over the other new team Dewsbury in their next game and seemed set to move into first place when Hunslet trailed late on against Halifax, but the long-time leaders found three ninth inning runs to snatch a 3-2 victory and stay ahead.

A week later Bradford won again, defeating Leeds in their final scheduled games, and this time Hunslet cracked under the pressure. They fell 3-0 to Woodhouse Lane, falling behind Bradford in the standings and leaving them needing to win at Leeds in their final game to force a tiebreaker. That game was brought forward from the final Saturday in October to the preceding Wednesday, to leave the Saturday free for a possible extra game. In the event, such a game was not necessary as Hunslet failed to score for the second successive game and lost 1-0 to a ninth inning run. Bradford keep hold of the championship for another year, with Hunslet ruing a poor end to the season which saw them lose six of their final nine games. Batley won their final game to end an excellent debut season aloen in third place, just ahead of Huddersfield and Bowling.

SHEFFIELD AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

The only league which was decided before October even got underway, the Sheffield and District League’s final games saw champions Sanderson’s Weir extend their lead in the standings yet further, eventually ending up six games ahead of the chasing pack, the largest margin in any league this year. They opened up by beating last year’s winners Doncaster, before overcoming Hallamshire in their final game. Another defeat for Doncaster, at the hands of Barnsley, allowed Barnsley to take a shire of second place by defeating Holmes Tail in their final game.

MIDLANDS

BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

West Bromwich came into October knowing that victory over Walsall in their final game would leave Small Heath having to win their final two to force a tiebreaker, but they were not able to achieve that win. Walsall edged to a 1-0 success, while on the same afternoon Small Heath earned a dramatic 2-1 victory over deposed champions Edgbaston with a run in the ninth inning. That put Small Heath fractionally ahead in the standings and left them with the task of defeating the last placed Old Wulfrunians in their final game to take the championship. Everything seemed to be well when they took a 2-1 lead into the sixth and got the first two outs very quickly, but five successive hits brought in three runs for the Wulfrunians to give them a 4-2 advantage. Small Heath had no reply, meaning that there was a tie in the standings and an extra game was needed.

The consolation for Small Heath was that they had won all four of the season’s meetings with West Bromwich, giving them home advantage and a great deal of confidence heading into the tiebreaker. Much of that confidence evaporated in the first inning however, as the first two West Bromwich batters recorded hits and both later came in to score, giving their team a 2-0 lead. Another run in the fourth extended that advantage to 3-0, while Small Heath failed to take advantage of a number of baserunners. They did finally score a run in the eighth, but it was too little and too late as West Bromwich completed a 3-1 victory and claimed the championship. Having faded over the final weeks of the season, Dudley and Birmingham Main Line ended the year tied for third place.

DERBY AND NOTTINGHAM LEAGUE

Old Basford brought a one-game lead into October with two to play, and moved to the brink of becoming the inaugural champions when they defeated Derby 3-2. Sherwood were not giving up on the title easily however and their 1-0 win over Trent Bridge took the race to the final round of games. There Old Basford stumbled when another victory would have secured the crown, as they fell 5-1 to Trent Bridge. On the same day, Sherwood were recording a 5-0 win at Ilkeston which drew them level in the standings and set up a tiebreaker one week later.

With the better of the season’s meetings, Sherwood took home advantage for that game which turned out to be a duel between the two pitchers. Ambrose Hatcher of Sherwood allowed only four hits in the entire game, but Allen Beaten of Old Basford was even better, allowing just three. The crucial hit was that by Old Basford centre fielder Lawrence Claris in the eighth inning, coming with two men out but left fielder Daniel Pritchard on second base. Pritchard came home to score the only run of the game, giving the title to Old Basford a week later than they would have hoped to take it. Despite falling away in the final weeks, Trent Bridge earned a winning record for the year in third place with that win which forced Old Basford into the tiebreaker.

SCOTLAND

GLASGOW AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

Despite bringing a two game lead into October, reigning champions Burgh of Partick gave hope to the chasers in the Glasgow and District League by losing their first two games of the month, both by the same score of 2-1 at the hands of White Cart and Tollcross. Those defeats could have been more serious had Tollcross managed to defeat Dundashill a week before they beat Partick, or had Govan not lost two out of three themselves. Partick eventually entered their final game knowing that a victory over Lanark-Renfrew would complete a successful defence of the title. Defeat however would open the door for Tollcross or Govan, both of whom had two games to play, both against one another and both on Govan’s home field. Those two games were scheduled for the same day, to leave the final weekend of the month free for a potential tiebreaker.

Govan won the first of those games 3-0, but their hopes of taking the second to put pressure on Partick were dashed when the officials ruled that the field was unplayable and postponed the game. That would have left a scheduling problem regarding a tiebreaking game with the International Series between Scotland and England looming, but such concerns were rendered irrelevant as Partick took a first inning lead in their game with Lanark-Renfrew and held it throughout. They took the win 5-1, a win which was needed as it turned out as Govan did indeed win the rescheduled game against Tollcross to leave them just a single game behind in the final standings, while Tollcross dropped back to an even record.

EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE

After their devastating loss in a tiebreaker game against The Grange a year ago, having earlier been one out from winning the championship, Arthur’s Seat had two chances to make amends when they ended their schedule with two games against Kirkcaldy on the same afternoon. Win either game and they would be champions, but they dropped the first one 5-0, increasing the pressure on the second. In the fifth inning of that game, Arthur’s Seat took a 2-0 lead and when they held that until the ninth, it appeared that this year all would be well. However, history repeated itself as with three runners on and two outs, a base hit from Gordon Rankin scored two runs to tie the game. Rankin drove in another in the eleventh and then scored himself, as Kirkcaldy earned a 4-2 win to leave Arthur’s Seat anxiously awaiting news of Dunfermline’s result.

A defeat for Dunfermline would have given the title to Arthur’s Seat anyway, but unknown to the Edinburgh club that game had actually been postponed due to rain. When it was played a week later, Dunfermline overturned a sixth-inning deficit to defeat The Grange 3-1 and leave Arthur’s Seat facing a tiebreaker for the second year in succession. Having called a coin toss correctly, Arthur’s Seat played the extra game at home and made a perfect start, scoring in the first inning. They retained the 1-0 lead until the ninth, but yet again faltered in sight of the championship as a fielding error from first baseman Alexander Bellamy allowed the tying run to score. The game went to the eleventh inning, where having runners and first and third with two out, Dunfermline found back-to-back hits to score two and move ahead 3-1. Arthur’s Seat had no reply, handing Dunfermline the championship and leaving them to reflect on a second successive campaign where they were one out from the title but ended up losing out in a tiebreaking game.

With all the leagues now completed, attention turns to the first International Series, which gets underway in Glasgow on Saturday. England are clear favourites, with a much larger pool of players from which to select, and many experts believe that they would be expected to defeat Scotland in at least two games out of every three they played. The following players have been selected to be the first to represent their countries:

ENGLAND
Pitchers: Jim Aldridge (Edmonton), Daniel Armstrong (Old Westminsters), Stephen Young (The Regent’s Park), Cecil Maddaford (Bolton), Wilfred Wellington (Commercial Dock Workers)
Catchers: Andrew Clarke (Stockport), Charlie Williams (The Regent’s Park)
Infielders: William Lewis (Kingston), Dennis Dunning (Clapham), William White (Royal Engineers), Herbert Milner (Rochester), Maurice Dodd (Bradford), Lionel Lynch (Walsall), Joseph Stanbridge (Miles Platting)
Outfielders: Ezra Rowe (Dudley), Fred Knowles (Norwood), Roland Lloyd (Greenwich), Reginald Martindale (Chorley), Roland Minter (Kingston), Samuel Moynihan (Liverpool)

SCOTLAND
Pitchers: Walter Barham (The Grange), Roderick Wemyss (Leith), Thomas Brooks (Dundashill), Alan McKay (Burgh of Partick), Philip Trist (Govan)
Catchers: Andrew Barton (Dundashill), Oliver Milne (Burgh of Partick)
Infielders: Gordon Rankin (Kirkcaldy), Gordon Reeves (Arthur’s Seat), William Shaw (Tollcross), Andrew Taggart (Kirkcaldy), Daniel Hendry (Dunfermline), Eric Speechley (The Grange)
Outfielders: Ralph Collins (Arthur’s Seat), James Harris (Kirkcaldy), Hugh Neal (The Grange), Walter Challinor (Tollcross), Daniel Parnaby (Kirkcaldy), Roderick Dalziel (Govan), Albert Hanson (White Cart)

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 04:01 PM

TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1874 INTERNATIONAL SERIES

GAME ONE

England entered the International Series as strong favourites to win, but it was Scotland who made the better start as Old Westminsters’ pitcher Daniel Armstrong struggled early on. After Kirkcaldy pair Daniel Parnaby and Gordon Rankin both reached base, a one-out hit from Tollcross man Walter Challinor brought Parnaby in to score the first run for Scotland in the first inning. They added a second in the second inning, when again the first two batters reached base and this time it was Parnaby whose hit brought home Govan outfielder Roderick Dalziel.

Armstrong helped his own cause in the third when he produced a base hit, allowing Liverpool Samuel Moynihan to drive him home and put England on the scoreboard at 2-1, but once again they failed to get through the inning without allowing a run. Successive two-base hits from Challinor and Ralph Collins of Arthur’s Seat extended Scotland’s advantage to 3-1. From that point, the pitchers took over until the sixth, when Eric Speechley of The Grange opened up with a hit for Scotland and then with one out, Dundashill’s Andrew Barton found the hit to bring him home.

Scotland now led 4-1, but England were not finished. In the seventh, Herbert Milner of Kent County League champions Rochester came to bat with two men on and two out, and his hit scored Andrew Clarke of Stockport to close the gap to 4-2. In the ninth, England had two men on base and only one out, with Bradford’s Maurice Dodd looking for a hit to score one or both runs and keep the game alive. He could only hit the ball weakly on the ground however, allowing Scotland to record the two outs that they needed to finish the game and take a 1-0 advantage in the series.

GAME TWO

A week on from the first meeting, the second game took place in London with England needing a win to keep the series alive. The game however started in similar fashion to the first, with Scotland taking the lead in the first inning on a hit from Walter Challinor of Tollcross which brought Gordon Rankin in to score. This time however, pitcher Daniel Armstrong found his form much more quickly and Scotland were unable to add to the lead. They held on to the narrow advantage until the third inning, but this time it was Scottish pitcher Roderick Wemyss who began to struggle. With two men out and a runner at first base, he allowed successive hits to Greenwich’s Roland Lloyd and Stockport man Andrew Clarke, which brought William Lewis of Kingston round to tie the score at 1-1.

Scotland left a runner at third base in the fifth inning and then failed to take advantage of having runners at second and third with nobody out in the seventh, as they looked for the run which might win the game and the series. England had replaced pitcher Armstrong with Cecil Maddaford of Bolton during the seventh inning, and he had dragged them out of trouble, but he was in turn replaced by Stephen Young of The Regent’s Park for the eighth and England were soon in trouble again. Young allowed three successive hits with one out to give Scotland three baserunners and another clear chance to score, but somehow managed to get out of the inning without allowing a run.

Scotland had missed their chance, because in England’s half of the eighth everything changed. Walsall’s Lionel Lynch came to bat with runners at first and second and two out, and his hit combined with a throwing error from Scotland centre fielder Daniel Parnaby allowed England to take a 2-1 lead. The next batter was Herbert Milner of Rochester, and he too found a hit which brought in two more runs. England led 4-1 and Scotland had no reply, as Young successfully negotiated the ninth inning to see the series tied at one win each. With Scotland having called the coin toss for home advantage in the first game, another coin toss for the third game saw England allowed to call and they won the toss, meaning that the third game would also take place in London.

