South Yorkshire Times Saturday, June 24, 1944
Charity Cricket Match at Mexborough
A Wonderful Feast Monday
Over £1000 Realised
Mr P Beaumont’s XI 145
L Townsend 76, W Barber 31
Earl Fitzwilliam’s XI 162 for 8
H Sutcliffe 42, G Pope 49; L Hutton 4-49
Everything conspired to make an outstanding success of the day and if the play itself was less hectic than in some of the previous matches, it was none the worse for that. There was plenty of good cricket, big hitting when the occasion warranted it, keen bowling, smart fielding and a delightfully merry interlude., in the last half hour after the match had been -lost and won
The side captained by Mr. Percy Beaumont never quite recovered from a bad start in which they lost the wickets of Martindale, Hutton and Poole quickly to an aggressive Copson-Pope attack. Their total of 145 left the side sponsored by Earl Fitzwilliam and led by Herbert Suttcliffe with comparative easy task which they accomplished with half their wickets intact.
Feature of the first innings was a faultless 76 by Leslie Townsend. He hit two sixes and 11 fours before being stumped by Ward in a cavalier effort to collect another six.
Wood’s joviality could not conceal his proficiency and he had four victims, three stumped and one caught. Martindale and Hutton were both clean bowled by balls which came sharply off the pitch. Wilf Barber with a determined 31 helped to make the total respectable.
Copson had two for 20 2G Pope two 419 in short spells of bowling and Hutchinson, the Hickleton and Derbyshire man, took three for 29.
Paynter, neatly caught my Duckworth, was an early victim in the second innings, but Sutcliffe with brisk backing backing from Wilf Broadhead soon made a hole in the opposing side’s lead. The pair put on 65, Sutcliffe getting four fours and a six in his 42. The six, an effortless pulled the leg, perforated one of the pavilion windows – never was a pain of glass sacrificed in a better cause. Sutcliffe never seemed in trouble but Hutton eventually sent him back by running to take a very good catch in the deep.
Tommy Mitchell’s wicked looking spinners ultimately force bride, who treated the crowd to some very forceful back play, to break his own wicket with a rather too exuberant stroke, but George Paul and Hounsfield came along to make a fourth wicket stand of 74 and the match was as good as won .
Beaumont with a fine one-handed catch disposed of Pope and Hounsfield was well caught by G Ingram, a Mexborough secondary School boy, who donned Duckworth’s gloves when the Lancashire man had to leave and certainly did not disgrace them. He took another catch in addition to taking a variety of bowling with confidence. David Brown, brought in for the absent Constantine, made the winning hit, but play continued and the closing overs were comically enlivened by Wood.
Hutton had 4 for 49 for the losers, and the other four wickets were shared by Martindale, A. Pope, Mitchell and Townsend
Lunch Interval
Players and patrons lunched in the Secondary School, kindly placed at the disposal of the Charity Cricket Committee by the Governors. Mr. Fred Green, chairman of the Committee presided. He said the generosity of the patrons was a constant inspiration to the Committee and while they could rely on such support they would always try to provide the same high class entertainment which was being provided that day. They were grateful also to the players. He did not think there was anywhere where their efforts were so well appreciated as they were in South Yorkshire. He mentioned help received from many quarters including the Governors of the Secondary School, the Athletic Club, and the Wath Subcommittee under Mr G. H. Smickersgill and said it was for a cause they all had deeply at heart, the Montagu Hospital.
He thanked Mr H Chappell Mr P Beaumont and all other colleagues.
Mr WP Turner, President of the Hospital, explained that Earl Fitzwilliam, had been prevented from attending this match by military duties the importance of which everyone would understand. He was batting brilliantly with thousands of others on a “sticky and dangerous wicket close quotes and they wished him and those associated with him good luck (loud applause).
He mentioned that Leary Constantine could not be with them because he was defending his honour and that of his family in the Law Courts. He knew they were as follow the case with sympathetic interest. (Applause).
Their heartiest thanks were also due to Mr Herbert Sutcliffe and the players whose presence made such masses possible and hope that both patrons and players would at least take away with them happy recollections of still another wartime cricket feature Mexborough, organised for the benefit of such a good cause as their own local hospital.
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