Swinton 35 Denaby 51

Mexborough and Swinton Times – Saturday 30 April 1904

Mexboro’ and District League

Swinton v. Denaby

The cricket season was initiated at Swinton on Saturday, under most favourable conditions, the weather being quite summer-like. The attractive nature of the encounter, together with the fine day, induced a large number of spectators to spend the afternoon on one of the most pleasant and picturesque grounds in the neighbourhood.

There were many local players on the ground belonging to other local clubs who have deemed it wiser to postpone the commencement of the season until the beginning of May, by which time all the chilling blasts of the winter are supposed to have been dispensed with.

There were many spectators who had come from Denaby, yet the majority of the spectators were ardent enthusiasts of the Swinton club, who, bearing in mind the fact that two of the very best players of the league had joined their ranks, were very confident that their favourites would mark the opening of the season with a big victory.

Such was not to be, and Denaby were the victors in a well-fought fight.

Denaby batted first, and made a bad start.

Neither team was fully represented, Swinton being short of its captain, A. Poppleton, who is rather seriously indisposed, although he was present to watch his colleagues perform, and Foss had “gone with the London trip.” Denaby were short of their pro., Barker, who was engaged in the county trial match at Derby, and W. Scott.

The wicket was on the soft side, and rather slow, but it is significant that the two fast bowlers obtained 15 out of the 20 wickets.

Denaby batted first, A. Smith and A. Robinson both being disposed of without scoring, Fred Turner doing the trick in both cases. Then at 12 Penny clean bowled W. Moore with a beauty, and at the same total young Smith spooned up a ball back to the bowler. Four for 12 was a distinctly unpromising state of things for Denaby, while Swinton were rejoicing at their triumphs.

P. Bury, an old Barnsley player, came next, and played carefully. Luther Robinson had scored 9 when he launched out at Penny, and was beautifully taken in the long field by Harrison. The score was only 24 when Knowles was bowled by Penny, and six wickets were down.

Bargin signalised his appearance at the wicket by hitting Penny out of the field for six. He had only added two more when Penny had his revenge.

T. Coleman, an old Lancashire professional, came next. He and Bury played carefully, and gradually the score was rising. Coleman had scored 9 when he obstructed a straight one from Penny. Bury misjudged a slow ball from Penny, and was bowled. Although he had only scored 4, he had played a patient innings, and had the satisfaction of “stopping the rot” which had set in.

C. Bury, the captain, was the last man in, but before he had scored he played on to Penny, whose bowling was remarkably fine. He took the whole of the last five wickets, and his analysis was 12 overs, 2 maidens, 28 runs, 7 wickets.

F. Turner also bowled well, but was less successful, viz., 12 overs, 8 maidens, 20 runs, 3 wickets.

G. Hardy, the old Conisboro’ and Wath player, was not out 5, and the Denaby innings realised 57.

At the interval between the innings, Swinton were confident of winning, and were more so after Shaw and Rigby had made such a promising start.

Hardy’s first over yielded 9 runs, and the Denaby captain consulted his vice-captain whether to take him off. It was fortunate he did not, for Hardy afterwards met with conspicuous success.

Shaw, Rigby, and Taylor all played well, and 34 runs were scored, with only two wickets down. Then the “rot” set in, and Swinton were hopelessly beaten.

F. Turner spooned one up to long-on, off Robinson, after he had scored one. Penny and Jenkinson were clean bowled by Hardy. A. Hall offered some resistance, scoring seven runs. But Hardy was irresistible; the batsmen seemed to fight him, and the innings was all over at 35, Denaby winning a fine victory.

Hardy bowled 8 overs, 2 maidens, 16 runs, 8 wickets, and Luther Robinson, 3 overs, 2 maidens, 16 runs, 2 wickets.