GAME THREE

The decisive third game started with both pitchers in strong form, as when Kingston’s William Lewis came to bat for England with two men out and a runner on first base in the third inning, there had only been one hit for each team in the game up to that point. However, Scotland pitcher Roderick Wemyss then saw his form crumble. Beginning with Lewis, the next seven England batters all recorded hits to bring home no fewer than six runs, a figure which might have been higher had Walsall’s Lionel Lynch not been tagged out trying to run from first to third on the seventh successive hit.

Scotland were stunned and although they still had time to fight back, they had to do so quickly with a 6-0 deficit to overturn. In the fifth inning, they had runners at second and third with two out but Dundashill’s Andrew Barton could not find the hit that would have restored a considerable degree of hope. In the sixth inning, Walter Challinor of Tollcross came to bat with runners at first and third and two out, but again Scotland could not get the runners home and England retained their six-run cushion.

By the time Scotland finally did score, Barton coming home on a hit from Kirkcaldy’s James Harris in the eighth, it seemed to be much too late. England took a 6-1 lead to the ninth but with pitcher Armstrong tiring, Wilfred Wellington of the Commercial Dock Workers came into the game to pitch what England expected to be the final inning. Having got the first two batters out, Wellington then allowed three successive hits to keep the game alive and Scotland knew that one big hit could bring them right back into contention. However, Barton was not able to produce that hit as Wellington finally recorded the third out, completing England’s victory in both the game and the series. Following the completion of the third game, Rochester’s Herbert Milner was named as the Best Player of the series for his role in England’s win, while Daniel Armstrong was Best Pitcher.

With all the competitions now completed, attention turns to the leagues’ annual meetings and award announcements, expected next week. Planning will then turn to the 1875 season, with yet another new league seeming sure to start in the Bristol area, the first in the south-west of England. A team of railway workers from Swindon have agreed to make the numbers up to six in order for the league to be viable.

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 04:03 PM

END OF SEASON REVIEW: 1874

This year’s awards have now been handed out, with William Thornton of champions Clapham edging out his teammate Dennis Dunning to win the Best Player award. Daniel Armstrong of the Old Westminsters was Best Pitcher for the fourth time, while Matthew Ingram was named Best Manager for leading Clapham to the championship. In the Middlesex County League, champions Isleworth won Best Player and Best Pitcher courtesy of Ernest Sturdy and Noah White, but Tottenham took Best Manager after Edgar Hughes took them so close to the title.

Herbert Milner of Rochester had the best batting average in the country this year and he took the Best Player award in the Kent County League, while Benjamin Geach of runners-up Bromley took Best Pitcher. Arthur Murnaghan of champions Rochester was Best Manager. The first awards in the Surrey County League saw champions Norwood miss out everywhere, as Kingston’s William Lewis took Best Player and Croydon man Luke Robson was Best Pitcher. Croydon also took Best Manager, courtesy of Willie Thomas.

In the Manchester and District League, Harry Hunt took Best Manager for leading Miles Platting to the championship but they missed out elsewhere, with Philip Collins of Irwell named Best Pitcher and Stockport’s Andrew Clarke taking Best Player. The champions took no awards in the Liverpool and District League either, with Nicholas Padfield of Great Float winning Best Player. Having come so close to winning the title, Linacre took the other awards with Frank Pearson taking Best Pitcher and Edmund Ibbot Best Manager. The story was the same in the Lancashire County League as champions Accrington missed out, with Chorley’s Ernest Stanley named Best Player. Over Darwen took the other honours, with Benjamin Stuckey winning Best Pitcher and Frank Burrows named Best Manager.

Yet again the champions were overlooked in the Leeds and Bradford League, as Bradford took no honours. Lawrence Kilner was named Best Manager for leading Hunslet so close to the crown, while Best Player was Willie Carroll of Woodhouse Lane. Huddersfield’s Philip Flynn took Best Pitcher for the second year in succession. In the Sheffield and District League, there was an award for the champions as Henry Foreman took Best Manager for Sanderson’s Weir, but they missed out on the playing awards. Doncaster’s Mark Guiney was Best Pitcher for a second time, while Alfred Murray took Best Player despite his Holmes Tail team finishing in last place.

In the Birmingham and District League, Dudley fell a couple of games short of the championship tiebreaker but they won all the awards, with Ezra Rowe named as Best Player and William Weir Best Pitcher. Henry Burward completed the set by taking Best Manager. Derby and Nottingham League champions Old Basford took two awards, with Ernest Reddicliffe winning Best Manager and Allan Beaten taking Best Pitcher. The only one they missed was Best Player, as Edgar Barton of Trent Bridge took the honours.

In Scotland, Burgh of Partick’s Francis Fullalove was named Best Pitcher for the third time in three years, while Albert Hanson of White Cart was another man who took Best Player despite his team finishing last. Runners-up Govan took Best Manager courtesy of Bernard Palmer. East of Scotland League winners Dunfermline were yet another title winning team to miss out on awards, with their Fife rivals Kirkcaldy taking Best Player through Gordon Rankin. Runners-up Arthur’s Seat took the other honours, as Murdoch Faulder won Best Pitcher and Drew Nicholson was named Best Manager.

ROLL OF HONOUR
Metropolitan League: Clapham Common (1st title)
Manchester and District League: Miles Platting Works (1st title)
Leeds and Bradford League: Bradford Beck (3rd title)
Liverpool and District League: Liverpool St Patrick’s (4th title)
Glasgow and District League: Burgh of Partick (2nd title)
Middlesex County League: Isleworth Brewery (2nd title)
Sheffield and District League: Sanderson’s Weir (2nd title)
Birmingham and District League: West Bromwich Trinity (1st title)
East of Scotland League: Dunfermline Canmore (1st title)
Kent County League: Rochester Riverbank (1st title)
Derby and Nottingham League: Old Basford Bleach (1st title)
Lancashire County League: Accrington Willows (1st title)
Surrey County League: Norwood Junction (1st title)
Oxford University Championship: Brasenose College (2nd title)
Cambridge University Championship: Trinity College (1st title)
International Series: England (1st title)
County Championship: Surrey (3rd title)
Varsity Series: University of Oxford (3rd title)

We now await the 1875 campaign, with once more three new leagues looking set to begin play. In addition to those in Essex and the Bristol area, clubs from Northamptonshire have agreed to join the Leicester teams to form the second competition in the East Midlands. There is also still no news on whether any leagues will permit professional play next year, with a few clubs having had to pay expenses to their players for midweek games in late October and early November this year. It is believed that even if no league makes that move this year, the 1875 season may well be the final fully amateur year as the Manchester and District League looks likely to grow to twelve teams for the 1876 season. The clubs seem sure to agree to permit payments to allow for regular midweek play should that come about.

11-22-2021, 05:05 PM	#142
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	1874 SEASON Another new season of baseball is almost ready to begin and once again there are a number of changes this year. Three leagues grow in size, while three more new competitions begin play after the East Midlands-based Derby and Nottingham League was recently confirmed to be joining the county leagues in Lancashire and Surrey. There is one visual change as well, with the Manchester and District League joining the Metropolitan League in making white jerseys for the visiting team compulsory in all games. White has been worn away from home by Miles Platting and Moss Grove for the past two years in all their meetings, due to a colour clash, and the rest of the teams will now be joining them in having a white jersey for away games. The expansion of the Metropolitan League to twelve teams means that its season will begin one week earlier than last year, which has had an effect on the County Championship. That competition must also begin one week earlier, meaning that it will be played entirely in February for the first time. Some players are reportedly concerned about starting the new season so early in the year, but was believed to be no viable alternative to doing this. That situation may resolve itself before too long however, as there is an increasing movement for clubs to be allowed to pay their players, which would mean the possibility of games on days other than Saturdays and potentially allow for competitions to be concluded in a shorter time. This push is coming about partly due to concern over the length of the season but also at rumoured illegal payments to players, especially among new clubs who have been trying to entice former university players to join them. There will be no payments allowed this year but several of the competitions in the north of England have committed to discussing the issue at their annual meetings at the end of the upcoming season. NEW TEAMS: METROPOLITAN LEAGUE The new teams in the Metropolitan League this year are the Commercial Dock Workers and Putney Tideway. The Dockers are, as their name indicates, a works team based in the Surrey Commercial Docks in Rotherhithe. They play in blue-grey jerseys and their home field is located at the southern end of Southwark Park. The Putney club was founded by members of the London and Leander rowing clubs, which are based on the stretch of the River Thames known as the Tideway. An opportunity for club members to play a different sport, the baseball club plays on a field close to the boathouses of both clubs and wears a jersey split in half between the blue of the London Club and pink of Leander. The expanded league now has a schedule of thirty-eight games, rather than thirty-six, and for the first time teams will not play every other club on the same number of occasions. Instead, each club will play four games against five of their rivals and only three against the other six. As there are now six teams on each side of the River Thames, this has been chosen as the boundary and so clubs on the same side of the river will meet four times, while clubs on opposite sides will meet three times. LOGOS AND UNIFORMS: L-R: Commercial Dock Workers, Putney Tideway MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS: Last edited by as5680; 11-23-2021 at 05:24 AM.

11-23-2021, 05:39 AM	#144
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	NEW TEAMS: LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT LEAGUE This year also marks the first expansion of the Liverpool and District League, which grows from six teams to eight. Joining the league are Anfield Stanley and Wigan Wallgate. Anfield are based alongside and take their name from Stanley Park, to the north-east of Liverpool city centre/ Their jerseys are purple with gold trimming. Wigan take their name ‘Wallgate’ from the road of the same name near to their home field, where the first meetings to form the club took place. Perhaps as a reference to the word ‘wall’, they play in jerseys of a colour similar to brick red. The new format being used in Liverpool is the same as that introduced when the Birmingham and District League began play last year, with teams meeting each other four times and then facing three of the other clubs on two more occasions. This has been decided on a geographical basis with the four Liverpool clubs in one group for scheduling purposes, and the four teams from nearby towns in the other. This was strongly resisted by Great Float, who are base on the other side of Liverpool from the other three ‘town’ clubs and face longer journeys to the extra games. However, they were the only club who did not vote in favour of the proposed schedule when it was discussed at the annual meeting. The extra games give a thirty-four game schedule, an increase of four on last year. LOGOS AND UNIFORMS: L-R: Anfield Stanley, Wigan Wallgate MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS: Last edited by as5680; 11-23-2021 at 09:19 AM.

