Cricket vs Hollingbourne (1851)

Post date: Mar 24, 2021 5:5:5 PM

Extract from South Eastern Gazette - Tuesday 08 July 1851

HOLLINGBOURNE.— On Friday last a most interesting match of cricket took place in the new ground belonging to J Roper, Esq., between eleven gentlemen of Wateringbury and eieven of Hollingbourne. The bowling, batting, and fielding were of the first class. Wateringbury went in first, M. Lancaster² Esq having scored 9, Mr. Hollands’s first-rate balls compelled him to leave his wicket, for T. Hodge, when a ripper from Willshire sent him to the booth without a run; he was succeeded by W. S. Norton¹, Esq., who added to the score 29, in first-rate style; C. Leney³ having scored 19, retired, and made room for the remaining portion of the players, and after 37 overs they succeeded in getting 80 runs, and in the 2nd innings, after some excellent play, 96, total 176.

Hollingbourne, after some first-rate play, particularly by Hollands, Willshire, Dawson, Roper and Harrison, scored in the first Innings, in 48 overs, 66 runs, and in the 2nd, 51 runs, with 8 wickets to go down, total 117, leaving 59 runs to get.

A commodious booth was erected on the ground, where a cold collation was served by Mr. J. Sivyer, in his usual good style. After the game the party retired to the Windmill, where the chair was ably filled by Mr. B. Roper, jun., and very pleasant evening spent.

Notes.

1. William South Norton (1832-1916) was a Solicitor, living in Swan Street,West Malling who made a major contribution to the establishment of Kent as a viable county cricket club. He played 62 matches for Kent (1849-1870). (Source Ian Lambert).

2. M. Lancaster is possibly Matthias William Lancaster brother of Samuel Lucas Lancaster, grandson of Matthias Lucas who inherited Wateringbury Place on his grandfather's death in 1848, his father having pre-deceased his grandfather.

3. C. Leney is Charles Leney (c.1814- 1875), elder son of Abraham Leney, and the first Leney involved in the Phoenix Brewery. By the time of this match Charles had been joined at the brewery by his younger brother, Frederick, but they quarrelled and Charles left in 1857.