CHELTENHAM COLLEGE SECOND ELEVEN v. While our First Eleven were playing Evesham, our Second Eleven were upholding the honour of the College in a match against an eleven of the Training College. Our opponents won the toss, and took the wickets, and were not dispossessed therefrom till 115 had been scored; Hensley heading the score with 27, in which were some good hits. Myers and Lawrence went in first for the College, and were not separated till they had put on 54. Mellor and Graham played well for their runs. At the time of drawing the stumps our Second Eleven had got 164 for the loss of six wickets. This is the first match that has been played upon the New Second Eleven Ground. We hope that now they have such a good ground, our Second Eleven will show their appreciation of it, and play a few matches of interest. We regret to say that there was a lamentable deficiency of bowling amongst us in this match; but it must be remembered that 'some two or other' belonging to the Second Eleven were engaged against Evesham in the room of Brice and Wise. The matches for the Silver Cup dragged on somewhat slowly; the third round went thus: Cumine played really well, and Reid with excessive carelessness, so that he only won the first game by 2, and the next game, by 5. It remained, as it usually does, for Reid and Myers to play each other, the champion giving 3 points. Last year Myers had won rather easily, but this time he had a harder fight for it. The play in the first game, on the part of Myers at least, was simply execrable; he hit the balls up indeed, but only one throughout the game went below the serving line. Reid won easily at 15 to II. The next game Myers went off with the lead and made 7 to Reid's o; Reid was not daunted, and after some exertion, and two or three good rounds brought the game to '10 all,' when the game began to get exciting. Myers made 3 more and got out. Reid also made 3, and so the game was set. Reid was determined, and made 4 to Myers's o; to Myers's o; but Myers was equally determined, and made 4 also, and by a successful serve added the required ace. During the next game Myers continued hitting extraordinarily high-perhaps one-third went below the serving line—the only reason why he made points was that Reid could not play them. Nevertheless there were a few long rounds, which neither seemed to care to take the trouble to end; in one, we think, they simply stood in the middle of the Court and volleyed 6 running. In this game also Myers was ahead until the game stood at 12 all. Then Reid got one more, and so did Myers; Reid being tired, wisely refused to set, and Myers made the two points required straight off. The issue of the fourth round of the single-handed Fives Matches left only three players in, Lawrence, Wood, and Pruen. Of these Lawrence and Pruen drew one another and played, amid much excitement. At first Lawrence played up with a will, and the game stood, Lawrence 8, Pruen 2, to the surprise of some; but afterwards, Pruen keeping his head and playing well up, and Lawrence getting tired, the game began to go all the other way, and Lawrence got only two points on before Pruen won. On Tuesday, April 28, at twelve o'clock, the court being hardly dry at the end, Wood and Pruen played. Odds, perhaps, slightly on Pruen. The first eight points on either side were fought in the most gallant manner, and two rounds especially good on either side elicited much applause from the very numerous spectators. But after this Pruen played hard and steadily, and finally won at 15 to 9. and so for the present, at all events, is champion. We shall hardly be able to say much about the play of Wood or Pruen, for it is known to all who will care to read this, but we may just remark that Pruen's superiority seems owing mainly to his steady play (for he does not lose his head), his continued hard hitting, for that is the secret of single fives in our court, above all to his dexterity with his left wrist, for in this most essential point he is supreme among College Fives players. Others are as good, perhaps, on either wall in a double game; to Pruen alone has been granted excellence with either hand Having this advantage, it will be apparent that the single court should suit him well, and this he has proved to be the case. On the other hand Wood is great on the left court in a double match, and is rather weaker on his right hand than good right handed players are on their left. Pruen surpasses most others, too, in a very essential quality-a most determined spirit of playing up. There is only one thing which we feel it our duty to say here, and we are sorry that we are obliged to repeat it, since we have noted the subject before. Let this principle be most distinctly understood. The object of the service which begins each round is This object to make a fair start of the round for either side or party. is defeated when players insist on having peculiar services, off which they know that they can make deadly strokes. We shall hardly be suspected of hostility to Wood's interests, but we must rcord our protest against his play in respect to the service. We are convinced that this great vice of his play is committed in perfect innocence, and we hope and believe that he and others who may be in the habit of committing the same fault will see the error of their ways, and recognise the fact that the game is spoilt by the custom which they have originated. Some rule will, of course, have to be made if remonstrance is found to be insufficient on this point. The Gymnasium. The late Competition for the Challenge Cup produced, in accordance with the general expectation, the keenest struggle that has yet been witnessed in the Gymnasium. The Cup, as most of our readers will remember, was first competed for in 1866, when it was won by the B Day-boys, who in the following year had to succumb to Mr. Green's, but who, nevertheless, apparently stimulated by defeat, have this year managed to turn the tables on the boarders. Wednesday, April 15, was fixed as the grand day of the competition, but as it would have been quite impossible to have gone through the entire list of exercises in a single afternoon, only some of the best were selected-twelve for the Captains, and six for the next three of each eight, and reserved for the finale, the rest having been worked off beforehand. The performances: on Wednesday began at half-past two, before a large number of spectators, who appeared throughout to take the greatest interest in the proceedings; and the fact that the two leading eights were within a few marks of each other considerably increased the excitement. After the selected exercises had been gone through with great success, the performers set to work to amuse the ladies while the marks were being added up, which, in the process of time, gave the following results: 8. Mr. Grave's and Mr. Chenery's.. For the Championship and Medal the order was : Marks. 6536 6509 5638 5307 4877 4403 3874 2460 The election of a new champion was rendered necessary in consequence of W. F. Warren's leaving, who obtained this distinction last Christmas. Mr. Griffiths, with his usual generosity, gave the medal. Sim's form was excellent, and the contest was as close as usual. Among others who distinguished themselves we may mention in particular J. Spark, F. Pilgrim, Wise, Lyon, Trevithick, and Tickell. The names of the winning eight were— J. D. S. Sim, Captain F. Fulton R. W. Hewson J. G. Collins L. H. Lloyd W. H. Middlemass C. B. Lloyd The Boxing for the Champion's Belt came off in the gymnasium on Wednesday last, the 29th, and was certainly better than usual. There were twelve entries, but, several having scratched the first draw, only gave :— 1. L. Griffith v. T. Y. Bramwell. 2. Steuart v. W. H. Arundell. I was the best during the afternoon, Bramwell hotly contesting every point; but Griffith eventually won by 22 to 18. 2 was a tie at 17 all, and, on trying for another hit, was decided in favour of Steuart. The second draw gave : 1. L. Griffith v. Steuart (scratched). 2. G. Browne v. J. Luby. Elliott odd man. 2 G. Browne won with 14 to Luby's 9. The third draw gave L. Griffith v. Elliott. |