12-05-2021, 10:33 AM	#151
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: APRIL 1874 The latest news on the proposed game between England and Scotland is that both countries have agreed that it should go ahead, but neither was willing to give up home advantage. As a compromise, a suggestion came from the Metropolitan League clubs that a three-game series, following the format of the Varsity Series, should be played. That was accepted by the Scottish clubs, but led to the question of who should play at home first. That was finally decided by the toss of a coin, which Scotland were allowed to call, having been the side to suggest the games. Scotland’s call was correct, meaning that they will host the first game, scheduled for the first Saturday in November. England will host the second a week later, with the venue for the third being decided by another coin toss should it be necessary. With Scotland having called the first coin toss, England would be allowed to call the second if it is required. As in the Varsity Series, in future years the venues for the first two games will alternate and the coin toss to host the third would be called by the reigning champions. The scheduling of these games makes it imperative that league seasons do not run past the end of October, and several leagues have already indicated that they will schedule midweek games if necessary, and will permit clubs to pay expenses to players to compensate players for lost earnings if they have to take time away from their occupations. While paying players to play is still not permitted, this must be seen as another step on the route to the seeming inevitability of professionalism in the near future. We await the annual meetings in the autumn to see whether any clubs make serious proposals that their league permit professionalism, with the Manchester and District League seen as possibly the most likely to do so. LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST The Metropolitan League is looking very tight this year, with Hackney the surprise leaders at the end of April having put together a six-game winning run following their opening day defeat. That run came a stunning end in their final game of the month as they crashed 11-3 at Angel, but they remain in first place because the other surprise team, newcomers Putney, were also defeated. They trail by a fraction, with four more teams within a single game. Those include favourites Greenwich, who have won their last three after a poor start. Champions The Regent’s Park don’t look to have a chance this year, as they lost every game in April and sit above only winless Peckham in the standings. Having missed the title in a tiebreaker last year, Ealing are leading the way in the Middlesex County League after winning every game this month. They are one ahead of Tottenham, whose undefeated start was ended by Ealing early in April. Champions Isleworth are in third place, but well-fancied Edmonton have made a poor start for the second year in succession and sit last. Seven of the eight teams in the Kent County League are within one game of each other, with champions Bexley Heath losing their last two to fall one game off the pace. Champions Gravesend are one of four teams tied for first. Near neighbours Croydon and Norwood share first place in the new Surrey County League, after Norwood ended April by winning their meeting 4-1. Nobody else has a winning record, although several postponed games make it difficult to see the full picture. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Manchester and District League champions Salford have fallen one game behind Miles Platting after a surprise loss at Stockport, while Miles Platting remain undefeated having won all their game in April. Nobody else is closer than three games off the pace, and it already seems set to be a two-horse race for the title. One of the surprises of the year so far is the start made by newcomers Wigan in the Liverpool and District League, as they sit in first place having won all five of their games to date. Champions Liverpool, who are yet to face Wigan, are the only other team with a winning record but one postponement and a surprise loss at Sankey leave them a little off the pace. Ribble and Accrington continue to set the pace in the Lancashire County League’s first season, with Ribble a game ahead having won the meeting of the two 3-0 earlier in April. Ribble did end the month with their first defeat, at the hands of Chorley, but stay ahead as Accrington were beaten by Over Darwen. YORKSHIRE Along with Wigan, the other surprise of the year is Batley View, who share first place in the Leeds and Bradford League with champions Bradford. Having started the month by losing to Woodhouse, Batley won their remaining three games but Bradford won all four in April, to keep them on pace with the champions. Those two have a two game advantage over the chasing pack already. It is very tight in the Sheffield and District League, as five of the six teams have three wins to their name. To the surprise of many, Holmes Tail lead the way along with Barnsley as they have played and lost one game fewer than Sanderson’s Weir, Sheffield and champions Doncaster. The two leaders have both seen games postponed when they were due to face Hallamshire, who sit alone in last having played only four times. MIDLANDS After starting April with a heavy loss to champions Edgbaston, Birmingham Main Line won their remaining three games to move into a tie for first place in the Birmingham and District League. They share that position with Small Heath, whose only loss so far was a heavy 7-1 reverse against Main Line. Former leaders Dudley lost their last two in April to fall one back, alongside Edgbaston and West Bromwich. In the Derby and Nottingham League, it is Midland Loco who lead the way with five wins from six. They entered the final game of the month tied with Sherwood Rise at the top of the standings but won the meeting of those two 3-2 to edge clear. Sherwood’s neighbours Trent Bridge took advantage to join them in a tie for second place. SCOTLAND Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick completed an undefeated month in April and now sit alone in first place, having won their last five overall. Early season leaders Govan were their most recent victims, losing by a score of 3-2. They lost three of their four games this month and sit one game back, alongside both Tollcross and Lanark-Renfrew in what seems set to be another close race. The two Fife teams are leading the way in the East of Scotland League, but Dunfermline have been overtaken by Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy won all four of their games in April, and like Partick ended the month by defeating their rivals 3-2 to move clear in first place. Champions The Grange are sitting third having been held back by postponements, but Arthur’s Seat are not living up to their billing as favourites as they sit last. UNIVERSITIES The university leagues are almost at the half-way stage and in Oxford, it is a tight three-way fight between Brasenose, Merton and Magdalen. With their two rivals faltering, Brasenose won seven of ten this month to edge fractionally ahead. Christ Church are not out of the running yet, and neither are champions Balliol who also recorded seven wins in an improved month. At Cambridge, Trinity had been edging clear but stumbled to defeat in their first three games and allowed Gonville & Caius to join them in first place. Caius have won their last five, as have a fast-improving King’s team who are only one game off the pace. Between King’s and the two leaders are champions Clare, whose hopes suffered a blow when they ended April by losing heavily 9-0 at the hands of King’s. Last edited by as5680; 12-05-2021 at 10:37 AM.

12-05-2021, 10:49 AM	#155
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: JULY 1874 LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST There is no change in the position at the top of the Metropolitan League after a month in which Clapham and the Old Westminsters both won three and lost three of their six games. The Westminsters edged ahead when they won the meeting of the two by a score of 5-1, but they faltered against Greenwich a week later, allowing Clapham to edge ahead again with a victory over Kensington. They lead by a fraction, with Angel edging closer in third place having won four of their six in July to sit just a game behind the Westminsters. Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London Club all won four of six as well and all are within three games of first place. With Ealing losing their last three games, champions Isleworth have moved further ahead in the Middlesex County League after winning four times in five games in July. It is now Tottenham leading the chase, having ended the month by winning two in a day against Ealing, but their loss to Isleworth a week earlier has left them with a long way to go to catch up as games begin to run out. Former leaders Gravesend have dropped into fourth place in the Kent County League after losing all four of their games this month. The Royal Engineers, Rochester, and champions Bexley Heath all defeated Gravesend and now sit effectively in a three-way tie in first place, although the Engineers have played fewer games and have slightly the better winning percentage. Bexley Heath could have ended the month alone in first but lost 3-0 to improving Bromley. In Surrey, Norwood opened up a lead at the top when they won their first three games in July, but a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Richmond in their last game allowed neighbours Croydon to catch them again, having won three in succession. Reigate have lost ground after losing to both the leaders this month. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST After sharing two games with Irwell and then seeing their rivals lose twice the following week, Miles Platting opened up a five-game lead in the Manchester and District League by mid-July but have since faltered to give the chasers hope. They were beaten by both Bury and Oldham, while Irwell recorded two wins to close the gap. Salford are fractionally further back in third place, after an astonishing loss against last-placed Moss Grove where they allowed ten runs in the fifteenth inning to fall 11-1. After a postponement to end the month, Liverpool are fractionally further ahead of Wigan in the Liverpool and District League. They won four of six this month while Wigan took four of seven, being left frustrated by two defeats against Great Float which combined took fully twenty-nine innings. Great Float themselves are the form team, just fractionally behind Wigan in third place. The Lancashire County League’s inaugural season is seeing the small town clubs leave those from the bigger towns behind, as Accrington continue to lead the way. They are only one game ahead of Over Darwen however, after Darwen’s undefeated month which included a 2-1 victory over Accrington. Ribble, who started the year so well, have now lost their last eight to fall out of contention. YORKSHIRE Having lost their first game of the month, Hunslet won their remaining five in the Leeds and Bradford League to take a clear lead as both champions Bradford and newcomers Batley faltered. Hunslet defeated Bradford twice in a day in opening up a two game advantage, while Batley lost four out of five including a demoralising 11-0 defeat at Leeds. Bowling, who won the inaugural title three years ago, won three of four in July to move up the standings and they have several games to catch up on the other following postponements. Five successive wins in the month, including two over chasers Barnsley and another over champions Doncaster, have given Sanderson’s Weir a significant lead in the Sheffield and District League. Barnsley remain second after recovering to win their last two. MIDLANDS Four teams are split by a single game in the Birmingham and District League, with Birmingham Main Line now leading the way after they won all seven of their games in July. Former leaders Dudley have dropped four in succession, including games against Aston and West Bromwich who are both very much in championship contention. They sit just one game back, while Walsall in fifth are just a fraction further behind having defeated Dudley twice in a day without allowing a single run. The three teams from the Nottingham area are tied for first in the Derby and Nottingham League, with Trent Bridge losing sole possession of first place having fallen 4-2 at Sherwood to end the month. That result left those teams level, while Old Basford have joined them at the top having completed an undefeated month. The other three teams are also tied with one another, but five games off the pace. Encouraged by the first league in the East Midlands, clubs in the Leicester area are believed to be considering forming a competition for next year if they are able to find enough to make up the numbers. ` SCOTLAND Despite a 3-0 loss to Tollcross earlier in the month, Burgh of Partick end July two games clear in the Glasgow and District League. Having won all three of their games in the month, it is Tollcross who now lead the chase while Govan moved up to a winning record having taken their last two. Dundashill are falling out of contention after ending the month with three heavy defeats. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline took their last three to move a game ahead of Arthur’s Seat. Those two meet in the first game of August, with Arthur’s Seat looking to move level again in first place. Champions The Grange are one of three teams just two games back on even records, as another close race looks inevitable in a league which required a tiebreaker a year ago. Last edited by as5680; 12-05-2021 at 10:53 AM.

11-17-2021, 04:47 PM	#141
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	END OF SEASON REVIEW: 1873 All the leagues have now given out their awards for this season, with Charlie Williams of The Regent’s Park taking the Best Player honour in the Metropolitan League despite missing several weeks with injury late in the year. The Old Westminsters’ Daniel Armstrong took Best Pitcher for the third time in four years, having led his team so close to another championship. The Regents’ championship winner Albert Woolland took Best Manager. Champions Salford took a sweep of the awards in the Manchester and District League, with Arthur Robson winning Best Player and Henry Barton taking Best Pitcher for the second successive year. Josiah Frost was named Best Manager for the third time after leading Salford to a third title. Bradford’s Maurice Dodd was Best Player in the Leeds and Bradford League, with his manager Frederick Jones winning Best Manager for the second successive year as Bradford retained the championship. Despite Huddersfield’s poor end to the season their pitcher Philip Flynn took the Best Pitcher award. After three successive championships, Alfred Hancock of Liverpool St Patrick’s finally took the Best Manager award in the Liverpool and District League, while the champions also took Best Pitcher as Harry Joyce won the award for a second time. Eli Taylor of Great Float was named as Best Player. Francis Fullalove of champions Burgh of Partick was named as Best Pitcher in the Glasgow and District League for the second time in the league’s two-year existence, while Dundashill’s Matthew Allen took Best Player and Albert Howarth of White Cart was a surprise choice for Best Manager, edging out Partick’s title winning manager George Speake. Runners-up Ealing took two awards in the Middlesex County League, with James Lloyd named Best Pitcher and Sydney Jones winning Best Manager, but champions Isleworth did win the Best Player trophy courtesy of first baseman Herbert Turrill. In the Sheffield and District League, Harold Drage was named Best Manager after leading Doncaster to the championship, while Mark Guiney also took Best Pitcher for Doncaster. Daniel Burns of deposed champions Sanderson’s Weir was named Best Player. The first awards for the Birmingham and District League saw William Lane of Dudley take Best Player, while the other winners came from champions Edgbaston. Best Pitcher was Joseph Stevens, while Edward Myhill claimed Best Manager. Kirkcaldy’s James Harris was Best Player for the East of Scotland League, with Murdoch Faulder winning Best Pitcher despite his Arthur’s Seat team missing out on the championship. Euan Payne took Best Manager after leading The Grange to the championship. Kent County League winners Bexley Heath won Best Manager courtesy of Edwin Rayner, while Eli Manning won Best Pitcher after leading the league in all the major statistical categories. The champions missed out on the Best Player award however, which went to Richard Dallin of the Royal Engineers. ROLL OF HONOUR Metropolitan League: The Regent’s Park (2nd title) Manchester and District League: Salford Seedley (3rd title) Leeds and Bradford League: Bradford Beck (2nd title) Liverpool and District League: Liverpool St Patrick’s (3rd title) Glasgow and District League: Burgh of Partick (1st title) Middlesex County League: Isleworth Brewery (1st title) Sheffield and District League: Doncaster Northern (1st title) Birmingham and District League: Edgbaston Rea (1st title) East of Scotland League: The Grange (1st title) Kent County League: Bexley Heath (1st title) Oxford University Championship: Balliol College (1st title) Cambridge University Championship: Clare College (1st title) County Championship: Surrey (2nd title) Varsity Series: University of Cambridge (3rd title) The final piece of business for 1873 was a second vote to determine the new teams to join the Leeds and Bradford League for the 1874 season, after a first ballot was split on geographical lines and ended in a four-way tie after a heated meeting. The outcome in the end depended on the two Bradford teams, Bowling and Bradford Beck, neither of whom had voted for any of the tied teams in the first ballot. They refused to vote for another team from the Leeds area, of which there are already three, which meant that the team from the district of Sheepscar missed out. The Leeds clubs had also been supporting the candidacy of the team from the town of Pudsey, and it was that club which was the second to be rejected after the Bradford teams instead decided to support Batley and Dewsbury, two small towns located between Huddersfield and Wakefield. The Leeds clubs believed this to have been a decision taken to spite them, although that was denied by the Bradford teams. Regardless of the reasons, Batley and Dewsbury will join the league in the new year and the league looks set to use the same 36-game schedule as the Manchester and District League as a ten-team competition.

