Sheffield Independent – Monday 18 May 1908
At Last!
Denaby 63 Hickleton Main 58
In a slow and low scoring match Denaby, playing at home, managed after a magnificent finish in capturing two points at the expense of Hickleton Main.
The ground was very heavy, and provided splendid hunting ground for the bowlers, who were in fine form.
With the homesters batting first, their total of 63. in which Esland (18) and Luther Robinson (10) were the only players to reach double figures, did not seem very promising, but the Denaby bowlers rose to the occasion and finally succeeded in pulling the match round into their favour by the narrow margin of five runs. Strange to say nothing was seen of Ernest Beckett, the visitors’ demon bowler, Fred Eyre taking off the honours with six wickets for 26.
But the most astonishing record was obtained by Scott, for Denaby, who bowled remarkably well for six for nine. Scott is one those players who play once a week without practice, for his business as a farmer prevents him from devoting time the game in which he would undoubtedly have acquired fame had he followed it more closely. He is getting on now, but for many reasons has been one of Denaby’s best all-round men. Now that the team has got fairly started, it is to be hoped they will favoured by further success.