Mexborough & Swinton Times — March 7, 1914
Convivial Cricketers
Denaby Club’s Annual Dinner
The New Rule
The annual dinner of the Denaby Cricket Club was held in the Denaby Main Hotel on Saturday evening, when a large company enjoyed the excellent repast, and subsequently spent an evening of the utmost harmony. The post-prandial speeches had the saving grace of being few and far between. Notwithstanding this, the jovial company spent one of the most enjoyable social evenings that has ever been promoted by the Denaby cricketers.
Mr. W. H. Chambers, president of the club, was in the chair, and he was supported by Mr. J. Cocks (vice-president), Mr. G. W. Phillips (captain), Mr. Watson A. Smith (vice-captain), Mr. P. Chambers (secretary), and Messrs. F. Mile, S. Schofield, J. Bucknall, T. Allen, E. Shelton, T. Jones, J. Dutton, J. Miller, E. Jones, G. Gething, A. Windell, E. Robinson, and many others.
The Three-Mile Limit
Replying to the toast of “The Cricket Club,” Mr. Phillips said he wished to thank the members for their loyal support during the last season, and to ask for a continuance of that support in the ensuing season. They were all well aware of the alteration in the league rules, which allowed any club to go any distance they liked for their players. He rather regretted that for some things. He regretted it because it gave the local players less chance of getting into the first eleven than they had under the three-mile radius.
Personally, he would like to see the Denaby team composed of Denaby men. There would be more interest to the spectators in seeing local men struggling in the various competitions, and it would be very much better for the village generally if they had a local team. He did not object to other teams going afield, but he hoped they would never have to do the same.
The better team they had, the better it would be for local players. (Hear, hear.) He did not suppose they wanted to see the team at the bottom of the League, but they would not get above that position unless they stuck regularly at their practice and took a turn regularly at the wickets and tried to improve themselves constantly.
He hoped the bowlers, too, would continue to practise. He could not say he had been satisfied with them last year. There were as many matches won by good fielding as by good bowling. (Hear, hear.) Concluding, the speaker said he would like to thank Mr. Chambers very much for the great support he gave to the club. They were well aware of the great help he gave them, but there were many things he did of which they did not know, and for that reason he wished to thank him that night. (Applause.)
The President’s Speech
Mr. Chambers said he stood before them that night as one of the “has-beens,” and he knew there were some more “has-beens,” as well as “would-bes” there. They were there to wish them success in the coming season. They were all pleased to think that they could win a match. (Laughter.)
Unfortunately, he had come to consider himself as a Jonah, because when he had come to see them play they generally lost. (Renewed laughter.) He was glad that the captain had spoken to them about the fielding and the bowling. It was rather exasperating for the spectators to see the ball go between the fielder’s legs. (Laughter.)
They had been a good many runs thrown away in that manner. Continuing, he said they had been considering whether they could not provide quoiters for those who had got past cricket. Some wanted one thing and some another, and so they could have bowls and skittles. It would be profitable to the club, and it would give pleasure to some of them who used to play cricket, but could not play now.
Concluding, he wished the team success in the coming season. (Applause.)
Harmony
During the evening an excellent musical programme was given, to which the contributors were Messrs. J. Hewitt, T. Allen, J. Smith, J. Mellor, B. Gething, G. Fisher, A. Robinson, T. Broomhall, J. Bucknall, W. Stribley, and others.