11-23-2021, 05:27 AM	#143
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	NEW TEAMS: LEEDS AND BRADFORD LEAGUE After three years as an eight team league, the Leeds and Bradford League grows for the first time with the admission of Batley View and Dewsbury Canal. The Batley club play in red jerseys with gold sleeves, and their name derives from the fact that they play their home games on high ground just outside the town. The Dewsbury club were formed by workers from several of the town’s mills and take their name from the location of their home field alongside a nearby canal. Their jerseys are blue-green in colour. The league’s new format is the same as that of the Manchester and District League, with all ten teams facing the other nine on four occasions, with double games being played on four Saturdays in late June and early July. LOGOS AND UNIFORMS: L-R: Batley View, Dewsbury Canal MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

11-23-2021, 09:23 AM	#145
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	NEW LEAGUE: DERBY AND NOTTINGHAM LEAGUE The six-team Derby and Nottingham League gets underway this year, with teams following the format used by other leagues of six and playing a thirty game schedule. The league features two clubs from Derby, both of them works teams. Derby Union are based at the Union Iron Foundry to the north of the town, playing on a nearby field and wearing gold jerseys. Their rivals Midland Loco are the works team of the Midland Locomotive Works, to the south east of the town centre. Their jerseys are red and green and feature the emblem of the Midland Railway company, while they play directly across the Derby Canal from the works themselves. The smallest town represented in the league is Ilkeston, whose team Ilkeston Rutland were also formed by iron workers and take the name of the factory where they were formed. Their jerseys are black with the name of the town embroidered across the chest. Yet another works team are Old Basford Bleach, based at bleach works just outside Nottingham. They too are based on a nearby field and play in light orange coloured jerseys. The final two clubs come from Nottingham itself, and are the only two in the league who did not start out as works teams. From the north of the town come Sherwood Rise, who as their name suggests play on a hill and whose players have had to work hard to level off their home field to be suitable for entry into the league. Their jerseys are green with the club initials embroidered in gold. Finally, Trent Bridge actually play just outside the town to the south east, across the River Trent and very close to the cricket ground of the same name. Their jerseys are light blue, with darker blue sleeves. LOGOS AND UNIFORMS: Top Row (L-R): Derby Union, Ilkeston Rutland, Midland Loco Bottom Row (L-R): Old Basford Bleach, Sherwood Rise, Trent Bridge MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

11-23-2021, 11:50 AM	#146
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	NEW LEAGUE: LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE Representing the towns in the centre of the county, the Lancashire County League has come about as a result of the rejection of the Blackburn and Burnley clubs by the Manchester and District League and of the Preston-based Ribble club by the Liverpool and District League. Those teams joined together and decided that if the city-based competitions where not going to consider admitting them, they would form their own competition. Three more clubs have joined them, making another six-team competition playing a thirty game schedule. Of the clubs from the larger towns, Blackburn Alexandra take their name from their home ground at Alexandra Meadows, and in honour of Alexandra, the Princess of Wales. Their jerseys are pale red, almost pink, with the club initials embroidered in blue. Burnley Bank Top's name is taken from that of the railway station which is very near to their home ground. They play in gold jerseys, with the club initials on the chest in dark red. Ribble Viaduct are named after a nearby river, or more specifically the railway bridge which runs over the Ribble near to their home field. They play in tan coloured jerseys with stripes in a paler shade and the word 'Ribble' across the chest. Those clubs are joined by three from smaller towns to make up the numbers. The name of Accrington Willows comes from the lane which runs past their home ground. They play in pale green jerseys with their initials embroidered in brown. Over Darwen simply use the name of their town, and they play in blue jerseys with gold trimming. Chorley Stump’s name comes from a nearby house. Their jerseys are grey, with thin red stripes. LOGOS AND UNIFORMS: Top Row (L-R): Accrington Willows, Blackburn Alexandra, Burnley Bank Top Bottom Row (L-R): Chorley Stump, Over Darwen, Ribble Viaduct MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

11-23-2021, 02:58 PM	#147
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	NEW LEAGUE: SURREY COUNTY LEAGUE The third new league for this season is the Surrey County League, based to the south-west of London. Again, it is a six-team competition with a thirty-game schedule. Its formation was instigated by the Croydon Old Palace club, who are the works team of the washing and bleaching factory which opened up in the former palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury. They began to play in the bleaching ground alongside and still do so today, wearing yellow jerseys with the name of the town across the chest. Their close neighbours are Norwood Junction, who wear red and black striped jerseys and play close to the railway station from which they take their name. Closest to central London are Richmond Athletic, the baseball arm of a club which plays various sports. They wear dark green jerseys with narrow silver stripes and play close to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Slightly upstream on the River Thames are Kingston Fairfield, named after the area of parkland, formerly used by fairs, where they now play. Their jerseys are silver with the initials 'KUT', for Kingston-upon-Thames, embroidered in blue on the chest. The other team close to the capital are Wimbledon Wood, who take their name from the wooded area which is just a quarter of a mile up the hill from their home field. They play in black with gold stripes, with 'Wimbledon' embroidered across the chest. The final team play some distance away from the London suburbs. They are Reigate Priory, based more than ten miles from their closest neighbours in the league, not a large distance but still somewhat unusual in this part of the country. They are named after the centuries old Priory in the town, and play in copper coloured jerseys with a paler, tan coloured area across the shoulders. LOGOS AND UNIFORMS: Top Row (L-R): Croydon Old Palace, Kingston Fairfield, Norwood Junction Bottom Row (L-R): Reigate Priory, Richmond Athletic, Wimbledon Wood MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:

11-23-2021, 05:04 PM	#148
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1874 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP The tenth season of organised baseball in Great Britain got underway with the eighth edition of the County Championship, taking the same format as last year with six teams involved. Last year’s finalists Surrey and Middlesex received byes to the semi-final round, but unlike last year there was a free draw for the two quarter-final matchups, with Lancashire and Yorkshire no longer being obliged to play their games away from home. It had been suggested that the two losing semi-finalists from a year ago, Essex and Yorkshire, should have home advantage guaranteed for their games but this was not accepted when put to a vote, as teams felt that simply reaching the semi-final was not worthy of being rewarded with a guaranteed home game in the way that reaching the final was. In the event, Lancashire and Yorkshire were drawn to face one another for the first time, with Lancashire holding home advantage. The other game was to see Essex host Kent. Another draw determined that the winners of the game between the two northern counties would travel to Middlesex in the semi-final, while champions Surrey would host the winners of the game between Essex and Kent. The tournament got underway on the earliest date yet to see competitive baseball in this country, Saturday 14 February. The first quarter-final saw Kent, who have never won the championship, travel to Essex and make a superb start to the game. Two successive hits to open up the second inning gave them an early scoring chance, and then with runners at first and third and only one out, Dartford’s Frederick Barron hit a ball along the ground just far enough for the City of London Club man George Morrison to come home from third without Essex having a hope of stopping him. From that point on, the pitchers began to dominate and it seemed for a while that 1-0 might be the final outcome, but Metropolitan League championship winning pitcher Stephen Young of The Regent’s Park faltered for Essex again in the sixth. He game up three successive hits to begin that inning, the third of them to the City Club man Morrison again, which brought home Angel’s Peter Sawyer to extend Kent’s advantage to 2-0. Essex needed to find a run quickly and did so in their half of the sixth, aided by an error from Kent first baseman Sawyer. His failure to field a simple ball allowed Greenwich’s Timothy Berry to score the run which reduced the deficit to 2-1. In the eighth, they were presented with a clear chance to level the score when having men at first and third and only one out, but Maidstone’s Isaac Huntley, pitching for Kent, was able to entice Hackney’s John Fraser to hit a ball on the ground which enabled Kent to record the two outs they needed to end the inning. That was the last chance for Essex as they could get no runners on base in the ninth, leaving them with a 2-1 defeat and an early departure from this year’s championship. The other quarter-final match brought a first meeting for neighbours Lancashire and Yorkshire, with home side Lancashire matching Kent in taking a second inning lead. With one out, a two base hit from Rochdale’s Bernard Greenwood started the threat and then with two on base and two out, Emmanuel Wanless of Toxteth produced the hit which brought Greenwood home. Great Float’s Jesse Davidson was in fine form pitching for Lancashire and it took until the fourth for Yorkshire to get any runner on base, but when they did they wasted a fine chance to level the score when they were unable to get a run home despite having runners at first and third with nobody out. They were made to pay for that failure in the sixth, as Lancashire again found a crucial hit with two men out. This time there were runners at first and second when Great Float’s Samuel Plaistowe came to bat, and his hit was deep enough to allow William Elmar of Miles Platting to come home from second. Yorkshire started both the seventh and ninth innings with hits, but neither time were able to advance a man past second base as pitcher Davidson completed a four-hit shutout to give Lancashire a 2-0 victory, their first ever success in the championship. The first semi-final saw Kent travel to reigning champions Surrey, looking to reach a fourth successive final. Again it was a battle of pitching, with Maidstone’s Isaac Huntley strong for Kent and Daniel Armstrong of the Old Westminsters even better for Surrey. The champions missed a good chance in the fourth when they had three runners on with two out, but pitcher Armstrong could not help his own cause as he failed to find the crucial hit. It was a similar scenario in the sixth, when Armstrong came to bat again with men at first and third and two out, and again was unable to find the hit. Kent were struggling to find any hits against Armstrong, reaching the ninth with just four to their name. A two-base hit from Peter Sawyer of Angel with just one out gave them hope of a run, but they could move him on no further. In Surrey’s half of the ninth, Kent pitcher Huntley finally faltered. With one out, he gave up two successive hits which left Surrey with runners at second and third. Another Angel man, Noah Sanders, came to bat and hit the ball on the ground in the infield, but was by a fraction of a second able to reach first base safely before the ball got there. That allowed William Lewis, a newcomer from Surrey County League club Kingston, to come home and score the only run of the game, taking Surrey through to another final by a score of 1-0. Middlesex, defeated in last year’s final by Surrey, were looking to reach the final for the seventh year in succession, having missed out only in the tournament’s inaugural year of 1867. Facing a Lancashire team who wanted to become the first northern county to reach the final, they too found themselves in a battle of strong pitching as Edmonton’s Jim Aldridge and Jesse Davidson of Great Float dominated early on. In the fourth inning however, it was Lancashire pitcher Davidson who faltered first. With two out, nobody on base and seemingly no threat, Dennis Dunning – a newcomer this year with Clapham – found a base hit to keep the inning alive. The City of London Club’s Simeon Farrell then produced a two-base hit which allowed Dunning to come all the way home and put Middlesex in front 1-0. With Middlesex batting in the sixth, a base hit with one out from John Pinhay of the Royal Artillery Barracks was followed by Pinhay successfully advancing himself all the way to third. The City Club’s Arthur Greenacre was able to bring him home from there to make the score 2-0, and Lancashire were in trouble given the pitching form of Aldridge. They responded in the seventh, as Liverpool’s Samuel Moynihan produced a hit to begin the inning before Rochdale’s Bernard Greenwood brought him home from second base with one out, reducing the margin to 2-1. Lancashire handed back that run in the Middlesex half of the seventh however, as an error by third baseman Joseph Stanbridge of Miles Platting set up a chance for pitcher Aldridge to add to the Middlesex lead with two men on base and two out. Aldridge found the hit to extend his team’s advantage to 3-1, and in the eighth that became 4-1 when Simeon Farrell was able to drive home his City Club teammate Arthur Greenacre from third. That was the final score, setting up a fourth successive final between Middlesex and Surrey, which champions Surrey would host having call the coin toss correctly. The 1874 County Championship final may go on record as the finest game played in the eight-year history of the tournament. Certainly it was the most dramatic, although that did not appear likely to be the case for two-thirds of the game as Old Westminsters pitcher Daniel Armstrong dominated for Surrey. Middlesex managed three hits across the first six innings and only one advanced a runner past second base, while Surrey had moved ahead in the first following a three-base hit from Ralph Parker of The Regent’s Park, who was then driven home by Angel man Noah Sanders. In the third, Parker and Sanders again found successive hits with two out to give a chance to another Regents man, Jim White. His hit brought home Parker to extend the lead to 2-0, and that remained the scoreline heading into the seventh inning. Suddenly, everything changed as the City Club’s Simeon Farrell began the seventh with a three-base hit, before scoring on a ball hit by the Regents’ Charlie Williams which was caught deep in the outfield. An error from infielder Thomas Wakely of Hackney gave Middlesex another base runner in the form of another City Club man, Edward Grant, and when Kensington’s John Goodwin came to bat with two out he found a two-base hit to score Grant and level the game at 2-2. Surrey were shocked, but their mood would worsen in the eighth as the Royal Artillery Barracks’ John Pinhay opened the inning with a two-base hit and then having advanced to third, came home on another ball caught deep in the outfield from the bat of Clapham’s Dennis Dunning. Middlesex led 3-2 and Surrey went to the ninth facing defeat in a game which had looked to be theirs. That defeat appeared inevitable when Middlesex pitcher Jim Aldridge came to bat in the ninth with men at second and third and just one out. He too hit the ball deep into the outfield, and following the catch it was Grant again who came home to put Middlesex further ahead at 4-2. When Surrey’s half of the inning began with Sanders being removed by Aldridge with no trouble, Middlesex could have been forgiven for starting to celebrate but that would have proved premature. Three successive hits, the last by Wakely to atone for his earlier error, brought Jim White in to score and give Surrey hope at 4-3 They were down to their final chance with two out when a newcomer from the Surrey County League, Matthew Copestake of Richmond, came to bat requiring a hit to tie the game. He found just that, with Arthur Holmes of the Regents coming in to tie the game at 4-4. That left runners at first and second for another County League newcomer, Roland Minter of Kingston. Pitcher Aldridge seemed shattered by what had happened and he gave up the fifth hit of the inning, with Joe Lane of Metropolitan League newcomers Commercial Dock making it all the way home from second base to give Surrey the win by a score of 5-4. They join Middlesex as three-time winners and level up the two teams’ run of four successive final meetings at two wins each. Their success was recognised as Ralph Parker was named the tournament’s Best Player and Daniel Armstrong the Best Pitcher. It was rumoured after the final that the counties are not happy with the six-team format we have seen in the last two years, with two teams receiving a bye to the semi-finals. There have been no official announcements, but it has been suggested that with the Birmingham and District League now running in the Midlands, teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire may be invited to make up an expanded eight-team championship next year.

