South Yorkshire Times — Saturday, 26 June 1943

Mexborough’s Cricket Feast

Annual Charity Match a Great Success

Never in the annals of Mexborough cricket has there been such a galaxy of players or such an entertaining match as that which a record crowd saw at Hampden Road on Monday. The teams, which included 15 county and three West Indies players, gave an exhibition of cricket which will live long in the memory of local followers of the game. There was a delightful mixture of big hitting to entertain the crowd and more methodical batting for the profit of less experienced cricketers. The organising committee had gathered together an array of some of the most talented county and Test players to benefit the Montagu Hospital, and their efforts were amply rewarded both by the cricket and financial return. The match was also notable for the generous way in which sportsmen in the crowd handed out guineas to the hospital and to cricketers for big hitting. Their generosity helped to brighten play and retain the interest of the crowd.

Captains were Mr. Percy Beaumont, the well-known Mexborough sportsman, and the “veteran” but still skilful batsman, Mr. Herbert Sutcliffe.

Mr. Beaumont’s team batted first. After hitting three fours in one over and scoring 17, Len Hutton, the famous world record-breaking Yorkshire batsman, was caught at mid-off after half an hour by Leary Constantine, the West Indies all-rounder. Constantine’s bowling often puzzled the batsmen by reason of his change in pace and flight. There were three wickets down with 75 on the board at the lunch interval, E. St. J. Hill (West Indies) having his bails whipped off in Constantine’s third over, and Paynter, with a useful 36, being caught by R. B. Rae of Tommy Goddard, the famous Gloucestershire player now having a successful spell with Saltaire in the Bradford League. Constantine kept his countryman, E. A. Martindale, guessing at the wicket for half an hour after lunch and then clean bowled him. J. Lawrence (Somerset) missed in the slips by Constantine when he was 18, went on to score 39 before falling to C. Turner. H. Beet (Notts.) attacked the bowling and in one successful period hit three fours off Turner in one over. The first six went to George Duckworth, the Lancashire stumper, of all people! After being at the wicket 2 hours 40 minutes Mr. Beaumont’s side declared with seven wickets down for 207 runs.

Constantine had the best bowling return with three for 36, other bowlers being Pope none for 40, Goddard two for 50, Turner one for 25, Townsend one for 16 and Rae none for 35.

Mastery Of Sutcliffe

The high-light of the day was a masterly innings by Herbert Sutcliffe. Beginning with four fours, he was missed by J. Wright when he was 29 and was later missed four more times before Hutton caught him near the boundary off Martindale. Mr. Beaumont caused laughter when he missed catching Sutcliffe at the very moment when the announcer was recording an offer of 10s. for his first catch. Perhaps the announcer distracted him! Sutcliffe was particularly happy against the bowling of W. Copson and hit him repeatedly for four. His 85 included fifteen fours and two sixes and was obtained in about 40 minutes. There was a big contrast in the merry hitting of Sutcliffe and the careful but stylish batting of W. Keeton (Notts.). They had a first wicket stand of 111 before Sutcliffe was dismissed. Constantine did not stay at the wicket long. Lawrence making the best catch of the day with a run in from near the boundary when he had scored a single. Wood, the Yorkshire stumper, hit up a snappy 20 with five fours, while Alf Pope (Derbyshire) hit on confidently to make an unbeaten 21 when the innings closed.

Best bowling analysis in Mr. Beaumont’s team was Len Hutton’s four for 42, other returns being Martindale one for 45, Copson none for 80, Paynter none for 15, Hill one for 16 and Lawrence one for 16.

Scores

P. Beaumont’s XI

L. Hutton (Yorkshire), c sub., b Constantine (W. Indies), 17; E. Paynter (Lancashire), c Rae (id.), b Goddard (Gloucestershire), 36; E. St. J. Hill (West Indies), b Constantine, 10; E. A. Martindale (West Indies), b Constantine, 16; J. Lawrence (Somerset), b Turner (Yorkshire), 39; H. Beet (Notts.), c Rae, b Goddard, 35; C. J. Poole (Notts.), c Pope, b Townsend, 29; J. M. Hutchinson (Derbyshire), not out, 10; G. Duckworth (Lancashire), not out, 19; extras, 5; total (for seven, declared), 207.