11-24-2021, 05:25 AM	#149
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	1874 SEASON PREVIEW With the County Championship over for another year, attention now turns to the leagues, and it is the expanded Metropolitan League which gets underway first. Its first season as a twelve-team competition sees Greenwich Meridian, the champions of two years ago who lost out on the final day last season, most people’s favourites to win back the crown. They are expected to be especially strong in scoring runs, while perennial contenders the Old Westminsters have better pitching but may not score enough. Kensington, who struggled last year, are expected to be much improved this time and may yet find their way into the championship race, but few expect reigning champions The Regent’s Park to contend again. They too are thought unlikely to score enough runs, while their pitching is not quite as strong as the Westminsters, and they are thought likely to fall short. Newcomers Putney and Commercial Dock are both expected to be somewhere in the middle of the pack, although observers are keen to follow the progress of Putney in particular as they have enticed former Oxford University students Samuel Read and Sidney Meystre to pitch for them. They are one of the clubs who have been accused of offering financial inducements to players, which is against league rules, although it must be stressed that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. Manchester and District League champions Salford are seeking a third successive title and many people think that they will get it, although perhaps an equal number believe that Miles Platting could be the team who take it away. They came close last year, falling away late on, and could go better this time although their pitching will have to be very strong, as Salford look sure to score more runs. Bury and Irwell could be close as well, although Bury in particular do not appear to be strong enough with the bat to sustain a challenge for the full season. In the Leeds and Bradford League, Bradford Beck have taken the last two crowns and will have a strong chance of adding a third, but the league is again expected to be closely fought. Huddersfield fell away in the final games last year and look strong again, especially in terms of pitching. Wakefield finished last year very strongly and look set to continue in the same vein, while Bowling and Hunslet have also been mentioned as potential challengers. Newcomers Batley and Dewsbury are not expected to perform especially strongly, but Batley’s batting line-up could yet lead them to surprise a few teams. Liverpool St Patrick’s have won every championship so far in the Liverpool and District League and are widely backed to do so again, but Great Float and Linacre seem sure to make it a close three-way fight. Of the new clubs, Anfield look the stronger and may well post a winning record, while Wigan look as though they could struggle a little in their first season. In the Birmingham and District League, many people’s favourites are Birmingham Main Line after they missed out narrowly last year, while Dudley also look strong. It would be a surprise if anyone else were to challenge, with champions Edgbaston looking unlikely to hold on to their crown because of poor pitching. Gravesend are favourites in the Kent County League, with the Royal Engineers their closest challengers and champions Bexley Heath also not too far behind. Champions Doncaster have a good chance of winning the Sheffield and District League again, although Hallamshire and Sanderson’s Weir, who both finished just one game back last year, are going to be close once more. Few expect any of the other three teams to be able to sustain a challenge. In the Middlesex County League, Edmonton endured an awful first half of the season last time out which ruined their chances of defending their title from the inaugural campaign two years ago. This time however, they are clear favourites to win back the crown from Isleworth, although the defending champions are thought likely to be the best of the rest. Up in Scotland, few people expect Burgh of Partick to retain the Glasgow and District League championship, as Dundashill are clear favourites there. The other teams are widely seen as very closely matched, although Govan may be the most likely challengers. In the East of Scotland League, Arthur’s Seat let the championship slip away last year when it should have been theirs, but most experts agree that this year they will make no mistake. They are clear favourites, although the Fife clubs Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy both look much improved. Champions The Grange are thought very unlikely to challenge for another title. Among the new leagues, Old Basford and Midland Loco are the two most backed teams in the Derby and Nottingham League, with Old Basford arguably the stronger as they seem sure to score more runs while having pitching which is almost as strong as Midland. The Lancashire County League looks sure to be a close race with Accrington and Ribble the names mentioned most frequently as potential champions, while in the Surrey County League Norwood are most people’s choice as the first champions, with their neighbours Croydon likely to be leading the chase alongside Richmond. At the Universities, Brasenose College are clear favourites in Oxford, with Christ Church and Magdalen also well backed but champions Balliol expected to finish mid-way this time. There are no clear favourites at Cambridge, but Jesus College perhaps appear to be the strongest. Trinity, Gonville & Caius, and reigning champions Clare are also likely to be a part of what seems sure to be a very close race.

12-05-2021, 06:56 AM	#150
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MARCH 1874 The league season is now underway all around the country, with some leagues having played just one round of games while the Metropolitan League has played four, and the universities with their midweek games have played six. LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST The Old Westminsters are the only undefeated team in the Metropolitan League but they have played just two games after having their other two fixtures postponed. Three teams sit right behind them with three wins from four, including Clapham who won their first three and Hackney who lost on the opening day but have won all three since. Favourites Greenwich have seen a mixed start with two wins and two losses, while champions The Regent’s Park also have an even record but like the Westminsters, have played just twice so far. Of the new teams, Putney won their opening game against Kensington and have two victories from three so far, while the Commercial Dock Workers lost their first two heavily but rebounded to defeat Kensington for their first win. Champions Isleworth have won both games in the Middlesex County League, albeit only after a sixteen-inning battle with the Old Harrovians last week. They share first place with Tottenham, who stunned favourites Edmonton with a ninth-inning comeback victory on the opening day. Edmonton and last year’s runners-up Ealing sit one game back after two rounds of fixtures. Croydon and Richmond were the winners on the opening day of play in the new Surrey County League, while the game between Reigate and Wimbledon was called off. Croydon now lead the way with two wins from two, while Wimbledon ended the month by winning their first game and are the other undefeated team. The Kent County League has played just one round of games, with champions Bexley Heath joining Maidstone, Rochester and Erith as winners. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST As widely expected, Miles Platting and champions Salford look as though they will be tough to beat in the Manchester and District League as both have won all three games so far. Indeed, Salford have scored in double figures in each of their last two. Bury and Rochdale, expected to have winning records again this year, have two wins to their names, as do unfancied Bolton, who finished last a year ago. The Liverpool and District League has only had one week of play, with champions Liverpool St Patrick’s defeating newcomers Anfield. Linacre and St Helens also won their opening games, as did the other new team Wigan, who earned a 1-0 success at well-backed Great Float. Two weeks into the inaugural season of the Lancashire County League, Accrington and Ribble are living up to their billing as the two favourites as both have won their first two games, although Ribble needed fully seventeen innings to get past Chorley on the opening day. YORKSHIRE Newcomers Batley have made their mark on the Leeds and Bradford League, winning all three of their games to sit in first place by themselves at the end of March. Their run included a comeback 3-2 victory over fellow new team Dewsbury, who have played just twice and lost both games. Champions Bradford won their first two before falling to Woodhouse, and those teams share second place with Halifax and Hunslet. After a poor season last time, Sheffield Philadelphia are the surprise early leaders in the Sheffield and District League, being the only club to win their first two. Their second win was an extra-innings success over champions Doncaster who had won their opening game. Doncaster share second place with Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir, who have also been beaten by their near neighbours Sheffield. MIDLANDS There has only been one week of play in the Birmingham and District League, where champions Edgbaston opened up with a defeat at the hands of Small Heath. Other winners on day one were West Bromwich, Dudley and championship favourites Birmingham Main Line. In the new Derby and Nottingham League, Midland Loco are the only team to win their first two games. Indeed, they are yet to allow a run after 2-0 successes against both Sherwood and Trent Bridge. Old Basford were backed to have a good year but they are the only team yet to win after struggling for good pitching in their first two games. SCOTLAND Govan are the outright leaders of the Glasgow and District League after wins over White Cart, Burgh of Partick and Tollcross. The last of those left Tollcross, who had themselves won their first two, a game back in second place while everyone else has one win, including champions Burgh of Partick who lost their first two before defeating Lanark-Renfrew to end the month. Dunfermline are the surprise leaders of the East of Scotland League, as they too hold the only undefeated record in their league. Champions The Grange lost their opening game to Leith but have since won the next two and sit second, while favourites Arthur’s Seat have started slowly, struggling for runs in losing two of their three games. UNIVERSITIES Well fancied Magdalen College lead the way at Oxford University, having won five of their six games so far. Merton won their first four, but a postponement and defeat to Worcester College in their last game leave them fractionally behind Magdalen in second place. Having lost their last two, champions Balliol are struggling early on, far removed from a year ago when they won their first twelve games. At Cambridge, champions Clare College also won their first four but subsequent defeats at the hands of Queens’ and St John’s have dropped them back behind St Catharine’s and Trinity, both of whom have won their last four. St Catharine’s lead the way by a fraction having played and won one more game than Trinity. In other news, this season may yet end with another new competition as a suggestion has come from the Burgh of Partick club that the best players of Scotland and England should face one another in a challenge match. Inspired by watching the association football match between the two countries which was played at their ground in early March, several of Partick’s players sought support from other Glasgow clubs for their idea and then put the suggestion to the leading English leagues. It is believed that the clubs were on the whole supportive, although there was some disagreement about where the game should take place and further discussions are planned. Also coming out of Glasgow was the news that the Glasgow and District League is inviting applications from clubs wishing to join that competition ahead of its fourth season next year. A vote is expected to take place at the end of the current campaign.

12-05-2021, 10:37 AM	#152
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MAY 1874 LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST There is effectively a four-way tie at the top of the Metropolitan League as we head into June, with the Old Westminsters having fractionally the better winning percentage as a result of having played fewer games. Hackney lost sole possession of first place after a 4-0 defeat against Clapham, although they recovered to end the month with victory over a fading Greenwich team. They are joined at the top by the Westminsters, Clapham and Angel, all of whom won their last two games. Putney are starting to fall back after their impressive start, while champions The Regent’s Park dragged themselves out of last place by winning their last two, following a dreadful seven game losing run. Middlesex County League champions Isleworth dropped back into a tie for first place after ending May with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Enfield, a result which allowed Ealing to catch them by defeating the struggling Old Harrovians. Tottenham are only one game behind after winning their last two in what seems set to be a close three-way fight. In the Kent County League, Rochester opened May by losing to champions Bexley Heath but went on to win their next four, opening up a one-game lead in first place. Gravesend lead the chase, with their victory over Bexley Heath helping to drop the champions two back in a tie for third with Maidstone. The Surrey County League’s first season looks difficult to call as Norwood have lost their last two and seen a two-game lead disappear. They have been caught by both Croydon and Reigate, while Kingston’s victory over Norwood helped to bring them to within them only one game of the three leaders. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Miles Platting seem set to take the Manchester and District League championship this year as they are now the only undefeated team in any league, winning their first eleven games to open up a significant lead. They were helped by the decline of champions Salford, who lost to Bury having led in the ninth inning and then did likewise when they faced Miles Platting a week later. In all, they lost four of their five games in May and now share third with Bury and Rochdale, as Irwell now lead the chase in second. Champions Liverpool and newcomers Wigan are battling for first place in the Liverpool and District League, with Liverpool a fraction ahead having defeated Wigan in their first meeting of the year only to fall to an improving Sankey team a week later. Sankey sit a game behind Wigan in third. Accrington end the month leading the Lancashire County League, helped by a victory over a Ribble team who had an inconsistent month. It may not just be a two-horse race however, as Chorley ended May by defeating both the leaders 1-0 in successive weeks to close the gap. YORKSHIRE Champions and newcomers are also fighting at the top of the Leeds and Bradford League, with Bradford’s defeat to neighbours Bowling allowing Batley to move back to the top of the standings in what is proving to be an excellent first season. They had fallen behind earlier in May having lost narrowly 1-0 to Bradford. Just one game off the pace are Woodhouse Lane, who have won their last three including a win over the reigning champions. In the Sheffield and District League, champions Doncaster lead the way but may find themselves with company at the top once postponed games are played later in the year. Doncaster, Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir have all suffered four defeats, but Doncaster have played and won two more games. The two chasers will be frustrated at their lack of consistency, especially Barnsley who followed a win over Doncaster by losing in extra innings to Hallamshire in their last game. MIDLANDS Having won their first three games in May, Small Heath lead the Birmingham and District League but their 5-4 loss to Dudley in the final game of the month reduced that advantage to a single game. Dudley now lead the chase as Birmingham Main Line have lost their last three, while champions Edgbaston have now lost six successive games having endured a winless month. They appear to be contending with The Regent’s Park for the weakest championship defence of the year. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Trent Bridge have a one-game lead over Sherwood having won the meeting of those two Nottingham rivals 3-2 in thirteen innings midway through the month. Early season leaders Midland Loco have fallen back into third place, losing three of their four games in May including meetings with both of the clubs now ahead of them. SCOTLAND Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick have been drawn back closer to the chasing pack after ending May with defeats against Dundashill and Govan. They are still in first place but only by a fraction from both of those teams. There is in fact a three-way tie for second place, with Tollcross the third team in there despite a mixed month which brought two wins and two defeats. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline have moved back ahead of Kirkcaldy at the top of the standings as a result of defeating their Fife rivals 2-1 in the final game of the month. That marked a third successive loss for Kirkcaldy, who won just once in May and are now a game behind in second place. UNIVERSITIES At Oxford University, Brasenose are closing in on the championship after a superb month which saw them win eight of their nine games, including victories over championship rivals Merton and Magdalen. Magdalen have now dropped out of contention after a poor month, while New College’s hopes were hit by defeats in their last two games and it seems that Merton are likely to be the only team who can stop Brasenose now. Over in Cambridge, Trinity College seemed to be falling away after losing three of four early in May, but they won their next four to draw level with Gonville and Caius at the top. The two then met in the final game of the month, which Trinity won 4-0 to take a one-game lead in June. Clare and King’s are falling away after both lost six of ten in May, but St John’s could yet make a challenge as they have now won eight of their last nine to sit just two games behind Trinity in third place.

12-05-2021, 10:43 AM	#153
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: JUNE 1874 LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST Clapham and the Old Westminsters have opened a gap over the chasing pack in the Metropolitan League after they ended June by recording double victories over the Commercial Dock Workers and Kensington respectively. Until then everyone had been struggling a little for consistency, with Angel and Hackney both losing four times in the month to lose ground at the top of the standings. Clapham currently lead by the smallest fraction from the Westminsters, but there is now a further two game margin back to Angel in third. Putney are still enjoying a good first season, and they currently sit three games off the pace, but pre-season favourites Greenwich are four back and look out of the running. Middlesex County League champions Isleworth began June with defeat to the Old Harrovians but ended the month with a crucial win over Ealing, which extended their lead at the top of the standings. Ealing share second with Tottenham, who played only twice in June and have several games to make up. Gravesend have opened a small cushion in the Kent County League after completing an undefeated month, while previous leaders Rochester lost their last two. One of those defeats was against champions Bexley Heath, who have joined them in a tie for second. In the Surrey County League, the new leaders are Kingston after they ended June by defeating Norwood 1-0 to replace their opponents in top spot. Reigate have dropped back to an even record after losing their last three, but in truth it is only struggling Wimbledon who don’t appear to have any hope of the championship. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Miles Platting are still well placed in the Manchester and District League despite losing their undefeated record at the thirteenth time of asking against Belle Vue. They lost again a week later against Bolton, but ended the month with a crucial pair of 3-2 victories against champions Salford. That may leave Salford too far back, with Irwell looking the only serious challengers to Miles Platting ahead of the teams’ double meeting on the opening weekend in July. In the Liverpool and District League, champions Liverpool and newcomers Wigan continue to fight for first place. Wigan could only share two games with Great Float to end the month, losing first place to Liverpool who defeated Anfield twice. The gap is just a fraction however, with Linacre now only two games off the pace in third after they won four of five in June, including a 6-3 victory over Liverpool. Despite ending the month by losing 3-2 at Chorley, Accrington sit well clear in the Lancashire County League and seem set to be the first champions. They moved away after Ribble lost all three of their games in June, including a thirteen-inning defeat against Accrington. Aside from Accrington and struggling Burnley, everyone else is closely bunched together in the standings. YORKSHIRE Hunslet enjoyed the best month in the Leeds and Bradford League and have made it a tight three way fight in the standings, helped by their win over Batley which opened the month. Batley are still going will and their double win over Bradford leaves them in first place, but Bradford responded to end the month with two victories over the other new club, Dewsbury. The reigning champions share second with Hunslet, fractionally behind the surprise leaders. Having won just two of six in the month, Woodhouse Lane have lost ground and now sit two games back. Doncaster’s hopes of defending their Sheffield and District crown are fading as they lost all four games in June to slip two off the pace. Sanderson’s Weir opened up a one game lead at the top with their win over Doncaster, but defeat in their last game of the month against Hallamshire saw them caught by a Barnsley team who recorded their own win over the champions. Weir and Barnsley currently sit tied for first, with Hallamshire just fractionally behind in third place. MIDLANDS There is a tight four-way battle in the Birmingham and District League, with Small Heath having looked sure to be leading the way until they ended June with a double loss at the hands of struggling champions Edgbaston. That leaves Dudley as the leaders, with Aston and West Bromwich just a game off the pace as well. By winning five of their seven games in the month, West Bromwich are arguably the form team at the present time. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Trent Bridge have lost their lead at the top following three successive defeats. Their neighbours Sherwood have joined them in a tie for first place, helped by narrowly winning their meeting 2-1. Old Basford are just one game back now having won three of their four in June, but Midland Loco have fallen back to an even record after three defeats from four. SCOTLAND Champions Burgh of Partick lead the Glasgow and District League by two games after ending June with a comfortable 8-0 victory over second placed Dundashill. Partick actually won all three in June, and with everyone else struggling to find consistency have moved clear in first place. An extra-innings loss against the champions stopped a good run of form from Tollcross and they fall back to an even record, tied for third with Govan. Pre-season favourites Arthur’s Seat climbed to the top of the East of Scotland League standings after winning their first three in June, but lost that position when they ended the month with defeat against a Dunfermline team who replace them in first. Kirkcaldy have dropped back to a losing record after a poor month, but even last-placed Leith are only two games out of first place in a league which looks very difficult to call. UNIVERSITIES Six years on from winning the inaugural championship, Brasenose College have taken the title again at Oxford University. Having come into June looking sure to take the crown, they lost their first three games of the month to give the chasing pack hope, but a crushing 7-1 success over a fading Merton team put them back on track. Despite losing 3-1 to in-form New College, a result which helped take the race to the final day, Brasenose defeated Christ Church 9-6 in their last game to hold off a New College team who won their last five. At Cambridge, Trinity College entered the last week of the campaign knowing that victory over Gonville & Caius would give them the championship for the first time, and they duly made no mistake, claiming an overwhelming 12-3 success to end the race. Caius won their last two without allowing a run to make sure of second position, leaving deposed champions Clare in third. The top players now move on to the Varsity Series, with Cambridge looking to defend their championship. They go to Oxford for the first game, before hosting the second. In other news, we have received the first announcement of a new competition for next season, as Essex becomes the last of the four founder members of the County Championship to launch a County League. The league was the idea of the West Ham club who have been rejected for membership of the Metropolitan League twice. There are expected to be six teams involved, but the Middlesex County League is set to grow to eight as that competition announced that it was inviting bids from clubs wishing to join. A vote is expected to be taken at the end of the current season.