H. Sutcliffe’s XI

H. Sutcliffe (Yorkshire), c Hutton, b Martindale, 85; W. Keeton (Notts.), b Hutton, 51; L. N. Constantine, c Lawrence, b Hutton, 1; L. Townsend (Derbyshire), c Martindale, b Hutton, 18; G. Price (Collegiate), c White (Mexborough), b Hutton, 5; W. Broadhead (Swinton), c Beet, b St. J. Hill, 4; C. Turner (Yorkshire), not out, 9; A. Wood (Yorkshire), c Beet, b Lawrence, 20; A. Pope, not out, 21; extras, 7; total (for seven), 221.

Umpires were Messrs. Wilfred Rhodes, the former England and Yorkshire bowler; A. T. Thomson, president of Mexborough Athletic Club; W. P. Turner, president of Montagu Hospital; Gilbert Beaumont and Ralph Birkinshaw. Scorers were Messrs. H. Bramall (Mexborough) and J. H. Ellis (Wath).

The commentators were Mr. Wolstenholme and Mr. Mellors.

The Luncheon

During the interval luncheon was served for patrons and players in the dining room of the Mexborough Secondary School. Mr. W. P. Turner, President of the Montagu Hospital, who presided, recorded the Charity Committee’s thanks to the many people who had helped them in the considerable task of organising such an ambitious fixture. He extended a cordial welcome to the players, many of whom had travelled long distances in order to take part in the match. He also expressed the gratitude of the committee to the patrons for their generous contributions to the effort, the whole of the proceeds of which were for the Montagu Hospital, which needed and deserved their fullest support. He also recorded the thanks of the Hospital to the Charity Committee, all of whom had devoted their time and energy to ensure the success of the effort.

Mr. Herbert Sutcliffe said the players were only too happy to support the efforts of the Charity Cricket Committee, who had obviously gone to a great deal of trouble to organise such a big match. He commended the worthiness of the cause and mentioned that a similar effort at Colwyn Bay, in which he and Constantine had taken part, had raised well over £1,000. He thought if they only dug deeply enough into their pockets Mexborough might try to beat Colwyn Bay’s achievement.

Mr. L. Constantine said one of the most pleasing features of such a match from the players’ point of view was that it gave them an opportunity of meeting together which they might not have had otherwise. For that reason alone they were very glad to take part. As for the game itself, just as it had been said that the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, it might not also be said in days to come that the present war had been won on the cricket fields of England?

Mr. Percy Beaumont said he was the happiest man in Mexborough that day to think that they had been able to get so many famous cricketers to come and take part in their charity match. He was a firm believer that so far as sport was concerned only the best was good enough for Mexborough, and it would always be his objective to do whatever he could to enable the people of the district to watch the best men in the game.

The committee are indebted to the Governors of the Secondary School for the luncheon and to Mr. and Mrs. Williams and their staff for the preparation and serving of the meal; also to the Athletic Club for the use of the ground and to a veritable host of willing helpers.

Mr. Herbert Lowe was chairman of the committee, Mr. Percy Beaumont treasurer and Mr. H. S. Chappell secretary and Mr. E. Andrews combination secretary, supported by a strong committee, comprising Messrs. F. Green, Green, E. Wolfinden, G. Beaumont, J. Beaumont, J. Tordoff, J. J. P. Mackenzie, H. Constable, C. Mason, G. Schofield, A. Glasbey, W. P. Turner, A. Fairhurst, H. Parkin, P. Shaw and W. L. Hitching, who are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts. The financial result is not yet available, but it is hoped that the target of £750 will be achieved.