12-05-2021, 10:46 AM	#154
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1874 VARSITY SERIES The University of Oxford have evened up the all-time record in the Varsity Series at three wins each after taking the title away from Cambridge in a dramatic three-game series. In the first game at Oxford pitchers dominated, with James Gulliver of Clare College for Cambridge and Percival Lambert of New College for Oxford both in fine form. The game entered the sixth inning with no score, but an error from pitcher Lambert allowed Cambridge to get a runner to third with nobody out. Ernest Norton of St John’s came up to bat and hit a ball deep into the outfield, far enough for runner James Thomas of Jesus College to come home after the catch. In the seventh, Cambridge pitcher Gulliver then aided his own cause, when he came to bat with runners and first and second and two out. His base hit allowed Joe Arnold of St Catharine’s to score and give Cambridge a 2-0 lead. Oxford only once managed to get a runner to third base, and their chances of a comeback vanished in the ninth when the first three batters were able to reach base for Cambridge, with Mark Dutton of Jesus College coming to bat. He recorded a hit which brought two runners home, extending the gap to 4-0. Although Oxford escaped the inning with no further damage, they could not find any reply in their half of the inning and slipped one game behind in the series. Oxford had to win the second game at Cambridge to keep the series alive, and again the pitchers were dominant early on. This time there was no scoring until the seventh inning, but unlike the first game it was Oxford who struck first. Brasenose man Edwin Morphett opened up with a three-base hit, and Balliol’s Clarence Briggs followed that with a hit of his own to bring Morphett in to score. Cambridge looked for an immediate response and in their half of the seventh, Oxford first baseman Gilbert Dinning made what appeared to be a crucial error. He allowed Percival Hickmott of Cambridge champions Trinity to reach base with one out, and Mark Dutton immediately found a two-base hit to bring Hickmott in and level the score. With two out and Dutton still at second base, Joe Arnold produced a crucial hit to allow Dutton to score, giving Cambridge a 2-1 lead and putting them two innings away from another series win. With only one run against Cambridge pitcher James Gulliver in sixteen innings, Oxford were in trouble but from somewhere, they found three successive hits to open the eighth inning. The third of those, from Brasenose’s Andrew Norman, brought Ralph Aplin of New College in to score, bringing Oxford level at 2-2. Later in the inning, with three men on base and only one out, it was Clarence Briggs again who produced the crucial hit as two more runs came in, moving Oxford ahead at 4-2. Cambridge managed to put two runners on in the ninth, but Oxford pitcher Lambert recorded the strikeout he needed to end the game and tie the series at one game each. With a third game needed, Cambridge as reigning champions were permitted to call the coin toss but their call was wrong, meaning a journey back to Oxford for the decisive game. For the first time in the series, the third game produced a run in the early innings as Frederick Richardson of Jesus College started the third inning with a hit. His team mates then moved him over to third base by the time Trinity’s Percival Hickmott came to bat with two out. His hit brough Richardson home to give Cambridge the lead, but they were not able to add to that one run advantage. Pitcher Gulliver was again in fine form for Cambridge, as Oxford recorded just two hits in the first six innings and couldn’t get a man past second base. With time running out however, they found their form in the seventh. Frederick Adair of St Edmund Hall opened the inning with a hit and then advanced himself to second, before reaching third when a careless pitch from Gulliver evaded catcher Robert Humphries. With one out, Merton’s Gilbert Dinning provided the hit to bring Adair home and tie the score at 1-1, but Oxford were not finished there. They moved Dinning over to third as well before pitcher Lambert excelled with the bat, bringing Dinning home to give Oxford the lead. With two men on and two out, Magdalen man Patrick Harris followed up with a hit of his own, bringing in another run to move Oxford ahead 3-1. In the eighth, Cambridge had two runners on with two out but Lambert was able to record the crucial third out, before easing through the ninth without allowing a runner. Cambridge had lost their crown and Oxford regained the title that they lost a year ago. Oxford’s Lambert was named as Best Pitcher for this year, while Percival Hickmott’s university career ended with the Best Player award, despite being on the losing team. We wait to see whether he will appear in a club competition next year.

12-05-2021, 03:31 PM	#156
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: AUGUST 1874 LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST Just as in June and July, Clapham end the month fractionally ahead at the top of the Metropolitan League standings after an eventful series of games. They had begun the month by extending their lead with victory over The Regent’s Park while the Old Westminsters were defeated by Putney, but two successive defeats then dropped Clapham out of first place. It looked as though the Westminsters would end August just ahead, but they fell to defeat at Hackney as Clapham edged past the Royal Artillery Barracks in their last game to move in front again. While those two teams were changing positions, Angel overcame a defeat by the Westminsters to win their other four games and have now moved into a tie for second place, right on the shoulders of Clapham. It looks increasingly as though the champions will be one of the leading three, but Hackney and newcomers Putney should not be ruled out just yet. Isleworth are closing in on a successful defence of the Middlesex County League despite losing four of their six games in August. After victory over Isleworth, Ealing then lost three successive games to fall back to an even record, while second placed Tottenham missed a chance to close in when they won the first of a double game against the champions only to lose the second. By losing three successive game without scoring a run, the Royal Engineers have dropped one game off the pace in the Kent County League, leaving Rochester as the new leaders. Right on their shoulder however are Gravesend, who had looked to be fading away last month but ended August with three successive wins, including one over Rochester, to move back into second place. Champions Bexley Heath lost four of their five games in August and are struggling to stay in touch. Norwood have moved clear in the Surrey County League after responding to a defeat at the hands of Croydon by winning their next three, while Croydon were defeated in their next three. Croydon are now two games back, fractionally behind Kingston whose own hopes were damaged by their month-ending loss to Wimbledon, falling 7-6 in eleven innings in a remarkable game. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Miles Platting seem to have recovered from their slight stumble in the Manchester and District League, claiming an important extra-innings victory over Rochdale and then a crucial 3-2 success over second-placed Irwell. With Irwell having also fallen to reigning champions Salford this month, Miles Platting now know that a maximum of four wins from their remaining eight games will secure the crown. The Liverpool and District League remains a close race, with champions Liverpool recovering from a poor start to the month to win their last two and cling on to first place by the smallest of margins. Linacre are now in second place, having won four of five in August and they look to be the team in the best form. Their victory over Wigan damaged the newcomers’ hopes, while Great Float’s win over Linacre was rendered useless when they dropped their next two. Accrington seem sure to be the first champions of the Lancashire County League, despite mixed results this month. Over Darwen lost four of their six games, including one at Accrington, to lose ground while Chorley, who had moved into contention themselves with a three game winning run, crashed 4-0 at lowly Burnley in their final game of August. YORKSHIRE Hunslet’s march towards the Leeds and Bradford League crown was stopped in its tracks by defeats at the hands of Bowling and Bradford, bringing to an end an eight-game winning run. Bradford’s win moves them back to within touching distance of the leaders, while newcomers Batley overcame a defeat to Hunslet to win their last two and keep themselves in the race a little while longer. The race is all but over in the Sheffield and District League however, as Sanderson’s Weir completed another undefeated month to extend their winning run to ten games and move to within a maximum of two victories from the championship. Defeat to Weir began a run of three successive losses for second-placed Barnsley, and they now know that if they lose their next game while Weir beat Hallamshire, the title will be decided on the first weekend in September. MIDLANDS It is still too close to call in the Birmingham and District League, with Small Heath now the form team again having won all their games in August. Dudley, who lost four in succession during the month, and Birmingham Main Line, who lost five of six, have dropped back again. While those teams have all experienced runs of good and bad form, it is Aston and West Bromwich who have arguably been the most consistent. Aston’s defeat to Walsall cost them a share of first place at the end of the month however, with Small Heath and West Bromwich tied for first. The truth is that only the Old Wulfrunians are out of the running, there is still time even for champions Edgbaston, who sit seventh with a losing record, to retain their title with a good run of form. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Old Basford’s run to the top of the standings has faltered a little with two defeats in their last three, but they were able to retain sole possession of first place because of Sherwood’s loss to Trent Bridge on the final Saturday in August. That result, coupled with Old Basford’s defeat at Derby, helped Trent Bridge back to within a single game of first place and they can move level with a win over Old Basford next week. SCOTLAND A run of three successive defeats in mid-August has seen Burgh of Partick’s lead in the Glasgow and District League reduced, but having found in-form Govan right on their shoulder the gap grew a little again on the final weekend of the month. Partick’s win over White Cart and a 1-0 loss for Govan at Lanark-Renfrew gives the champions a little more breathing room at the top of the standings. Tollcross are not yet out of the running either, and crucially Partick have played more games than either of the chasers, making their rescheduled games vital to their chances of catching up. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline still lead but only by a fraction after a defeat at the hands of Arthur’s Seat which opened the month. Dunfermline recovered to win their next four, but Arthur’s Seat won five out of six in August to stay close behind. In September, the two again open the month by meeting one another, and Arthur’s Seat can edge in front if they are able to record another victory.

12-05-2021, 03:37 PM	#157
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: SEPTEMBER 1874 The end of the season is fast approaching, and we are set for close finishes in several of the league this year, with only the Sheffield and District League decided heading into October. September however ended with several crucial games between championship challengers which has left the picture clearer in some competitions and even more confused than ever in others. LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST Clapham and the Old Westminsters end September tied with five games to play in the Metropolitan League, after both completed their September schedules undefeated. Clapham won four times and the Westminsters five, with Clapham’s month-ending victory over Angel possibly putting an end to Angel’s own challenge. The top two meet one another next week, while Angel do still have to face the Westminsters so may not quite be out of the running. With Hackney losing twice and Putney three times in September, those two teams will certainly miss out this year. At the bottom of the standings, a run of four successive wins has given outgoing champions The Regent’s Park hope of avoiding the embarrassment of going from first to last in the space of one year. Champions Isleworth lead the Middlesex County League by one game with two to play, after coming back from an extra-innings deficit to defeat championship rivals Tottenham in the final game of September. Tottenham had been undefeated in the month prior to that, but they must now hope that Isleworth lose at least one of their remaining games. In Kent, Rochester lead by one game from Bromley after both were undefeated in September. Two defeats to start the month may have cost Gravesend their chance, while Bromley only have one game to play which means that they must win that fixture and hope that Rochester do not win any more than one of their three remaining games. The first championship in the Surrey County League looks to be heading to Norwood, despite their loss at last-placed Wimbledon in their final game of the month. Chasers Kingston and Croydon were also defeated. Norwood will be champions if they win two of their last three, but can secure the crown with victory in their next game if Kingston and Croydon are both beaten again. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Miles Platting continue to stumble towards the winning line in the Manchester and District League, losing their first three in September before edging out Rochdale 4-3 in extra-innings in their last game. After winning their first twelve, they have won just eleven and lost nine of the next twenty, but still have a seemingly comfortable lead over Irwell and Salford. Both those teams suffered shock defeats to lowly opponents which prevented them from closing the gap further, and two wins from the last four will be enough for Miles Platting. Linacre seem to be the only team who can prevent Liverpool St Patrick’s from winning a fourth successive title in the Liverpool and District League, as their win in the meeting of the two last week brought them effectively level in first place. Liverpool’s winning percentage is slightly better having played two games fewer, but intriguingly the two have still to meet once more. That will be Linacre’s final game, with Liverpool having two more to play after. Newcomers Wigan saw their impressive challenge falter with defeats to both Liverpool and Anfield this month, and although they are not quite officially eliminated from the race, they seem set to fall just short. In the Lancashire County League, nobody has any consistent form to speak of as leaders Accrington lost three of four in September but neither Chorley nor Over Darwen were able to take full advantage. Accrington lead by one from Darwen and two from Chorley with four to play, with Chorley’s hopes boosted by still having to face both of the teams ahead of them. YORKSHIRE The Leeds and Bradford League seems to be coming down to a straight fight between champions Bradford and leaders Hunslet, with Hunslet continuing to falter this month in losing games against Huddersfield and Dewsbury. Bradford, who have played and won one game fewer, could have edged fractionally ahead but their own defeat at Halifax keeps them just behind. Newcomers Batley saw their hopes all but disappear in a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hunslet in their last game of the month. The first team to claim a title this year were Sanderson’s Weir, who won back the Sheffield and District crown that they narrowly lost a year ago when they opened September with victory over Hallamshire, coupled with defeat for Barnsley against Doncaster. Since securing the title, Weir have lost three games out of four and seen outgoing champions Doncaster complete an undefeated month to move clear in second place, just four games behind. Weir will care little though, as they are guaranteed to have at least a two-game cushion by the end of the season. MIDLANDS West Bromwich lead the Birmingham and District League by the smallest fraction heading into October, after Small Heath’s nine-game winning run came to an end in a 4-1 defeat at Birmingham Main Line in their final game of the month. It could have been even better for the leaders, but they were only able to share two with the last-placed Old Wulfrunians to keep the race very much alive. West Bromwich have only one game left to play, and should they win it then Small Heath would need to win both of theirs to force a tiebreaker. A West Bromwich defeat would mean that two wins would give Small Heath the title outright. Old Basford are closing in on becoming the first champions of the Derby and Nottingham League, despite a 3-1 defeat at Sherwood earlier in September which reduced their lead in the standings to a single game. Both they and Sherwood won their final games of the month, meaning that Old Basford lead by one with two to play. Trent Bridge’s defeat to Ilkeston rules them out of the race for this year. SCOTLAND A crucial 2-1 win over Govan has kept Burgh of Partick on course to retain the Glasgow and District League championship, as they lead by two heading into October. Govan’s failure to win the second of a double game against Dundashill on the final weekend in September means that Partick will take the crown if they win their three remaining games, but any defeat could open a window for Govan who have five to play. Arthur’s Seat came within an single out of taking the East of Scotland League title a year ago but it appears that this time they will be successful, as they moved into first place by defeating Dunfermline 3-0 to open September and then saw their rivals drop two of their next three games to lose further ground. With two games to play, Arthur’s Seat will be champions if they win either, or if Dunfermline lose their one remaining game. In one other piece of news from Scotland, the vote to determine the two teams joining the Glasgow and District League for next year has been taken earlier than expected, at the request of the applicant clubs who wanted more time to prepare should they be successful. Six applications were received, some from the city itself and some from towns further afield, and in the end it was those further away which were successful. Winning the vote with the support of four clubs were Tail o’ the Bank, a team from the town of Greenock which lies some 20 miles north-west of central Glasgow. With three votes, edging out the more centrally located Rutherglen, were a team from Airdrie, located around 12 miles east of the city centre. They will join the league for the 1875 campaign, with the format of the season yet to be announced. It has been speculated that the clubs may choose to follow the format used by the Metropolitan League when that competition had eight members, with each club playing the others four times and adding two further fixtures against a ‘paired’ rival.

12-05-2021, 04:01 PM	#159
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	TOURNAMENT REVIEW: 1874 INTERNATIONAL SERIES GAME ONE England entered the International Series as strong favourites to win, but it was Scotland who made the better start as Old Westminsters’ pitcher Daniel Armstrong struggled early on. After Kirkcaldy pair Daniel Parnaby and Gordon Rankin both reached base, a one-out hit from Tollcross man Walter Challinor brought Parnaby in to score the first run for Scotland in the first inning. They added a second in the second inning, when again the first two batters reached base and this time it was Parnaby whose hit brought home Govan outfielder Roderick Dalziel. Armstrong helped his own cause in the third when he produced a base hit, allowing Liverpool Samuel Moynihan to drive him home and put England on the scoreboard at 2-1, but once again they failed to get through the inning without allowing a run. Successive two-base hits from Challinor and Ralph Collins of Arthur’s Seat extended Scotland’s advantage to 3-1. From that point, the pitchers took over until the sixth, when Eric Speechley of The Grange opened up with a hit for Scotland and then with one out, Dundashill’s Andrew Barton found the hit to bring him home. Scotland now led 4-1, but England were not finished. In the seventh, Herbert Milner of Kent County League champions Rochester came to bat with two men on and two out, and his hit scored Andrew Clarke of Stockport to close the gap to 4-2. In the ninth, England had two men on base and only one out, with Bradford’s Maurice Dodd looking for a hit to score one or both runs and keep the game alive. He could only hit the ball weakly on the ground however, allowing Scotland to record the two outs that they needed to finish the game and take a 1-0 advantage in the series. GAME TWO A week on from the first meeting, the second game took place in London with England needing a win to keep the series alive. The game however started in similar fashion to the first, with Scotland taking the lead in the first inning on a hit from Walter Challinor of Tollcross which brought Gordon Rankin in to score. This time however, pitcher Daniel Armstrong found his form much more quickly and Scotland were unable to add to the lead. They held on to the narrow advantage until the third inning, but this time it was Scottish pitcher Roderick Wemyss who began to struggle. With two men out and a runner at first base, he allowed successive hits to Greenwich’s Roland Lloyd and Stockport man Andrew Clarke, which brought William Lewis of Kingston round to tie the score at 1-1. Scotland left a runner at third base in the fifth inning and then failed to take advantage of having runners at second and third with nobody out in the seventh, as they looked for the run which might win the game and the series. England had replaced pitcher Armstrong with Cecil Maddaford of Bolton during the seventh inning, and he had dragged them out of trouble, but he was in turn replaced by Stephen Young of The Regent’s Park for the eighth and England were soon in trouble again. Young allowed three successive hits with one out to give Scotland three baserunners and another clear chance to score, but somehow managed to get out of the inning without allowing a run. Scotland had missed their chance, because in England’s half of the eighth everything changed. Walsall’s Lionel Lynch came to bat with runners at first and second and two out, and his hit combined with a throwing error from Scotland centre fielder Daniel Parnaby allowed England to take a 2-1 lead. The next batter was Herbert Milner of Rochester, and he too found a hit which brought in two more runs. England led 4-1 and Scotland had no reply, as Young successfully negotiated the ninth inning to see the series tied at one win each. With Scotland having called the coin toss for home advantage in the first game, another coin toss for the third game saw England allowed to call and they won the toss, meaning that the third game would also take place in London. GAME THREE The decisive third game started with both pitchers in strong form, as when Kingston’s William Lewis came to bat for England with two men out and a runner on first base in the third inning, there had only been one hit for each team in the game up to that point. However, Scotland pitcher Roderick Wemyss then saw his form crumble. Beginning with Lewis, the next seven England batters all recorded hits to bring home no fewer than six runs, a figure which might have been higher had Walsall’s Lionel Lynch not been tagged out trying to run from first to third on the seventh successive hit. Scotland were stunned and although they still had time to fight back, they had to do so quickly with a 6-0 deficit to overturn. In the fifth inning, they had runners at second and third with two out but Dundashill’s Andrew Barton could not find the hit that would have restored a considerable degree of hope. In the sixth inning, Walter Challinor of Tollcross came to bat with runners at first and third and two out, but again Scotland could not get the runners home and England retained their six-run cushion. By the time Scotland finally did score, Barton coming home on a hit from Kirkcaldy’s James Harris in the eighth, it seemed to be much too late. England took a 6-1 lead to the ninth but with pitcher Armstrong tiring, Wilfred Wellington of the Commercial Dock Workers came into the game to pitch what England expected to be the final inning. Having got the first two batters out, Wellington then allowed three successive hits to keep the game alive and Scotland knew that one big hit could bring them right back into contention. However, Barton was not able to produce that hit as Wellington finally recorded the third out, completing England’s victory in both the game and the series. Following the completion of the third game, Rochester’s Herbert Milner was named as the Best Player of the series for his role in England’s win, while Daniel Armstrong was Best Pitcher. With all the competitions now completed, attention turns to the leagues’ annual meetings and award announcements, expected next week. Planning will then turn to the 1875 season, with yet another new league seeming sure to start in the Bristol area, the first in the south-west of England. A team of railway workers from Swindon have agreed to make the numbers up to six in order for the league to be viable.

12-05-2021, 04:03 PM	#160
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	END OF SEASON REVIEW: 1874 This year’s awards have now been handed out, with William Thornton of champions Clapham edging out his teammate Dennis Dunning to win the Best Player award. Daniel Armstrong of the Old Westminsters was Best Pitcher for the fourth time, while Matthew Ingram was named Best Manager for leading Clapham to the championship. In the Middlesex County League, champions Isleworth won Best Player and Best Pitcher courtesy of Ernest Sturdy and Noah White, but Tottenham took Best Manager after Edgar Hughes took them so close to the title. Herbert Milner of Rochester had the best batting average in the country this year and he took the Best Player award in the Kent County League, while Benjamin Geach of runners-up Bromley took Best Pitcher. Arthur Murnaghan of champions Rochester was Best Manager. The first awards in the Surrey County League saw champions Norwood miss out everywhere, as Kingston’s William Lewis took Best Player and Croydon man Luke Robson was Best Pitcher. Croydon also took Best Manager, courtesy of Willie Thomas. In the Manchester and District League, Harry Hunt took Best Manager for leading Miles Platting to the championship but they missed out elsewhere, with Philip Collins of Irwell named Best Pitcher and Stockport’s Andrew Clarke taking Best Player. The champions took no awards in the Liverpool and District League either, with Nicholas Padfield of Great Float winning Best Player. Having come so close to winning the title, Linacre took the other awards with Frank Pearson taking Best Pitcher and Edmund Ibbot Best Manager. The story was the same in the Lancashire County League as champions Accrington missed out, with Chorley’s Ernest Stanley named Best Player. Over Darwen took the other honours, with Benjamin Stuckey winning Best Pitcher and Frank Burrows named Best Manager. Yet again the champions were overlooked in the Leeds and Bradford League, as Bradford took no honours. Lawrence Kilner was named Best Manager for leading Hunslet so close to the crown, while Best Player was Willie Carroll of Woodhouse Lane. Huddersfield’s Philip Flynn took Best Pitcher for the second year in succession. In the Sheffield and District League, there was an award for the champions as Henry Foreman took Best Manager for Sanderson’s Weir, but they missed out on the playing awards. Doncaster’s Mark Guiney was Best Pitcher for a second time, while Alfred Murray took Best Player despite his Holmes Tail team finishing in last place. In the Birmingham and District League, Dudley fell a couple of games short of the championship tiebreaker but they won all the awards, with Ezra Rowe named as Best Player and William Weir Best Pitcher. Henry Burward completed the set by taking Best Manager. Derby and Nottingham League champions Old Basford took two awards, with Ernest Reddicliffe winning Best Manager and Allan Beaten taking Best Pitcher. The only one they missed was Best Player, as Edgar Barton of Trent Bridge took the honours. In Scotland, Burgh of Partick’s Francis Fullalove was named Best Pitcher for the third time in three years, while Albert Hanson of White Cart was another man who took Best Player despite his team finishing last. Runners-up Govan took Best Manager courtesy of Bernard Palmer. East of Scotland League winners Dunfermline were yet another title winning team to miss out on awards, with their Fife rivals Kirkcaldy taking Best Player through Gordon Rankin. Runners-up Arthur’s Seat took the other honours, as Murdoch Faulder won Best Pitcher and Drew Nicholson was named Best Manager. ROLL OF HONOUR Metropolitan League: Clapham Common (1st title) Manchester and District League: Miles Platting Works (1st title) Leeds and Bradford League: Bradford Beck (3rd title) Liverpool and District League: Liverpool St Patrick’s (4th title) Glasgow and District League: Burgh of Partick (2nd title) Middlesex County League: Isleworth Brewery (2nd title) Sheffield and District League: Sanderson’s Weir (2nd title) Birmingham and District League: West Bromwich Trinity (1st title) East of Scotland League: Dunfermline Canmore (1st title) Kent County League: Rochester Riverbank (1st title) Derby and Nottingham League: Old Basford Bleach (1st title) Lancashire County League: Accrington Willows (1st title) Surrey County League: Norwood Junction (1st title) Oxford University Championship: Brasenose College (2nd title) Cambridge University Championship: Trinity College (1st title) International Series: England (1st title) County Championship: Surrey (3rd title) Varsity Series: University of Oxford (3rd title) We now await the 1875 campaign, with once more three new leagues looking set to begin play. In addition to those in Essex and the Bristol area, clubs from Northamptonshire have agreed to join the Leicester teams to form the second competition in the East Midlands. There is also still no news on whether any leagues will permit professional play next year, with a few clubs having had to pay expenses to their players for midweek games in late October and early November this year. It is believed that even if no league makes that move this year, the 1875 season may well be the final fully amateur year as the Manchester and District League looks likely to grow to twelve teams for the 1876 season. The clubs seem sure to agree to permit payments to allow for regular midweek play should that come about.